My, how libraries have changed over the years! What used to be quiet places to check out books and read in silence, are now hubs for socialization and a variety of activities.
My local St. Charles City-County Library (Spencer Road Branch) has something going on just about every day of the week.
Knitting lessons, author talks, tax preparation classes, and healthy living
seminars are a few events held on a regular basis. With a few clicks of a mouse, card holders can reserve the latest books, e-books, CDs, or DVDs or sign up for classes or events.
At the Spencer Road Branch Library last fall my sister and I attended a breast cancer awareness dinner co-sponsored by the library and a local hospital. The event included medical professionals and inspiring talks from survivors. Vendors, handouts, and a light meal were also available.
The following month we participated in an eight-week
class for senior citizens on better balance co-sponsored by OASIS. We learned how to prevent falls, were shown how to safely preform exercises, provided healthy snacks, and were given workbooks to refer to after class completion.
At the end of 2016, my sister, one of my critique group friends, and I attended
a “Book Buzz” presentation by a library marketing representative from Penguin Random House. Not only did the library provide snacks, the publisher gave each attendee a cool tote
bag that read "Can't I'm Booked." Inside each bag was a free book. My free book was a copy of
Always by Sarah Jio, which is on my to-be-read list.
During the slide show presentation, the publisher's representative
highlighted books to be released in the fall of 2016 and winter of 2017. Along with displaying copies of dozens of book covers, he gave a description of each book. One
element I was interested in hearing about was the print run of the books, which generally is
an indication that a book will be in high demand. After hearing about so many fascinating books, immediately after the
presentation my sister and I hurried to the check-out counter to add our names on the reserve list for
books that were especially appealing.
Although libraries have changed from the time I received my first buff-colored library card when I was in grade school, one thing has remained constant in my life, my love for libraries
and books will never go out of style.
