Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Public Librairies

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You know how much I love libraries. I ran across this in my book du jour: "But I hate libraries like I hate zoos. Books are defaced, marked, sorted, and trapped on their shelves, prisoners forever. Books need to owned, cherished, and then given away as gifts. Not ensnared in indentured servitude until they fall apart." Eight of Swords by David Skibbins

I suppose. However I look upon books in the library as well loved, used, awaiting their time in a patron's hands like a child's toy waits on the shelf for it's turned to be loved into nothingness, much like the Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams. "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

3 comments:

  1. One of my very favorites! A must read for every child!

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  2. I need to stand up for e_readers like the Kindle. My #1 reason is this: these will never be used for text books or made available for special education needs if they aren't first embraced (= purchased and well-used and then improved upon) by the buying public.

    My personal reason for saving up to buy one is simple. I frequently find myself "somewhere else" and as an avid reader, and gatherer of stories and information, I would welcome a range of reading material to suit the situation. Of course one of those improvements they need to make is to add a built-in mp3 player, right? And I like knowing that I could access world news sources online from anywhere, or take a "comfort break" to peak in on my favorite group discussions if I'm feeling lonely or stressed while away from my home and family.

    There is a place for these. Most new inventions are initially "for disposable income" only.

    Meanwhile, I will forever also love the library and continue to visit them everywhere I go when the opportunity arises.

    (and yes, I carry a small, portable handwork project with me too, maybe several, as long as they pack up light&small)

    Just food for thought.

    Debbie in In.

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  3. Alas, one of my favorite places to read is the bathtub, and I have difficulty visualizing what that would do to a Kindle or its equivalent.

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