It wasn’t long ago that the word was: public libraries will
soon all close. The internet will provide
whatever it is you need to know. Libraries will join livery stables, ice boxes
and buggy whips as artifacts of history.
But as Mark Twain once said, “The
reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” This is certainly true of
libraries, which are alive and well and booming in popularity.
In the past several years, I have
spoken at 92 libraries, the smallest of the small to gigantic, multi-floor
institutions. This past week I spoke at
the Kiel and the Sun Prairie Libraries. This
past year I spoke at the Fitchburg, Shorewood (Milwaukee), Poynette, Frederic,
Waupun, Plainfield, Reedsburg, Trempealeau, Wild Rose, Wisconsin Rapids,
Boscobel, Mineral Point, Waupaca, Mt. Horeb, Green Bay, UW—Madison (Memorial),
Park Falls, Brillion, Grafton, and Baraboo libraries.
Each of these libraries, although
many with challenging budgets, are vibrant places for learning and where the
community can gather. Every librarian I
have talked to, and I’ve talked to many, say they have never been busier.
Of course, like all of our public
institutions, our libraries need our continued support, and for the “libraries are
dead” folks—you are wrong. Communities love their libraries, and depend on them.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If you haven’t
done so recently, visit your local library.
Lots going on there these days.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 24, 6:00 p.m. Walworth and Big Foot Prairie
Historical Society, Lake Lawn Resort, Delevan, WI. Dinner. Breweries of Wisconsin.
April 29, Noon Luncheon, Historical Society
Foundation. By invitation.
Purchase
Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose,
Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):
The library now has available both of Jerry’s DVDs, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps a Farm Story.
Also available are several of Jerry’s book including
The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story.
Contact the library for prices and special package
deals.
1 comment:
I am always impressed that there are always people in the library when I am there. Any time of day any day of the week. Thankfully they are still thriving our wonderful libraries. You sound like you have seen many and that is great.
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