The truth about the library

Our friend Iain spent his gap year in Ghana and whilst he was there he met some Rastafarians on a beach. They told him that they refused to use the word library as it sounded like Lie-brary. Instead they used the word True-brary because books set you free--they are where you can find out the truth.

 I love this idea.

 I’m married to a librarian (or should that be true-brarian?) He was the geeky kid at school who volunteered to shelve your books for you, grew up and his work-study job on campus when we were at Uni was a librarian. He has worked in both the public  and private sector, has worked in schools and in reference. The man is a walking font of knowledge--and if he doesn’t know the answer, he knows where to find the answer.

 In a book (obviously).

 

I worked several summers as a library assistant for the Summer Reading Programme for the Rapides Parish Library system.

 

We are library people.

 I don’t think I utilised the Rapides Parish Library as much as I should have. Mostly because you had to drive there to get books which made it more difficult. My borrowing years were better when I was working there in the summers or when Spiderman worked reference as I could ask him to bring me a book home and save the trip.

 

But now we live about a five minute walk from our local library and so I can pop in anytime I like --except Wednesdays as they are closed. But you know what I mean.

our library with the cool mural that features the Quakers

 I was thinking of all they do for me. I was thinking of all  the wonderful things they have to offer.

 

Wednesday--when they were supposed to be closed--they had a Craft Dabble Day that you could go to for £2. I didn’t know what to expect, but I paid my £2 and went along (in the pouring rain I might add).

 

Well, it was me and about 14 white haired old ladies and we had a jolly old time together. There were craft books laid out on tables with materials to make some of the designs featured inside. There was a knitting table with wool (what my American peeps would call yarn. If you want wool not made of sheep you have to ask for acrylic wool), a craft table with fabric scraps, ribbon, embroidery thread, needles, sequins, buttons etc.

 

There were people making crochet flowers, felt and fabric brooches, button necklaces, starting a patchwork design etc. There were also cups of tea and cake (how would Britain survive without tea and cake?) for those who like that sort of thing--which was all the old ladies.

 

Everyone was helping everybody else. I was able to be useful and helpful by threading needles as I had the youngest eyes. I got some invaluable advice on my failed knitting project (more of that to come later) and was able to help someone do a running stitch.

 

I made this felt owl brooch and it’s come out a treat. I added the blue beads from my craft stash when I got home and sewed the back piece on to hide my stitching, but the whole front I sewed there.  

 

 It was a lot of work to put on--two librarians had to swap working hours with other librarians as they were meant to be at another branch that day, one librarian came in on her day off. I know that hard work that goes into something like this--and I am grateful my branch always has something good going on.

 

I went back today to pick up a book to read and came away with eight items. I’ve got some fiction, some biography, some religious books, a craft book and a cooking magazine. I had to physically drag myself out as it would shortly be too heavy to carry on the walk home.

 

Because that is what to library does to me. I want to move in and live there. 

 

Be true to your library and your library will be true to you.

 

Visit your public library today and thank them for all the free stuff they offer.

 

Then check out some books.