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November 26, 2010

Library In A Small Town

Our first trip to the library in our new little town was a great exerience. Checking out books and devouring them in two weeks time has been our pattern. I admit to having expectations of the small town library as being less than adequate to meet my reading needs.

We arrived at the library at nine in the morning only to read the sign on the door that it opens at one. Oh.

The library is currently housed in a two story brick building. It is the smallest library I have ever visited but it is so full of books they are practically spilling out the windows. It was more like visiting a thrift store that specializes in used books than a library.

Not only did I find ten books I checked out, there were many authors on my to-read list so I know I have lots more books to check out there.

We spent lots of time searching through the double layers of books lined up all around the room and enjoyed every minute. I mentioned to hubby as we were looking that I thought they wouldn't have any Walter Mosley books out here in this little town but he found one for me while he was across the room rummaging through the books there. Yay. And I found Marcia Muller and Greg Isles and plenty to interest me.

As I was checking out, the librarian told me about the downstairs area. I will check that out next time. She said they have different things to check out that can be found downstairs. They have 35 cake pans of different shapes with the directions on how to make the specialty cakes. I think I will find a cake pan to make a Christmas cake.

I was not disappointed in what I found at the library in our new little town and I was pleasantly surprised. There was a dedication at the site of a new library last week and construction begins now. They raised one and a half million dollars to build a new library, so that too gives me hope that one of the most important components of my life is important to others in this town. Another proof that we have come home.

43 comments:

Cindy said...

Oh I think that is fabulous, and I loved your last line. some things are just right. take care. hugs.

Betty W said...

I´m sure it smelled wonderful in that old overfilled library.

Brian Miller said...

nice. we love the library...we have4 within 30 minutess so we switch up and try diff ones....

Anne H said...

When I lived in a small town in western Kansas (yikes!)
I was thinking the same thing. But the library was more than adequate. Plus, they could get any book in the system. Now, add "on-line" books....
They really aren't the same, but the will sometimes do in a pinch!

......And you are home free, indeed!

DJan said...

Our local library recently cut back its hours because of budget cuts. But it's a very adequate one. I'm so glad you found that your "new" library fits the bill.

Syd said...

I remember the library in the small town where I grew up. I loved the smell of that place. It was musty but wonderful with floor to ceiling book shelves all around and oriental rugs on the floor. The addition was built onto it and it expanded. I haven't been back to check it out but the next time I am there, I believe that I will go by the old library.

Rock Chef said...

Sounds a lot better than the library in my town of 40,000!

Have fun with the basement stuff!

Jeanie said...

I love spending time in a library and yours sounds wonderful. Just one more thing that makes your new hometown just the right place for you.

LL Cool Joe said...

I should visit our library. My mother is such a book worm and so disappointed that I'm the opposite.

Lori said...

How wonderful! This sounds much like our library here and I am not sure about your library but at our library they will get you most any book you request if they don't have it on hand. Happy reading! XX

Kristina P. said...

I never go to the library anymore. We just buy books from Amazon now. But that downstairs area sounds awesome!

ellen abbott said...

We have a very good library in our little town too and, if they don't have a book, they can borrow it from another library for you.

Stickup Artist said...

Mmmm. Did it have the great old library smell too? I am never disappointed by our public library system. My entire family makes a library run every 2 weeks without fail. Sure beats TV!

TALON said...

That's wonderful about the new library being built and wonderful that you have lots of books to devour. A day without reading is a sad day for me so the library is like a second home.

Sabi Sunshine said...

Wow ...I plan to have a libarary in my home too.. Hopefully I can enjoy the books more ..

Did you ever read a book god never blinks? It's a good book.

Have a wonderful Day!

Love
Sabi Sunshine

Robert the Skeptic said...

Cake pans!! Wow, that is a full-service library!

Pseudo said...

Have you said what state your small town is in? It is like a time gone by.

BTW I was thinking of you yesterday. I was hiking in the hills above Hawaii Kai and taking photos.

Unknown said...

I love libraries....

A good place to find interesting books (and to steal them too).

But the libraries I frequented these days are hopeless....

Makes me a bit sad, now.

Claudya Martinez said...

