Nothing Beats A Good Book…Well, Maybe the Library Where I Discovered It

Nothing Beats A Good Book…

Well, Maybe the Library Where I Discovered It

BY LURA ROTI

This spring I had the opportunity to teach an online Business Writing and Research class for the University of Sioux Falls. And while I was reading one student’s final project, a White Paper on how public libraries can better connect with patrons in this digital age, I was overcome with warm feelings connected with the public library.

Growing up, nearly each week our mom would load up the five of us in the family van and take us to the library. The library was one of the few places she’d just let us roam. We could check out as many books as we wanted – on any topic.

Then, when it was time to head home, we’d line up with our piles of books and library cards and the librarian would check us out.

Library check out was such an efficient, yet calming practice to watch. Remember the days when the Librarian needed to date stamp the white columned sheet on the inside of the book’s cover? I would always look to see when the book I was checking out was last read.

Because of our frequent visits, our family got to know the librarians quite well. One would frequently joke that our family sponsored one of the new bookshelves – with five kids I’m sure there was a running list of overdue books connected to one or more Robison library cards.

We are a family of readers. It may be because our parents intentionally did not invest in TVs. It was the ‘80s, and even with foil wrapped antennas, our signal was never strong enough. So, we

spent a lot of time reading.

I loved going to the library, because whatever I was into reading, there were plenty of books. And our mom didn’t censor. An interesting fact, that is quite out of character now that I think about it. Thankfully, books don’t have Parental Guidance ratings!

Although I will say, Holocaust survival stories were a bit dark for my middle-school-age self to read. I remain convinced that because our mom didn’t interfere, we developed a strong love for reading which we have all retained. I once heard an interview with an author and the reporter asked her what her best advice for parents would be. Her answer was something along the lines of, “don’t censor the books your children read because in order for kids to grow to love reading, they need to be able to read what interests them.”

A while ago I heard a local political figure question the need for public libraries. His comments inferred that with the internet and digital reading devices, who needs a building full of books? Well, I’d say, pretty much everyone – but especially young readers. Because the great thing about a brickand-mortar building where you can wander and discover - it allows children to find books they like. Books parents or other adults in their lives may not even know exist.

This is how our 10-year-old daughter, Parker found her favorite series, The Penderwicks. A couple summers ago, she was going through the Downtown Public Library’s selection of playaways to take along on an upcoming road trip

and found the first book (playaways are preloaded audio books that you simply plug a headset into). Since then, she’s listened to or read all five books at least a dozen times!

Discovering a book series or genre that captures my attention and gives me something to ponder throughout the day, is what I love most about reading. The time in my life when I had the most time to bingeread was my middle school years.

That’s when my interest in learning about the Holocaust by reading books written by those who survived or sadly died, began. It all started when I read The Diary of Anne Frank. As I was introduced to the atrocities, I was horrified. I was also amazed by the will power and strength of survivors and those who helped them.

The other books I remember reading during those tween years, were books by Agatha Christie - to this day my favorite mystery writer and L.M. Montgomery, the Anne of Green Gables author.

At one time it was my goal to read all the L.M. Montgomery books on our library’s shelves. In meeting this goal, I discovered possibly one of my favorite books, The Blue Castle. It is the story of Valancy Stirling, a young woman living a rather unhappy life and how a diagnosis of terminal illness changes her approach to life and circumstances for the better. Because I last read it in 1993, it tops my Summer 2021 Reading List.

These days, I get most of my reading done during summer camping trips. Nothing beats laying in a hammock with a good book after a long hike or kayaking adventure. We’ve got a few camping trips coming up, so I will have to make a point to check it out the next time Parker and I walk down the hill to the Downtown Public Library.