The Future of Libraries

Neil Gaiman is a big name in science fiction and fantasy.  Gaiman has been called the modern master of wonder and terror.  He is the author of the "Sandman" series of graphic novels, "American Gods," "Good Omens," "Coraline" which was made into a movie by the director who created "The Nightmare Before Christmas, my personal favorite is his picture book titled, "The Wolves in the Walls, and he won the 2009 Hugo Award for his juvenile novel, "The Graveyard Book." His latest novel, "The Ocean at the End of the Lane," is a frightening fairy tale for adults. So why the big build-up for Neil Gaiman?  Neil Gaiman gave a speech at the Barbican (Arts Centre) in London on Monday, October 14th.  The text of his speech was published the next day in "The Guardian" newspaper.  The headline reads, " Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming."  

Here are some excerpts,   "I was lucky. I had an excellent local library growing up. I had the kind of parents who could be persuaded to drop me off in the library on their way to work in summer holidays, and the kind of librarians who did not mind a small, unaccompanied boy heading back into the children's library every morning and working his way through the card catalogue, looking for books with ghosts or magic or rockets in them, looking for vampires or detectives or witches or wonders. And when I had finished reading the children's' library I began on the adult books.

They were good librarians. They liked books and they liked the books being read. They taught me how to order books from other libraries on inter-library loans. They had no snobbery about anything I read. They just seemed to like that there was this wide-eyed little boy who loved to read, and would talk to me about the books I was reading, they would find me other books in a series, they would help. They treated me as another reader – nothing less or more – which meant they treated me with respect. I was not used to being treated with respect as an eight-year-old.

But libraries are about freedom. Freedom to read, freedom of ideas, freedom of communication. They are about education (which is not a process that finishes the day we leave school or university), about entertainment, about making safe spaces, and about access to information.

I worry that here in the 21st century people misunderstand what libraries are and the purpose of them. If you perceive a library as a shelf of books, it may seem antiquated or outdated in a world in which most, but not all, books in print exist digitally. But that is to miss the point fundamentally.

Libraries are places that people go to for information. Books are only the tip of the information iceberg: they are there, and libraries can provide you freely and legally with books. More children are borrowing books from libraries than ever before – books of all kinds: paper and digital and audio. But libraries are also, for example, places that people, who may not have computers, who may not have internet connections, can go online without paying anything: hugely important when the way you find out about jobs, apply for jobs or apply for benefits is increasingly migrating exclusively online. Librarians can help these people navigate that world.

Physical books are tough, hard to destroy, bath-resistant, solar-operated, feel good in your hand: they are good at being books, and there will always be a place for them. They belong in libraries, just as libraries have already become places you can go to get access to ebooks, and audiobooks and DVDs and web content.

A library is a place that is a repository of information and gives every citizen equal access to it. That includes health information. And mental health information. It's a community space. It's a place of safety, a haven from the world. It's a place with librarians in it. What the libraries of the future will be like is something we should be imagining now."

My response is, Wow!  Right on!  Couldn't have said it better myself.  Awesome!  Libraries are important to our future.  How can we move forward without being able to comprehend the lessons of the past or our hopes for the future?  Libraries play an essential role in a democratic society, for the preservation of civilization, and the health and success of our children.  

Don't let anyone tell you books or libraries are dead.  Libraries are alive and well and planning for the future.

Our Library has great programs coming up next week:  

Come meet local author, Art Huinker. His book "Small Man, BIG Heart" shares his experiences in the world of baseball.  Mr. Huinker will be speaking on Wednesday, October 23rd at the Residences Model home beginning at 4:00 p.m.  The Residences Model Home is located at 5249 Grand Meadow Dr. (Take Waterfront Dr. off of Asbury Rd. then left onto Grand Meadow Dr.)  Art will also be speaking at Peosta/NICC Branch on Tuesday, October 29th, 10-11am.

All Hallow's eve is approaching.  The spirits are getting restless and the festivities are about to begin.  Start your Halloween celebrations at the library.  The City of Asbury Halloween Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 25th.  The Asbury Branch will be the final destination for all parade goers.  Local vendors will be giving out treats and the Library has a special prize for every child who visits after the parade.  

Check our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) for more program information.  And don't forget to stop at your local branch and buy your Friends raffle tickets.  Information about the prizes is also on the website.

Have a great weekend.  Dawn