Are libraries still relevant?

In talking with a librarian the other day, she asked me a question. Are libraries still relevant today and if so, how do we make people see that? She said when talking to many people they say they have a computer and Internet at home and don’t need to go a library. Not only can they research information from the comfort of their home, they can also download books. This is all true.

But what people don’t realize is that librarians are still the first and best search engines. Sure, you can type in a question on Google or bing, or whatever your favorite search engine is, and you will get hits. Many of them reliable. But will you, or the average person, know it is reliable? Many times it’s difficult to authenticate a site. Librarians will know where to look and are happy to share that information with you. They also know where to look, and have access to, sites you may not be aware of. If you’re looking for historical, genealogical, or medical information, to name a few, you might want to consult with your librarian at some point. He or she can point you in the right direction.

And what about books? Sure, you download a ton of free books, or you can buy them online – no muss, no fuss. This is terribly convenient when the snow is swirling about or it’s a blistering 95+ degrees out, but truthfully, there are some things you may not want to own or pay for. And if you’re not in a tremendous have-to-have-it-in-my-hands-now hurry, you can get it through your public library, even if they don’t have it on their shelves. All public libraries in the U.S. are part of an interlibrary loan system. If one library doesn’t have a book (article / DVD) they will do their best to get it from another library. Some librarians are positively tenacious about tracking these items.

I certainly think libraries have changed over the years. As a kid, I remember visiting the children’s section of the local library and reading my way through the collection. Because of the size, I was forced to read biographies and histories I normally wouldn’t have. I believe they enriched my life tremendously, even though I didn’t know that at the time. But libraries were a place only for the real readers. Now, libraries provide programming and entertainment. The face of the education they provide has changed, but not its mission.

Search engine gurus might be able to make your inquiry pop up quickly, but a librarian can make it relevant to your needs.

Are libraries still relevant? The question floored me. I can’t imagine a world without libraries. How to make people see that they are relevant? I have no idea. Any suggestions welcome. What do you like or dislike about libraries?

~Tara

Baseball or Books?

At some point we do what we want or need to do. Today, I saw a post on the internet that showed a man at a ballgame. What was the man doing? No, at the particular moment a camera captured him, he wasn't watching the game. He was reading a book! I think that's fabulous. I love when men read and don't care who sees them doing so.

Now, I'm sure the man was evidently good at multi-tasking. He most likely had on eye on the game, and the other on his book.

I thought about the man and wondered if he went to the ballgame so he could read without interruption. :) I'm kidding!

I know I'm a multi-tasker. I've been known to sit in the grocery store parking lot to finish a chapter. I can watch the ballgame with my hubby, work on the computer, write, read, text, prepare dinner, and whatever else, all without breaking a sweat! Hubby shakes his head.

Don't you just love those books you can't lay aside? I do, but don't read those "Can't Put Me Down" books too quickly. I like to savor each word, though at times that's a hard thing to do. Those are the books I read over and over after a period of time passes.

Are you a multi-tasker? What are some of the things you do all at once without thinking about what you're doing?

Thank you for visiting. I'd love to read your answers.

Carol DeVaney

Know Thyself...or Who the Heck am I, Anyway?

As a writer, I keep getting hit over the head with the advice to BRAND myself...Well, here in Texas, that doesn't sound like a pleasant experience. And who's going to check out my rear to find out what my brand is? I mean, I've already got two holes in each ear lobe, so couldn't I just have an ear tag? You know, like: Writer or Romance Writer or Thriller Writer? I could have a tag for each ear.

But seriously, I have had a tag that has stuck with me for ages. It's totally not related to writing. My family and friends refer to me as (hangs head) The Ziplock Lady. Yes, if you check my pantry you will find every size and style of resealable bags therein. I have the gallon size and the quart size and the pint size in regular and freezer style. I have sandwich bags and snack bags. And I have fallen in love with the kind that you can suck the air out of. Woo Hoo!!! Livin' large!

Now you may be asking yourself what any sane woman would need with so many different kinds of resealable bags, and I thank you for your assumption that I'm sane. I'm a writer and I'm not sure I've ever met any fellow authors who I would consider 100% in touch with reality...Occupational hazard. In addition to storing food in Ziplocks in the fridge, pantry and freezer, I also use them for traveling, cosmetics, medications, condiments, etc. Yes I have a few stashed in the car and in my handbag.

Once, when a friend was having a gall bladder attack and was screaming in pain, I bundled her into my car to rush her to the hospital. She said, "Pull over. I'm going to be sick." I handed her a gallon-size bag and kept driving to the emergency room. She would alternately scream in pain and hurl into the bag. I was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and patting her shoulder with the other...Oh, and did I mention that it was pouring rain and I was in Houston traffic? Thankfully, I got us to the hospital intact. When the orderly rushed out with a wheel chair, he helped my friend to be seated and looked at the bag-o-barf questioningly. I opened my baby blues real wide and said, "We can just dispose of this, can't we?" He looked relieved. 

So, I'm perfectly okay with being called The Ziplock Lady. I'm certain it won't help me sell any books or become known as an author with a brand. . .but, you can always count on me to have an extra tissue and a plastic bag in my purse to share. 

*hugs*

~J.D. Faver