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