Have you ever thought about this?   Is it a collection of world history and literature?  We have lost these collections many times. The Library of Alexandria is at the bottom of the Mediteranean Sea. Various political regimes or various zealots collected or destroyed written material at their whim.  There is an interesting book that recounts some of this history titled How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill if you think you might be interested.

Libraries were at one time the private collections of the wealthy.  At some time along the way libraries became the repository for local knowledge-yes locally originating information. Libraries became the University of the Common Man (those who couldn’t afford or access an education or one beyond 5th or 8th grade) with collections of fiction and nonfiction materials mostly accessed for the increase of knowledge, rarely if never for pleasure. So what about now?  Just about everyone in the US has access to a library. There are standards, lists and statements everywhere concerning the fate and use of libraries in the 21st century.  Now keep in mind that we are probably in the infancy, possibly entering adolescence, of the internet.

At the Maine Library Association’s joint conference with the Maine Association of School Libraries, Eli Neiburger, Deputy Director Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan, was one of our keynote speakers.  I challenge you to listen to the Eli’s talk on Youtube (or any of his talks uploaded to Youtube) which is basically the same one he gave Monday during lunch in Bangor.  I challenge you to think about what he says and get back to me.

I like the idea of locally created information.  What does that mean to you?  Do you have information someone else on the island might find beneficial or interesting? We have local oral histories that can be checked to read and listen to.  What if the library had a collection of cake pans, knitting needles, or various but not easily available tools or items for you to check out? What could our library have on the shelves, unique to our situation living on an island, that might come in handy to check out rather than buying or going to the mainland to rent? What service might we provide?

AND NOW totally on another note–please remember, you do not own any of those digital books you have purchased.  But that is another story.  If you have a Swan’s Island Library card you have access to audio and ebooks at Overdrive.  Save yourself some money and check it out.

#mainelibraries2014