When I was growing up, my mother and I would go “downtown” to shop. That is, my mother would shop in stores, and I would head for the public library to shop for books to check out. That began my close and never-ending relationship with libraries.
Later when I worked for a few years in that same downtown, I tended to spend many of my lunch hours reading books in the library I had visited as a child. Then, as I visited libraries in other cities where I lived, the library remained an important part of my life. That included the closest one to my home.
Today, the divisions between Americans have found their way into our libraries. We quarrel as to which books should be in our libraries, especially in the children’s sections. The strong divisions between adults now include divisions as to what children should be allowed to read about the topics that so divide older Americans.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that public libraries, free to all, rich and poor alike, are one of the western world’s great inventions. May they always be a free resource for the community. May everyone know the pleasure and worth of being able to read and have resources from which to read and learn.
Perhaps a better way to handle controversial issues is for parents and children to begin early to discuss books. A visit to the library can mean helping young children find books that interest them as well as setting up discussions about different books the child chooses and why they like them. The parent should keep in mind that eventually, of course, a child will grow to an age where they will be able to read whatever they choose. If parents spend time with their children when their children are growing, the children will most likely carry what they have learned and practiced into their teenage and adult years. At some point, they must be trusted to make their own choices.
The ability for parents and their children to freely discuss any topic and search for information about it can become a wonderful contribution to raising those children. It also can allow libraries to become places of enjoyment and learning, as it was when I was growing up.