Here's a book with the same title as one I used in the post of December 14, 2018, although with a different subtitle, and author: I'd Rather Be Reading: a Library of Art for Book Lovers, by Guinevere de la Mare. It's a rather nice little collection of essays, art, poems ... all about the joy of a bookish life. As a child, the author was at first determined NOT to learn to read, she was quite stubborn about it, until an amazing teacher changed her mind. (Find out how)! If asked, could you pick out your 25 most favorite books? How would you do so? And, I have a new favorite saying: 'less selfies, more shelfies.' YES!

Part of our Lives: a People's History of the American Public Library, by Wayne A. Wiegand is a dense and detailed book, but also a most interesting read. Early libraries were designed to 'improve' the lives of those who read their books, so collections were made up of non-fiction materials. (It was actually rather amusing how long it took for fiction to be an accepted part of the collection). There was a time when women needed a note from their doctor to check out a medical book. Men and women had separate reading areas. There were spittoons in the corners (think for a moment what happened when there weren't). I loved the little bits about how now well known people got their start in a local library. Or how some libraries were so popular that staff would be escorted to work ... by children, dogs, and in some cases, goats! I was saddened by how long it took to desegregate. W.E.B. DuBois was refused entry to a library his taxes helped support, and where his books were on the shelf. And I loved how branch libraries adapted to their neighborhoods, whether that meant offering ESL classes, or sewing machines.

Reading Hermit With Dog