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Like books? Freedom? Democracy?
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Like books? Freedom? Democracy?
  I’m writing about libraries this week – specifically, about the Angleton Library. Even more specifically, about the Angleton Friends of the Library, which needs some help. Angleton Friends of the Library was originally established in 1976 and re-energized in 2005, but the basic goals of the group have always remained the same: promoting community awareness and use of the library; and providing assistance for furnishings, books, equipment and special or unusual items.  The Friends Group did a survey and found that many people simply didn't know about the great activities that went on at the library – from showing movies, to holding craft sessions for children and adults, to hosting tax-help seminars. The Friends Group held several fundraisers and voila – the Angleton Library now has an outdoor marquee which the library staff uses to announce upcoming events. As people have embraced the digital age, computers are critical. The Friends Group has purchased additional and replacement computers to help keep up with the overwhelming demand for online access. New children's furniture, computers and toys, Wii consoles and games, and movie licenses are unbudgeted items that the Friends of the Angleton Library has funded to support the library staff and our community.  That’s what Friends of the Angleton Library has done for you. Here’s what you can do for them: Be a friend. Join the Angleton Friends of the Library. Come to the annual general membership meeting on April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Library. If you look at Area Events & Activities this week, you’ll see that the Angleton Friends of the Library need not just members, but members willing to serve on the 2010-2012 Board of Directors, in the posts of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two at-large board members.  If you would like to join, or participate at the Board of Director level, you can get information at the library or email lynne.randall@att.net. Randall, the current board secretary, is leaving town for a few days, so allow a little time for a reply. Why should you join, and serve? Because the library is important to our community, as all libraries are important to their communities; and because the Friends are important to our library, especially in the the present economy.  I could tell you why libraries are so important, to our community and our nation and to the free world. I could trace the history of libraries back to ancient Rome, when collections of Greek and Latin scrolls were kept available in the dry rooms of the huge Roman baths; or explain why throughout history, attackers in times of war have targeted their victims’ storehouses of information - their libraries. But the truth is, I couldn’t say it nearly as eloquently as it has been said hundreds of times through history. Below, some inspiration for you to visit the library, support the library, and serve the library and community by joining the Friends of the Angleton Library:  Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest. And even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and libraries of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them.  All that mankind has done, though, gained or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books. Don't join the book burners. Don't think you are going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go into your library and read every book. What is more important in a library than anything else - than everything else - is the fact that it exists. The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library. There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.  No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a public library. Knowledge is free at the library. Just bring your own container.  |
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