Libraries are a gift to any community. I have come to love and appreciate Northfield’s public library.
I think of Andrew Carnegie, whose mission was to provide libraries to many communities throughout the world. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929.* Northfield’s library is a Carnegie library.
“His [Andrew Carnegie] philanthropic interests centered around the goals of education and world peace. One of his lifelong interests was the establishment of free public libraries to make available to everyone a means of self-education.” **
Over the years I have used a variety of our library’s helpful services. I realize my list is a fraction of what libraries have to offer.
My list includes: When our grandkids lived with us a for a few months, we went to weekly children’s story time. And after story time, I took them to the children’s area and they picked out books to check out and bring home. I’ve attended author’s talks at the library. I’ve had help with my computer from a librarian. I’ve had help finding books and audio books for myself from a librarian. I’ve had help finding children’s books from a librarian. I have gotten ideas for children’s game. I’ve found nooks to sit in and write for a spell. It's a peaceful place. I can order a book from home and the librarian will find it and put it on the hold shelf for me...I just stop in and pick it up! Quick and easy. The library offers daily newspapers to read.
When we were in Tromsø Norway, we visited the public library. Tourist information for Tromsø includes a visit to the library. It has a beautiful, architectural design. We did purposely walk to see it, and then one day, when we needed a place to rest while walking around town, we found shelter in this beautiful public library. It felt so right, so peaceful. It was comforting to know we had a place to sit for a spell, and to get a drink of water, use the restroom.
There was a seed exchange program at the library in Tromsø. I’ve seen the same seed exchange program in Faribault’s Buckham Memorial Library. What a wonderful idea.
On a side note: In Svalbard Norway, far above the arctic circle, there is a Global Seed Vault, that stores seeds to provide “security of the world’s food supply against the loss of seeds in genebanks due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding cuts, war, sabotage, disease and natural disasters.” ***
Libraries: the concept is appealing… and I believe, it’s called pooling and sharing our resources!
*Wikipedia: Carnegie Libraries **Wikipedia: Andrew Carnegie ***Wikipedia: Global Seed Vault