That's wonderful! I love going to my library, but the books I want are almost always checked out and I have to settle for something else. Too many people here.

I didn't tell you this awhile ago when I should have, but here goes: I really appreciate the thoughtful comments that you leave. There have been a couple of comments that you have left that have brought me to tears because you truly get me and it is so nice to be gotten.

Unknown said...

I love love libraries.
this sounds charming and inviting and perfect.

so glad you are settling in with such comfort.

beth said...

you are home....sigh
how amazing is that feeling !

and i hope your thanksgiving was warm and perfect in every way possible....

Jerry said...

Oh -- I simply couldn't live without a good library. But you have found the best in the world....cake pans! I wonder whose idea that was....and what a wonderful idea.

Big Dave T said...

Do they have an inter-library loan program so you can order books you want if they are not held at your local library? I've taken advantage of that many times at our little library.

Hilary said...

What a wonderful feeling it must be to know you are where you belong.. and that each new encounter confirms it further. I'm so happy for you.

Everyday Goddess said...

i love spending time at the library, it is like a luxury for me!

happy thanksgiving to you all, ours was fun and delicious!

Bill Lisleman said...

that's a great thing and it would be an important part of my selection of a community. I'm very happy with our library and they have a few non-book things like paintings and zoo passes. But I never heard of cake pans.

When I look at the places my taxes go to, I'm glad to see education and libraries on the list.

James said...

I live in a small town but all the libraries in the county have joined together to make a great system. I love checking out books. :)

gayle said...

I am so glad you love your library!! One of my favorite places!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I have always haunted libraries, so when we moved to a tiny TN town, I was worried about the state of their library. To my considerable surprise, the small branch had an incredibly large selection of books that interested me and could easily accommodate my habit of taking out armfuls at a time.

When we moved to California, I donated a couple thousand books to them because I knew they would provide a good home. (Then I set about making myself whole again after we got here.) Congratulations on finding the right place for yourselves. Some people never do, you know.

Kat Sloma said...

Sounds like a wonderful library!! I love the library in my home town too. And don't forget to ask if they will borrow books from other libraries for you, moany will.

Maude Lynn said...

Sounds like a great place to rummage through!

Momma Fargo said...

That sounds like a small town adventure! What a treasure!

Joanna Jenkins said...

Love the idea of cake pans at the library-- So many times I've thought I'd make a cake recipe I discovered only to realize I had the wrong pan and didn't want to buy another one.

Glad the local library is so nice. I guess the 1pm opening might be a sign of the times then again raising $$$ for a new one is pretty cool.

Happy reading! xo jj

secret agent woman said...

I love exploring a new hometown. Glad you are finding some gems.

Sandra said...

That's terrific. I know, it's so easy to underestimate the quality of small towns. Obviously you are finding your niche if you've described yourself as "coming home."
So happy for you...and I'm partial to small towns, lived in them my entire life.

The Absence of Alternatives said...

It is neat that you can check out cake pans! (And it does make sense now I think about it. So why don't the others do it too?) I love going through piles of books to find that one gem. Sort of like treasure hunting. Glad with each discovery you are feeling more and more at home.

Murr Brewster said...

The other cool thing is to get your own pet tame liberrian. I plan to get one soon to do all my research for my novel for me. I don't plan to say that right out front, though.

I do miss quiet in libraries, though. And although the cake pan idea is terrific, I think another good combination would be a library/laundromat/shower/delouser. Just sayin'.

A Free Man said...

I'm a big fan of the old library. My boys are learning to love it too - all the books they want and when they get bored of them, return them!

David Cranmer said...

Wonderful post.

I hope future generations will continue to marvel at the joys of a library.

Debbie said...

They have cake pans at your library? That is too cool!

MikeWJ at Too Many Mornings said...

It's incredible that they not only have books, but also cake pans. Thirty-five of them, no less! I'm really glad you're enjoying your new life in small-town America, TechnoBabe. I'm not jealous, but it's comforting to know you're happy there. Everybody deserves a little happiness now and then, and small things like the library can make all the difference.

Ed Pilolla said...

what a rich scene, discovering a small town library. my imagination jumps at the thought.

Marla said...

It sounds magical to me. And cake pans? I love that!