Library memories
This is the Carnegie Public Library today in Valley City, our home town. Many of us 61er's spent many hours here. I know I did. It was here that I discovered, on a shelf, among those long, narrow rows of shelves, a book called "The Radio Announcer's Handbook." I devoured that book and it helped me get a job at KOVC. It was the first step in a life-long career in mass communications. At the library, I met my friends, we studied together, and explored the world I was about to enter as a high school graduate. Over the years, whenever I talked to young people about their education continuing after they graduate, I always told them that "your library card is more valuable than your Visa." It's true. The library is the key to life-long learning and I have been a direct beneficiary of this resource. - Larry Gauper, VH61 - click on picture for larger image
8 comments:
I couldn't agree with you more, Larry! Our wonderful Carnegie library was a fantastic refuge and resource. I always include a little traipsing through the stacks there whenever I'm back in Valley City.
Agreed! I check to make sure it still smells like it used to. Loved being there as I was an avid reader, going all the way back to my childhood when I went to the basement for my books and story hour. I can remember checking out Dr. Zhivago in my teen years, reading it, but not really understanding it. I found an old copy at a used book sale, and now I plan to read it from an adult point of view.
Also, as a historic preservationist, I have been pleased at the good care they have taken of the library, and even the addition was done properly, not creating what we preservationsts call "TUMORS" when they are done without concern to the original architecture of the building!
It really was about the smell -- just right and kind of musty -- like the library! If you want to read a really wonderful book about libraries, read Dewey by Vicki Myron -- a true story of a midwest library and the cat who captured the town. Great easy read.
Thanks for the comments! I thought this might strike a chord with many of us. I took the photo about a year ago during a visit. I walked through the library and visited with the librarian. While I appreciate the resources of our new libraries in Fargo, there's something very special about my "first" library. And I'm glad to see it's continuing to grow. The local folks have achieved some outstanding improvements and they just received a number of brand-new computers with "System 7." I look forward to stopping by during our July get-together, and I'm betting many others will do the same - Larry
I have been out of town for the last week so was excited to come home and check the blog. I chuckled when I saw the picture and comments about the old library. I remember the books, but I remember that it also served the purpose of a great place to continue the social process. In other words a great place to meet your friends and study later. We had Ma Walker at the canteen and the librarian at the library. We were so lucky!!!
Thanks, Dennis, for your comment and am glad you look forward to checking the blog!
Google is tracking the number of visitors to the blog and as soon as we get a report for a period of time, I'll post that data.
Meanwhile..I remember friends like Tom Kahler studying with me at one of those tables and we'd start laughing at something we saw in a magazine. Then the librarian would have to come over..Mrs. Tracy, I think, and tell us to quiet down. We were such rebels!
Such rebels!!! It wasn't more than five years ago that Mrs. Langemo told me what good kids our class was and that we were a special class. (Somehow I don't think she would find that sentence grammatically correct, but you know what I mean!) Anne Haugaard tells me that also! And we were - good kids!
It was most definitely Mrs. Tracy, the Librarian. And I do remember Tom Kahler laughing and goofing around . . . perhaps Doug Peterson too?? She was a stern lady, but I think she had to project that image to keep us all in line!
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