By Sharon Ginsburg
Although I love books and have been heard to say that I read for exercise, public libraries offer more than just wonderful books to read and are great assets in every community. It is not just books on anything imaginable, but the librarians know everything or know how to look things up and find it for you. There are computers for public use and Wi-Fi for your own laptop, so you don’t need to have a techy friend for internet service at home to check your e-mail or google stuff. Not to mention that any book you may want to check out and not necessarily purchase, the library can borrow ILI, inter-library loan. Many libraries have a story hour weekly for preschoolers or other kid activities plus periodic music performance events. All these services are hassle and charge free to the public, that is us! If you teach your children to enjoy books by reading to young children and even toddlers from the beautifully illustrated children’s books that you simply borrow from the library, children will model from you and learn to entertain and educate themselves by reading. Books are good. Yes, it is e-books and kindle nowadays too for adults, but that is still reading.
When I traveled internationally to a third world country some years ago, books were valuable and not among household possessions. But there at the local library to check out a book, a significant monetary deposit was required which was refunded when the treasured book was returned. Check your local library website or Facebook page and call for time and date of local music performance, story hour for preschoolers, and other free family friendly events.
The Rupert Library will have music and munchies the weekend before Halloween with a local band called Hidden Mountain Treasures playing oldies and rock ‘n roll. Plus, they have quilters and card players come in periodically to make the library noisy with a fun, social time. Now that the remodeling at the Ronceverte Library is more under control, they are back to their afternoon weekly games schedule with Mah-Jongg and Rook on different days and a Jeopardy Trivia evening. Beginners are welcome. White Sulphur Springs Library has music monthly being planned with Leah Trent, harpist, on the schedule so far for December 12. All the libraries have more going on than books and DVDs to check out. So, call your local library wherever you live and find out! Although it might not pass for exercise to read a book or watch a movie, just getting yourself to the library might be exercise and is also good for the brain.
