There are libraries around the country and in some parts of the world that are getting rid of library fines.  This has led to libraries looking into this practice as there are arguments that it increases the number of visitors to the library.  However, there are some people who think this is possibly a bad decision for libraries as late fees can be helpful to a library or town. Yet, there are a lot of articles around, and one website devoted to ending library fines, that all point out the people that might need the library, like low-income families, tend to shy away from the library when fines are present.…

A great event is starting soon for kids who love reading in the Buncombe County Area.  Every year a new theme is hoped to spark the interests of readers or feed the love of certain topics for patrons of the library.  The Buncombe County Library site says, “The theme for the 2019 Summer Reading Program is “A Universe of Stories,” celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. After the opening party at the Oakley/South Asheville Library, fun space-themed events will take place at all the branch libraries throughout the entire summer.” The event will begin on Saturday, June 1 at the South Asheville/Oakley Branch Library at 10:00…

Some communities have only one library or they are secluded and far from a place where they have easy access to books.  While that alone is something that warrants further discussion, there are communities and groups that are creating their own literary world in their neighborhoods.   Mini libraries were a big hit years ago when they started popping up and while they are not as much of a trend nowadays you’ll still see them around.  There are places that still offer already constructed libraries or show you how to build your own. Some people have these little book lending homes just outside their real house and, in some cases,…

A recent article from The Guardian did a fantastic job of reiterating some of the benefits of a local library that go beyond just borrowing books.  While it’s commonly known amongst frequent library patrons that borrowing books is just one part of the services that a library offers, there are a lot of people who may still miss out on the resources that come from the local library. The article says that the library is a place of equality and that’s true in a lot of ways.  No matter your status, be it economic, educational, or your personal situation, the library is there to serve without discrimination.  I love the…

I’ve argued before that having internet, high-speed internet to be specific, is becoming a staple in our world but so many rural towns in North Carolina are lacking, especially here in the western part of the state.  In some counties, a handful of providers, if not only one or two, are all that’s available and for some homeowners there is simply “nothing to be done”, according to these providers, because of their location. Yet, more of the world is moving to requiring internet access, for nothing else than because it makes life easier in a lot of ways. There are those who need internet access to apply for jobs but…

Saying you don’t need the internet or a computer, in today’s world, is akin to saying in the 70s and 80s, “I don’t really need a telephone” or “Electricity is something we can do without.”  And while many people have made a life in rural areas without a phone or electricity well into the days where these things were the norm, these things are now staples in many homes and became staples.  Yet, today, being connected with news, learning opportunities, job search tools, entertainment, and so much more is easier than it has ever been for most people but there are still those that struggle with using the tools available…

We just completed National Library Week and the theme surrounded the idea that a library creates a strong community.  This is one of the main reasons libraries are so very important to our towns and communities because they are a way to bring together people, be they in a small town or a large city.  Here in North Carolina, we have plenty of both, with cities like Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh, and Greensboro playing host to large numbers of people and small towns in our beautiful state seems to be innumerable. So, with this being the case bringing together people from a crowded city or pulling people in from more rural…

I love reading and even studied English in college just so I would be required to read.  It was great getting to read books and write about, discuss, and mull over their meanings or just enjoy the stories from contemporary to classic works.  While I don’t claim to be an expert, and I’m not the fastest of readers, I will always strive to spend my free time reading. Also, reading helps with understanding.  With Google and other search engines and resources literally in our hands, we can look up almost any information or fact or figure or bit of trivia in seconds. A love of reading, or just the ability…