A Kind Word About Libraries

According to a study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 53% of U.S. adults visited a library in 2007. Surprisingly, the majority of the library patrons were between the ages of 18 and 30. Internet users were 40% more likely to visit the library than those who didn't use the Internet.

If you're about 25 and use the Internet, you are most likely to use a public library. However, many of us are a long way from 25 and some of us know what the Internet is but we still fall into the 53% of adults who use libraries. Don't quite know what to say about the other 47% but we'll let them worry about it.

Another senior moment arrived unexpectedly when we took our preschool grandson to their local library. He is used to going with his big sister and mother, not his grandparents. He went straight to the computer section where he wanted to play games. He found a vacant computer and shortly had a minor tantrum. Why? He couldn't get the computer to work. He called for his grandmother and she didn't have any luck either. Where grandpa was hiding (that's me) I don't remember.

However, grandma summoned another little boy over to their computer to see if he could unravel the contrary machine. He may have been one or two years older than our grandson. A couple of mouse moves brought the game to the screen and everyone lived happily ever after.

From what I've observed, seniors are taking to computers more today rather than less. That's a good omen for various reasons. For one thing, it'll help you grow older more gracefully. For another, it'll manage to keep one step ahead of you which is why it will be most advantageous to have some grandkids (or the equivalent) living nearby. Not only can they reprogram your remote, they perhaps can untangle your messed up computer as well.

Now, less you think that libraries have succumbed to the computer let me inform you this is not true. Libraries still have collections of books, of all sizes and shapes, best-sellers and bloopers. There are magazines and newspapers, periodicals and tomes you would never bring home. Besides, they are well-heated or air-conditioned, perfect for the homeless for a bit of comfort. Libraries are a wonderful invention, whether private or public, collegiate or technical, romantic or melodramatic.

Let's take a peek at the US public libraries [in 2005]. This report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia . . . The report . . . includes information on population of legal service area, service outlets, library collections and services, full-time equivalent staff, and operating revenue and expenditures. The report includes several key findings: Nationwide, visits to public libraries totaled 1.4 billion, or 4.7 library visits per capita. The average number of Internet terminals available for public use per stationary outlet was 11.2. (US Department of Education, 2005)

Libraries contain E-books, Audio books, Video materials, local, state and federal information and children's sections. There might even be sections for seniors only (not adult books per se) and some astonishingly literate librarians at your disposal. Hopefully, this will encourage the fifty-three percenters and intimidate the forty-seveners.

There are so many things in life that we simply take for granted. Libraries are one of them. The earliest library dates from the collection of clay tablets in Babylon in the 21st century BC. Then there was the sacred library in the Temple in Jerusalem and of course ancient Roman libraries are legendary. Later on (9th - 15th centuries) the Arabs collected many libraries and of course there is the famed Vatican library. The Boston Public Library opened in 1653 and many of you have libraries in your homes, offices, schools and churches.

If you are in need of another senior moment, why not take a toddler to the library. It could be quite an adventure.