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Library offers a lot that's free to discover [The Buffalo News, N.Y.]
(Buffalo News (NY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 17--NORTH TONAWANDA--Author James Michener once said he was "saved from a life of ignorance by my little hometown library," adding that he liked "libraries so much that I married a librarian."
You'll find dozens of Michener books in the North Tonawanda Public Library --like "The Bridges at Toko-ri" and "Hawaii," and including large-print and audio books--presided over by librarians Shannon Smith and Jewel De La Rosa, who said that the library, at 505 Meadow Drive, has been reinvented in recent years.
The library recently hosted a demonstration on home-brewing beer as part of its new, and free, "As Seen @Your Library" program series.
The yearlong series also will include fresh takes on crochet projects, bookbinding and do-it-yourself fashions. The mission of this series is to enlighten library patrons on hobbies and interests, as well as foster appreciation for the selection of innovative books in the North Tonawanda collection, the librarians said.
Crafts, hobbies and art projects are just the start, as programs will take place at 7 p. m. the first Monday of every month. On Feb. 1, library patrons will learn about "crafting" as a business, using the Web site Etsy.com to sell online crafts and artwork. Several local sellers will discuss how it works, and how to market yourself online.
De La Rosa, 33, has her master's degree in library science from the University at Buffalo. She said that even in these days of iTunes, Netflix and Kindle, the library matters.
Why offer this series? "I think a lot of people who aren't regular users of their public library forget what the library has to offer. As children, we visit the library for story time and crafts, but often, as adults, do not return.
We're hoping to inspire people who may have lost the library in their lives, find a little piece of it that they've been missing, or at least have a little fun or learn something new in the process.
How about your own experience with the library when growing up?
I remember as a child looking forward to visiting the Central Library downtown on Thursday nights, riding the escalator upstairs to the children's room to take out handfuls -- or armfuls -- of hardcover picture books. The library was a valuable resource for our family, offering free access to a world of information -- a regular treasure trove for a little girl who couldn't read enough. Becoming a librarian was a natural selection for me. Growing up in the city of Buffalo with little money, the library offered books to read, recreational activities, story time, crafts that I may not have otherwise been exposed to.
We know some people who wanted to become librarians -- until they learned it wasn't about lounging about all day reading novels. What do you do?
Many people assume that being a librarian means that you sit around reading books all day -- with a tight bun, and your finger to your lips to SHHH! at a moment's notice -- but there's so much more to it than that. My days are spent planning computer instruction sessions, ordering and reading reviews on new music, or working on the [library] Web site [ntlibrary. org].
What do you like about your job?
Answering any question that anyone needs answered at any time can be quite interesting, and challenging -- you never know what will come next. Whether it's someone looking for a lost ancestor or car repair information in our databases, the latest best seller, Lady GaGa CD, or HBO series on DVD -- we are here to serve them.
You have Lady GaGa -- we're gaga for her! What else can you offer library visitors?
The library offers research assistance, computer access, programs, books, and magazines, music, DVDs, regardless of what socioeconomic bracket you live in -- [it's] the great equalizer.
The most rewarding aspect of librarianship is the look on the patron's face when you know you have really helped them and made a difference in their day. Sometimes it's as simple as answering a question, finding something they've been searching for, or something larger, such as setting up an e-mail address or instructing on how to search the Internet for jobs, or apply for unemployment after being laid off, or keeping in contact with family members who've moved away.
When that happens, do you still get a childhood-library thrill?
It brings me back to the feeling I experienced as a child, walking out of the library with my piles of books, the excitement and anticipation of what the library had to offer.
What challenges do librarians face these days?
Libraries are facing many challenges these days, due to budget cuts and the economic recession. It's in times like these that we're needed the most -- whether it is to offer computer access for someone to apply for a job, or to provide an alternative to a big box bookstore.
Many people may not know what we have to offer. We're hoping that this new series of programs will bring in those people to rediscover the library and view it as a 'cool' place to go. From free Wi-Fi, to the latest TV series on DVD, to downloadable audio books or virtual reference, the library has come a long way since the days of the card catalog.
e-mail: Have an idea about a Niagara County resident who'd make an interesting question-and- answer column? Write to: Louise Continelli, Q&A, The Buffalo News, P. O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240, or e-mail her at lcontinelli@buffnews.com
To see more of The Buffalo News, N.Y., or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.buffalonews.com.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Buffalo News, N.Y.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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