Free to Read
Reflections on a life of library love, how to support your local library IHO National Library Week, plus my Weekly What
Libraries have always been an important part of my life. Some of my earliest memories involve the library, specifically the magic of Columbus’s impressive Main Library and dragging a stack of carefully selected picture books into cozy reading nooks in the Children’s section post-story hour.
In middle school, I spent many a recess in the school library, helping shelve books and browsing the stacks. Not because I didn’t have friends, I would often drag at least one along with me, rather it’s where I wanted to be.
I spent many, many, many hours at my local branch first reading every interesting book from the children’s chapter books shelves (Baby Sitters Club and Goosebumps were my jam) before moving onto the teen shelves way too early (R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, Lurlene McDaniel, Lois Duncan, Beverly Cleary, Francine Pascal, Caroline B. Cooney, Cynthia Voight among my favorites), and graduating to the adult section, unfettered, far too early (Stephen King, Danielle Steele, and V.C. Andrews are totally appropriate tween reading, right?!)
During school years, the library was a frequent meeting place to work on group projects allowing access to computers, printers, copiers, resource materials, and plenty of space to layout our oversized tri-fold poster boards.
In college, I still visited my local public library for pleasure, but as a commuter student I spent much time in many libraries across campus enjoying quiet study space, computer and internet access, or just a comfortable, free place to be between classes. Though The Ohio State University boasts a slew of libraries across campus, each with its own merits, my favorite place on campus was the top floor of the main library. I’d take a questionably rickety elevator up to the 11th floor which offered tables and chairs, the perfume of millions of old books, and a view across the Oval all the way to the skyline of downtown Columbus.
As an entirely overwhelmed young mother with a winter baby and fear of going out, one of the only places I felt comfortable was the library. Our first outing turned into meeting friends for baby story time, which became toddler story time, evolving to summer reading programs. As adults, I hope my kids fondly remember libraries as an important part of their childhoods too.
This week is National Library Week, an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role of libraries in transforming lives and strengthening communities. I live for an opportunity to celebrate libraries, librarians, and library workers as I know the vital role they perform is more important than ever. While I’m reflecting on the importance of libraries throughout my life and hope they will remain so to the next generation, Ohio’s Republican lawmakers are celebrating by attacking our libraries through defunding, implementing nonsensical regulations to LGBTQ+ content, and regulating library trustees to usurp their power.
Republicans attempt to sell us a fictional story that their attacks are about anything other than what they are: control. Libraries connect us to information, resources, and each other, acting as a bulwark against the fascist plot to divide and conquer. Bad actors want you and your children ignorant, distracted, and isolated — a connected, educated, and engaged population is much harder to control.
I know these policies are unpopular, but stopping them is predicated upon enough people actually paying attention and taking action when warranted. Ohioans take their libraries seriously, that’s why we have some of the best public library systems in the nation. It has been heartening seeing communities, led by the libraries, mobilize against these attacks with real impact. This is powerful democracy in action. I hope we have the attention span to stay the course.
What you can do as National Library Week comes to a close
Celebrate libraries year round, most importantly by utilizing your library!
Supporting your local library can be as easy as having a library card, visiting your local library, taking advantage of their programs and services, or borrowing books, and encouraging those around you to do the same.
I frequently joke my high checkout rate is a public service, but there’s some truth to that! Circulation numbers and visits help libraries justifying their funding and return on investment.
Stay tuned into legislation affecting libraries
This is critically important. In 2024, more than 120 anti-library bills were introduced across 29 states. These bills propose a range of actions including book bans, limiting access, and criminalizing librarians and educators.
If you are in a red state this is your future if it isn’t already underway. These yahoos literally utilize the same playbook to craft their policies. On the other hand, some blue states are implementing “Right to Read” legislation in support of libraries. (Truly, this is the most ridiculous timeline. Just imagine the things we could potentially accomplish if we weren’t forced to spend our energy and resources defending public schools and libraries.)
Nationally, Trump is dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services abruptly terminating federal funding for libraries, concerning for both supporters of libraries and the U.S. Constitution.
Resources:
American Library Association has a detailed legislation tracker where you can easily identify what’s going on in your state. They also offer advocacy alerts and action items to Show Up for Our Libraries.
Book Riot’s Literary Activism newsletter is doing some great reporting providing news you can use and tools for bookish activism.
Friends of Libraries. These are non-profit, charitable groups that organize to support their libraries through fundraising and grassroots advocacy. Connect with your local group to see how you can get involved and be in the know.
In fact, IHO of National Library Week (and Ohio Republican efforts to attack our libraries) I finally became a paying member of the Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. I’d encourage you to do the same! I noticed memberships can be gifted. If this is available to you a membership would make a thoughtful gift for any library lover in your life.
Tell me:
Are you a library lover?
Did you grow up at the library like me?
Have you done anything special IHO National Library Week?
What I’m…
Reading
Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky. A tech billionaire and his wife crash land their hot air balloon in the middle of a post-pandemic first date. This book is basically the literary equivalent of an axiom I find myself uttering far too often: billionaires; they’re not like us. As with Hurricane Girl before it, I enjoy Dermansky’s books fine while I’m reading them (well written! so absurd!) but I don’t find them particularly impactful or anything with real staying power.
