A few years ago, 770 people responded to the essay “Love Letter to Libraries, Long Overdue” in the New York Times. One comment especially resonated, “...libraries are the beating hearts of their communities. What we borrow from them pales in comparison to what we keep.”
In April, we celebrate National Library Week, which invites a shout out to our public library. Each day we welcome hundreds of people, young and old, who come read to a therapy dog, improve their English speaking skills, talk to a naturalist, attend a STEAM program or research a family tree.
And, yes, they check out books, too.
Since Benjamin Franklin donated 116 books to a Massachusetts town in 1790 to start a lending library, the public library has been a “temple of learning, ambition, and aspiration for towns and cities throughout the United States.”
Today’s library proudly carries out Franklin’s original intention as well as adding several new services to keep up with 21st century demands. The Fauquier Public Library each month adds about 700 books to our 190,000 print collection. We subscribe to over 120 print magazines, over 3,000 e-Magazines and provide access to 46,000 e-books/e-audio books. There are more than 40 online databases and other electronic services – including streaming video, online games and recipes - available at fauquierlibrary.org. We offer Wi-Fi, computers and mobile hotspots.
And, it’s all free with your library card.
If you’re reading this, you probably have a card. But does your family, your neighbor, boss or friend?
If not, get busy and sing our praises. They’ll be glad you did.
We’ll close with another NYT comment, “What other single institution can do so much good?”
Amen to that!
Maria Del Rosso
Director, Fauquier Public Library