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About North Douglas herald. (Drain Or) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2024)
Page 4 August 2024 Letters from the Librarian “Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Won’t you join us? We are thrilled to offer a free puppet show and dinner August 7 at 5 pm in the Civic Center at 205 West A Avenue. Thoughts on libraries, freedom of speech, freedom to read, and other freedoms we hold dear. Upon entering the Mildred Whipple Library, one is surrounded with color and light. Soaring east- and north-facing windows flood the library with bright sunshine or filtered beauty, depend- ing on cloud cover of course. Color-coded signs direct: “Juvenile Fiction - Foreign Language - Audiobooks on CD - You ‘Otter’ Be Reading - Periodicals - Nonfiction - Local History” and more. So much more awaits inside the doors of the library. Information, entertainment, air conditioning, self checkout, assisted check out, reference help, a puzzle to work, art supplies and board games to use in the library or at home. Computers are available for searching for a job, printing those pesky return labels for packages, checking email, playing games, researching all manner of subjects. Oh, and we have books! Books of all sizes, topics, genres, books for all ages. Then, in addition to the books, I mustn’t forget friends. Make new friends, and keep the old/One is silver and the other gold (my childhood Bluebird song is now stuck in my head). Inside the library we make friends, find friends, and discuss with these friends all manner of subjects. Friendly library staff members are ready to help or to chat. Fami- lies and patrons of all ages enjoy the library five days a week during seemingly chaotic programs and during nearly silent hours upon hours. Do you know what you won’t find in the library, though? A political debate. I like to think that in our district we all have many things in common. Like the library, we are built with beauty and differences of opinion. In spite of our differences, and maybe a little because of our differences, in the library we fo- cus on our common ground. You don’t have to love books to enter the library, and you certainly don’t have to love crafting or puppet shows to enter the library. You do have to be mindful of others’ freedoms and rights to enter the library. This may mean that the one sign you didn’t ex- pect is a surprise. It says “Politics-Free Zone.” We respect your opinion and cherish your right to vote and to participate in local, regional, state and national government. We believe deeply in your right to free speech. AND, in order to protect our community’s gathering place, we want you to have those important conversations somewhere other than the library circulation desk. Thank you for helping to make it possible for all community members to enjoy the programming and materials that the Mildred Whipple Library offers. One more thing... please do join us for our community’s traditional “Family Night” dinner and puppet show. On August 7 at 5 p.m. we will host a “Super Silly Circus” from Dragon Theater Puppets and Princesses. The Friends of the Library will serve a free dinner, and library staff will have lots of door prizes and games for friends of all ages. Thank you for being a part of what makes the Mildred Whipple Library so beautiful. Miriam Sisson, Director Mildred Whipple Library, North Douglas Library District ndld.org 541-836-2648 North Douglas Herald