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. A woman trapped in a nightmarish system of surveillance and detention after being jailed for anticipated crimes - that’s right, she hasn’t committed the crime yet, but an algorithm has decided the potential is there. What follows is a smart and uncanny exploration of technology, for-profit prison systems, and the freedoms we unthinkingly relinquish to Big Tech.
We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin. I have read each of Austin’s three novels. I *loved* Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead. I quite liked Interesting Facts About Space. I was a little unsure about We Could Be Rats but it really grew on me as it went along. I’m going to reveal a little more information about the structure of this story than the publisher’s synopsis. I don’t think I’m sharing any real spoilers, but if you don’t want to know anything else about the book just fast forward from here: I liked it.
The story is told in three parts by two sisters. Part one is a series of attempted suicide notes from the younger sister (this is made clear from the first page). Part two is the older sister’s POV written from her sister’s hospital bedside. And part three is from the younger sister’s journal after she wakes up. Perhaps the dueling POV is meant as a surprise, but I actually think understanding this would have been helpful to me going into the book. What unfolds is a story exploring the sisters’ perceptions of one another and reflections on a shared childhood from slightly different perspectives.
Listening
Book Riot Podcast: 5 Fascinating Stats About Modern Reading Habits, with Laura McGrath. The episode really delivered on the title’s promise as I found this discussion truly fascinating! Laura McGrath is an author, historian, and data scientist and honestly, her credentials combine some of my favorite nerdy elements for a perfect intersection of my personal interest. The conversation digs into the stats on modern reading habits. McGrath’s
Substack has quick becoming one of my must reads.
Watching
White Lotus, Season 3 (Max). Fiiiinnaaallly able to watch this since the season is fully available. You know I don’t mess with week to week nonsense. It’s so good!
Empire Records (Prime). Because Rex Manning Day.
Eating & Drinking
We had some chilly, rainy weather so I seized the opportunity to make this Navy Bean Soup with a ham bone I stashed in the freezer around the holidays. I’ve made this recipe several times now (basically whenever I find myself with a ham bone!) It’s super simple and requires little hands on time. I like to add some carrots and celery to the mix. I also use a stick blender to puree some of the beans after I remove the ham bone, before I add the ham bits back in. It makes for a sort of creamy broth.
I’ve been making this Shredded Buffalo Chicken in the Crock Pot for many years. I don’t bother adding butter. It’s good on buns, in a wrap, atop a salad, or stuffed inside a potato. I ate it over a baked sweet potato, my family enjoyed it on buns. I served it alongside salad and ranch potato wedges (potatoes cut into wedges, tossed in EVOO and the other half of that ranch seasoning packet. Roast at 400-degrees for 40 mins, stir halfway through.)
Meatloaf at my kid’s request. This has been my go-to recipe for many years. I usually make it with a combo of ground beef and turkey. I skip the bacon and brush on the glaze in the last 15-20 mins of cooking. Served with mashed potatoes and honey glazed carrots (boil carrots ~10 mins, drain and return to pot, melt in 1T butter with 1T honey, season with salt, pepper, and a little sprinkle of garlic powder. I often use a bag of baby carrots for ease, but sliced carrots work too depending on what I have on hand.)
Links + Loves
Genre Juggernaut: Measuring “Romance” (Public Books) “What makes romance so unique is that it stands apart as a double-outlier: both much larger and much more modular, much busier internally, than any other major genre of fiction: mystery, fantasy, thriller, historical fiction, young adult, classics. Only the fiction and nonfiction groups, in their entirety, present such a combination of large size and elaborately subdivided internal structure.” This piece was referenced in Book Riot Podcast episode I linked above. Some really interesting data on romance as a genre, such as: Goodreads users file books on their romance shelves almost as frequently all fiction generally.
Also discussed in that podcast episode: Gen Z and Millennials are using public libraries at higher rates than older generations (Publishers Weekly)
As a reader who has enjoyed Beverly Cleary throughout my life both as a child and as a parent reading the Ramona and Mouse and the Motorcycle series several times in their entirety and Henry Huggins many more, I appreciate this short piece on The Literary Impact of Beverly Clearly (Book Riot).
IHO National Library Week here are Ten Ways to Show Up for Libraries (American Library Association).
Last year IHO of National Library Week I did a super nerdy deep dive into library stats.
As we finish up this season of White Lotus you better believe this article was of interest to me: Between the lines: what do White Lotus characters’ book choices tell us? (The Guardian)
The PEN America Literary Awards Finalists have been announced (PEN America) Psst… The Blueprint was on my 2024 Shoutouts list!
What are you reading, listening to, eating, watching, liking, and/or linking this week? Let’s chat!
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Until next time!
Love this celebration of libraries! I'm looking forward to listening to that Book Riot podcast.
Omg finally someone else who read Lurlene McDaniel 😅 I've tried explaining her books to people in Australia and they are so confused hahaha. I feel like those were the peak Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul years, too.