ONE CARD, ACCESS ALL LIBRARIES..

(c) library wallpaper

How often do we hear that the life of 'real' books is limited and ebooks are the future? It's not something I agree with, I think there is room for both. I'm composing this on my iPad which also serves as my Kindle and my general eReader, but you would never know I read ebooks if you could see my many bookcases and stacks of books.

This article, from Government News details some very exciting changes to the way our libraries are to be shared in the future... Click on the link below, to see why, I, along with many others, am  truly looking forward to this coming to a library nearby. Now, let's hope that the National and State Libraries are also involved.


All access for shared library smartcards

BEYOND THE DOOR

Copyright unknown Book Art Tumblr 

BEYOND THE DOOR

Page by page, I venture forth
to a world that was unknown
to lands of mystery, with footprints old
where seeds of life were sown
where hopes and dreams, they did abound
and children laughed and played.
But times did change and fortunes failed
so few of many families stayed.
They gathered up their worldly goods
they kissed their kin goodbye
their faces crumbled with despair
their eyes were barely dry.

I've read these tales so many times
and yet, still, I am in awe
of the courage, bravery and inner strength
of all who dared look beyond the door.

(c) Crissouli Nov 1, 2014

OH, FOR A BOOK...

BOOKS ARE NOT MY WHOLE LIFE...

WHAT KIND OF READER ARE YOU?

http://www.laura-e-kelly.com/reader-species-chart-available-poster/

A FAVOURITE LIBRARY

... or I'm sure it will be a favourite if I ever get to see it... 

This is the KANSAS CENTRAL LIBRARY.. very well known to booklovers everywhere for it's innovative facade... known as the Community Bookshelf...

Community Bookshelf

Central Library parking garage

Photo by Mike Sinclair

The Community Bookshelf is a striking feature of Kansas City's downtown. It runs along the south wall of the Central Library's parking garage on 10th Street between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue. The book spines, which measure approximately 25 feet by 9 feet, are made of signboard mylar. The shelf showcases 22 titles reflecting a wide variety of reading interests as suggested by Kansas City readers and then selected by The Kansas City Public Library Board of Trustees. Their final selection was made on March 16, 2004. The bookshelf was completed between March and the fall of 2004.

 The entrance is every bit as imposing...

 You can read more about the long history of the Kansas Central Library and the Community Bookshelf via the links below.

http://www.kclibrary.org/library-history

http://www.kclibrary.org/community-bookshelf

 Have you a favourite library, either one you frequent or one you would like to?

FAVOURITE LIBRARIES

Where is your favourite library?
                                
                                   What appeals to you the most?

                                                            Is there a library that you remember but that is no longer?



One of my favourites was the former South Brisbane Municipal Library... a building that has had many uses...


Quoting from

http://www.yourbrisbanepastandpresent.com/2010/06/south-brisbane-library.html       June 2, 2010

The building in the photograph below was originally constructed as the South Brisbane Post and Telegraph Office back in 1881; then it became the South Brisbane Municipal Library; and then the (South Brisbane) City Concert Hall, amongst other incarnations. The photograph is from 1898.

                             (Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #142454)


I loved the wooden panelling, the solid wood bookshelves, desks and chairs... to me, it was all that a library should be. I loved the light shining through the tall windows. I was saddened when it was closed. I missed the fortnightly trips in on the tram, the joy of selecting magazines and books and the pleasure of saving them till I had a quiet time to enjoy them. It was there that I found the first copies I had seen of the American teen magazine, Seventeen. It seemed so far removed from any of the magazines we had seen in Australia. 

However my first much loved library was the small and sometimes dark, School of Arts Library, in Urunga, NSW. There were few if any children's books there, but that didn't worry me a bit. I read my way through all manner of books, from classic novels, way above my age group, to dry and dusty tomes about country life. My favourites became the tales of nautical adventures. 

I was fascinated by the history and the wonderful old maps. The librarian, a lovely gentleman, would let me know whenever there were 'new' books to read. I think he was intrigued by this small girl who was so 'hungry' to read anything and everything she could get her hands on.

It was he who introduced me to Charles Dickens and Aeneas Gunn, still favourites today.

The library now has a new lease of life as the Urunga Museum, still a great place to visit, but now looks toward the river past the Caravan Park, rather than standing in the main street.

(c) Lynne Sanders- Braithwaite

Great memories...