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I gave a talk to a large group “Friends of the Library” the other night to raise funds for the library. Like so many other organizations many libraries are doing it tough. There’s never enough money to buy all the books they’d like. Latest releases often have a waiting list of 50 people or more. Libraries are very special places although some consider them a bit an anarchonism. I wonder if young readers patronize their local library as we did when I was at school. We had a modest school library, my parents weren’t well off so new books only came to me birthdays and Christmas. The rest of the year, a trek to the local library was a trip into Aladdin’s Cave. Even then it was very much a community centre even though there were no computers, DVDs or videos to take out. But there were always retired locals browsing through newspapers and magazines, catching up on council news, perusing the bulletin board or a display of children’s artwork. And how fantastic it was when you had an engaged and switched on librarian who made suggestions of books to read and was willing to discuss the merits of one you were returning.
A love of reading is nurtured in childhood and what a gift that is for the rest of your life. You’re never alone when you have a book. My worst nightmare is being on a plane with no book or no glasses. (I’ve found good airlines carry an array of reading glasses.) I was also lucky that my reading program, which was essentially reading any book I could get, was given some structure by a dear neighbour, Mary Stackhouse, who was highly educated, well read and caring. She especially encouraged me to read Australian literature from May Gibbs to Kylie Tennant. I still have the books she gave me and I hope my library of childhood books will be as treasured and enjoyed by my grandchildren.
My daughter is already reading books to Sonoma Grace, now six weeks old. Being held and read to apparently gives an association as reading being pleasurable and bonding. I worry kids read too much stuff on the net from their blogs to questionable time wasting sites. I hope they’re doing this as well as reading, instead of reading!
Anyway, I was happy to support the library and meet so many wonderful readers.
Cheers
Di’s latest book The Islands, published by Pan Macmillan, is now on sale.
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