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Finding something for everyone

Janet Bailey
Special to the Reporter-News

“Every reader his or her book. Every book its reader.” ― S.R. Ranganathan, “Five Laws of Library Science”

Ranganathan’s quote was one of the first things I learned in Library school and one of the quotes I think about as I order materials for Abilene Public Library. We take our patrons and their requests very seriously and love to have conversations about what you, our patrons, want to read.

Recently, I encountered a very engaging young man in our Main Library. He came up to the desk and asked where the books on the Titanic could be found. So, I took him to our shelves in the children’s section and asked what reading level he felt most comfortable with to determine whether I should also show him the adult books as well. We found our “well loved” books on the Titanic and we proceeded to talk for many minutes about facts of the disaster. He was very eloquent and focused. He made me smile, but he also spurred me to see if we could find some more books and resources on the Titanic for our juvenile shelves. 

As I reflected on our transaction, I realized that the library staff in my small town in rural Idaho showed me how to treat young people in the library 43 years ago. I was once 10 years old too and microscopically focused on the United States westward movement and specifically the Oregon Trail. I read all the books the library had and then read them again and again and again.

One day, I went to check out my books at the counter and before I could give them my card so that the library machine could make the “kachunk” sound and they could stamp my books with the due date with a “thump”, “thump”, “thump”, she handed me a book about the Oregon Trail and the Whitman massacre. She told me she saw the book was being published, thought of me and ordered it for me as she knew I would enjoy reading it. I still remember reading that book for the first time, I remember what the librarian looks like and I remember the smell of that library. 

In library school, that memory returned about that observant librarian who united me with the information I craved. That memory has lasted half a lifetime and has given me a vocation.

Technical Services processed over 7,500 patron requests last year and we expect this year to be even bigger. We want to hear about what you want to read, so please pick up the phone, contact us through Facebook or send us an e-mail via the “Item Request” link on our webpage. Or, best yet, come in and tell us in person what interests you and how we can provide the materials and resources that you want.
https://www.reporternews.com/story/life/columnists/2019/04/14/finding-something-everyone/3428808002/
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