My Experience With Libraries

by Marilyn Nelson

My first encounter with a library was when I worked in the Horace Mann Jr. High School library. I did not take out many books because I lived in Lakewood, Ohio and had a lot of playmates in my neighborhood to take up my leisure time and the big Lakewood library was far from where I lived. During high school, I had an excellent English teacher who had my class read Silas Marner by George Eliot. Since there was mystery and intrigue in it, I wanted more books with good stories. She recommended Wind in the Rigging by Howard Pease. After I had read it and other books by him, my long liking of books had begun.

The Mercer Carnegie Library has influenced my life in many ways. My main association with this library has been for over 50 years when I married and settled in Eliza Township, IL. Eliza Township was not included in the townships, which were included in its membership. So, I had to pay a fee to be a member, but have never regretted it. My children always enjoyed going to the library and checking out books, which interested them. Always I have benefited from the enjoyment of the fiction section and the non-fiction section for research especially on different world countries because my husband and I traveled extensively abroad. It was in the l990's that I was hired by the library and really began to appreciate all the services that it offered. As an apprentice I was taught how to use the office computer.

This training helped give me confidence to acquire a computer of my own and as is well known opens up a whole new world of Email, Internet and such. When my husband was ill I checked out many books on tape and a lot of books for him to read which helped pass the time for him. I am a big movie fan so have enjoyed the film section. The library has a big selection of magazines and newspapers, which can keep one up with the times. There are many events, which are planned for children, which introduces them to the library and usually brings in their parents, too. Now I am a member of the organization called, "Friends of the library and members who belong to it help raise funds by having book sales and selling Kringles at Holiday time. Also, I belong to the book club whose members read and discuss interesting books.

I have had the employees of the library use the IL inter-library system to order a book when not available in the library. If I am in Aledo and want the use of a computer, I can go to the library because there are three of them and they are available to the public. The future holds a planned expansion of the library, which will include handicapped accessible. As long as there are people who enjoy reading and holding a real book in their hands, I think the future of libraries is assured.