I love libraries and I warmed to this quote from Caitlin Moran.
“A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind;hospitals of the soul;theme parks of the imagination.
On a cold, rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen, instead. A human with a brain and a heart and a desire to be uplifted, rather than a customer with a credit card.”
Caitlin Moran, Moranthology.
That is a splendid quote. Our library system has been ,and continues to be, a life saver in our community. I think that our librarians should get medals for the way they held us together post earthquakes.
Librarians are superb people and your ones are splendid as you say given all the upheaval and misery people in Christchurch have experienced and are still experiencing. My local library has been a real haven for me at times in the past decade. I am a regular borrower:-)
Whenever I think my rates are too high I remember that they support the library system and that makes me feel better; a little!
Our libraries have had their budgets cut in the past year or so but the services and staff are still top notch. We fought to keep staff levels up in the past year and we succeeded….!
I love libraries too, and recently borrowed “Moranthology”, but ended up returning it before I’d had a chance to read it. I obviously missed some gems.
Libraries are such vibrant places with so many things on tap. I don’t know “Moranthology” but will look it out. I remember reading a piece by American author Ann Lamott about the possible closure of public libraries in her state and how passionate she and others were about saving the libraries. I would walk in the streets to keep our wonderful public libraries.
Me too!
The Chch Library has just announced that we can all download three pieces of music each week for free, and keep them forever. Farewell itunes.
Wow that is a bonus Ruth. Enjoy your chosen sounds:-)
so true… the one place where we aren’t consumers – lovely quote…. there’s a sort of extra equality and a sort of connection in a library, , maybe because we do all recognise that extra dimension of mind in each person there….
I like your thoughts. So many and varied people benefit from the services and resources of the libraries we are so fortunate to have.
Nice quote. I too love libraries.
It is a good quote isn’t it? I knew you would love libraries too Juliet.
I remember walking to the library with my mother and brothers when I was a kid. The library made me realize there was a big interesting world out there. I visit my library often. Nice post.
My weekly trips to a library with a parent either on foot or by train or car were memorable too. Libraries have always been a favourite place of mine.