"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library." -Albert Einstein
During my adult life, I have been blessed, truly blessed with the privilege of working with a good cross-section of "our" public in this part of the world: in public education; in public health; at the public library; in writing for several decades for the newspaper; in serving the citizens of District 4 in Hamilton County as their School Board member, a position in which I am humbled and grateful to serve, always remembering I am a public servant. All these roles have led me to some very interesting situations and events.
In working part-time at the public library for a number of years with the wonderful staff in Jasper and now at the White Springs Public Library, I have come to the conclusion that some folks come to the library, believe it or not, to do something we were taught in school one shouldn't do in a library: talk.
Now, you may ask, "What do you mean? Do they want to ask about books or periodicals" or "Books on Tape," or "DVD's?" Sometimes they do, but, at times, they simply want to talk with someone and have someone listen. Sometimes, from time to time, we all need that.
During my years at the public library, I have met individuals from Scandinavian countries—Denmark and Norway, to be exact—who were searching for information on the late Lillian Smith, famous southern author and Civil Rights activist and Jasper native, born in 1897. These European visitors were intrigued by her 1944 novel Strange Fruit and wanted to visit some places described in her Memory of a Large Christmas.
I have met individuals who were searching for someone who is part of their family-tree and may have lived in our area.
Some utilize the library for quiet time, just to sit and read or reflect. Some utilize the library to come in and ask questions about a community and its history. Some utilize the library to locate or find a book, perhaps in another library in the Suwannee River Regional system or out of the system through an inter-library loan.
Public libraries are a great place to extend your reading interest or that of your child/children. We even have books coded by Accelerated Reader level.
Here is the point, your public libraries provide much more than a place where one can't speak above a whisper and read or study. Your public libraries now serve as centers for community information, literacy enhancement and, also, as a place to check out some of the latest and most wonderful books and periodicals available and public libraries belong to YOU.
For many years, our area struggled with library services and we did the best we could with what we had where we were. I can recall the joy we felt when we saw Mrs. Ruth Mizelle coming with the Bookmobile from the Suwannee River Regional Library in Live Oak. So many of the children at school referred to Mrs. Ruth as the lady with pretty blonde "cotton candy hair." She was a beacon of friendliness and reached out, offering treasures and trips and opportunities to so many in our area. I will never forget her, nor the Bookmobile. I never took Mrs. Ruth, the Bookmobile, nor the privilege to check out books for granted.
Today, throughout our area, we have wonderful modern libraries in many communities served by our Suwannee River Regional Library System. I would encourage each community to utilize your libraries, check out books, use the computers, check out DVD's and stop and browse at your leisure. Don't take these library services for granted. We don't ever want to have anyone in our communities say, "At one time our community HAD a nice library." It's up to each of us as concerned citizens to keep our libraries humming. The price is right, free of charge for your use and utilization at any time during operation hours.
As you can surmise from this article, our libraries and the opportunity to extend good information to everyone is very meaningful to me. Let's use it so we don't lose it.
Come visit your public library today and CHECK US OUT!! Wear your mask when you come and visit, social distancing is observed and the fact that we spray your keyboard and chair down with an alcohol solution when you depart is no reflection on your personal hygiene, we are in the midst of a pandemic. No books, DVD's or periodicals that you check in are put on the shelves until properly sanitized.
From the Eight Mile Still on the Woodpecker Route north of White Springs, wishing you a day filled with joy, peace and, above all, lots of love and laughter.