Umberto Eco--the Role of a Library

According to Umberto Eco, in a speech made at the dedication of a new library in Milan (published in Bostonia magazine in 1993), "The whole idea of a library is based on a misunderstanding: that a reader goes to the library to find a book whose title he knows… The essential function of a library is to discover books of whose existence the reader has no idea."

Author Ann Patchett On Reading

Like the chicken pox, getting infected by the desire to read is best when it hits us early. As a child I was so committed to "Charlotte's Web" that I pleaded for, and received, a pig for my ninth birthday, a gift that segued nicely into my "Little House on the Prairie" obsession. Was I, with my American classics, more noble than today's middle-schooler who reads and rereads his copy of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"? Was I less noble than my straight-A sister who read "Le Petit Prince" in French? No on both counts. I am a firm believer in the fact that it isn't so much what you read, it's that you read. Reading fiction not only develops our imagination and creativity, it gives us the skills to be alone. It gives us the ability to feel empathy for people we've never met, living lives we couldn't possibly experience for ourselves, because the book puts us inside the character's skin. Whether you're in the life of Wilbur the pig, or Greg Heffley, the wimpy kid, or that little blonde prince in the desert, you've stepped outside of yourself for awhile, something that is beneficial to every child. Even if you're stepping into "Valley of the Dolls," it's better than nothing. I'm all for reading bad books because I consider them to be a gateway drug. People who read bad books now may or may not read better books in the future. People who read nothing now will read nothing in the future.

--Ann Patchett, "The Triumph of Readers"

Literacy Summit 2009

I just returned from the Charleston County Literacy Summit 2009, where John Corcoran was the guest speaker.

As inspiring as his story is, the most exciting part of the event was at the end when the room broke off into small table discussion groups. Being surrounded by literacy advocates from other local organizations, we brainstormed ways to promote literacy in our community. We all know how detrimental illiteracy is, but what do we DO about it.

Thanks to President Obama, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in grassroots activism. Despite all other methods of outreach, I think this proves the most effective and rewarding way of uniting people. With that in mind, our small discussion grouped talked about ways we can ban together to offer the community a unified, strong, sustainable network of assistance.

Perhaps one of the most inspiring examples of this type of community-wide outreach is the Harlem Project started by Geoffrey Canada:

"Canada's new program combines educational, social and medical services. It starts at birth and follows children to college. It meshes those services into an interlocking web, and then it drops that web over an entire neighborhood. It operates on the principle that each child will do better if all the children around him are doing better. So instead of waiting for residents to find out about the services on their own, the organization's recruiters go door-to-door to find participants, sometimes offering prizes and raffles and free groceries to parents who enroll their children in the group's programs. What results is a remarkable level of ''market penetration,'' as the organization describes it. Eighty-eight percent of the roughly 3,400 children under 18 in the 24-block core neighborhood are already served by at least one program, and this year Canada began to extend his programs to the larger 60-block zone. The objective is to create a safety net woven so tightly that children in the neighborhood just can't slip through."

I believe that's our goal. No one slips through. Whether we're discussing literacy, computer skills, job training, poverty, no one slips through. We rely on one another, support one another, strengthen one another. This is quite idealistic, I am aware. But that is what makes it so exciting and noble.

I'm thrilled about this new initiative in our community. It's humbling and inspiring and I look forward to finding how public libraries can further serve this mission.

Going Green

I've just learned of a new, 'green' blog managed by Kathryn at St. Andrews Branch. It's a wonderful resource and reminds us of ALL the ways the library is called to action. Once again, I am inspired by all the ways our staff and patrons strive to better our community.

http://howgreenismylibrary.blogspot.com/

"Good Times at the Library"

This weekend, CBS Evening News ran a segment on public library usage in a slow economy. The segment had more than 6.4 million viewers and an estimated publicity value of more than $290,000.

Good Times at the Library
In the face of rising gas and food prices, many financially strapped American families are turning to the library this summer for a fun and free alternative to heavy spending. Bill Whitaker reports.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4335685n?source=search_video

Back to Basics

In their Spring 2008 edition, The Urban Library Journal includes an article by Lisa Forrest called " The Eye of the Brainstorm: Transforming the Library through Creative Idea-Building." Though much of what she says is common sense, it is still a great reminder of how to approach innovative library planning. Too often we stay stuck in the confines of tradition. Forrest reminds those in librarianship to think outside of the box--to instill our philosophies and planning with the creativity that drew many of us to this profession in the first place. What a refreshing and liberating idea. I look forward to using her brainstorming model at our next Outreach Team Meeting.

Outreach Team Is Hard At Work

The Outreach Team had our second meeting today, and I am constantly thrilled and inspired by this group of devoted co-workers. We have an organized action plan that will allow us to focus on planning and implementing outreach projects in a sustainable and proactive manner.

We welcome any ideas, comments, and concerns from others in the library system and the community.