Walk into the library - Updated


"When I have money, I buy books. If any is left, I buy food and clothes."
— Erasmus

Reader juliaki sent me a link telling me that the Free Library of Philadelphia is closing because of a budget crunch. So I started thinking about libraries in general.

When I was growing up, the library was one of the most wonderful places around. I could read Tom Swift, the Hardy Boys, Mark Twain, Isaac Asimov, and a host of others. I used to argue with the librarians about how many books I could borrow at once (I think my personal record is 23 per week because I couldn't talk them into letting me have 24). Besides the fiction, I loved the reference section. Encyclopedias, back issues of Popular Science, biographies, electrical engineering, stagecraft, chemistry, architecture… But they wouldn't always let me take those home.

Okay, I was one weird kid. I read voraciously and I remembered most of what I read. The other kids used to call me the "walking library" with good reason. I taught myself to read by the time I was three. I couldn't spell worth a darn, but I could read and remember. I'm pretty sure that it has to do with pattern analysis and synthesis. It wasn't the individual "blocks" I remembered, it was the pattern they formed when put together. That's why I wanted to read all the books in a series. I wanted the whole pattern.

That's what I remember about libraries. I remember bookstores too, but in a different way.

But you know something? It's been years since I've been in a library. Besides the internet, I've had my own favorite references on my shelves at home. I think my last library card expired in 1989, at least I haven't been able to find a more recent one.

I think I would still pay for speciality, private libraries if I used them. Every month I donate to religioustolerance.org because I use their essays for research and general reading. I'll miss the Proteus Coven online library because it had some great material. But Google has long since replaced my local librarian for basic research. More times than not, if I want a to read a book I'll buy it or read it online.

Me, the born bibliophile with a home library that has an Erasmus book quote above the door. Me, the guy who used to claim that Pagans were failed librarians. The guy who still drools over magnificently printed books and amazing libraries.

But for the life of me, I can't get excited about public libraries. Especially if a case like this, where it almost sounds like the historic and well-regarded Philadelphia Free Library is trying to hold the city and state hostage.

What changed? I'm honestly not sure.

To be sure, I've seen some marvelous public libraries. Places where you could stand and look up at twenty feet of bookshelf. And that is just on one level. I still geek out over fine architecture and books combined. And I love a good first edition. I love running my fingers across the spines of books carefully shelved. I love picking a book at random and reading.

But a public library just doesn't thrill me anymore.

Maybe we need to go back to Franklin's subscription library.

Maybe I've stopped seeing the library as a destination and more of a departure place.

UPDATE - It won't happen this year. Next year, anyone's guess. I'm not going to comment on the politics here.

Posted: Tue - September 15, 2009 at 12:52 PM
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Random selections from NeoWayland's library


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