Book-side Chat
By Sharon on July 13th, 2010HI everyone,
I am looking forward to using this blog to talk about what’s on my mind. I have been working at the Lenox Library for 3 months now, and have met many of you. Dozens of you have sat in my office to chat, often with laughter, and occasionally with tears. I have had people come up to me on the street or in the store with ideas that I should pursue to make the library a better place. I have learned one thing for certain — people are passionate about their library!
I believe in the power of conversation. Information and ideas are what libraries are all about. Persuasive words from Theodore Sedgwick in the Great Barrington court freed Elizabeth Feeman from slavery in 1781. Eloquent words from Henry Ward Beecher at the Church on the Hill in 1853 inspired people. And though I would not equate myself with either of them, I believe that we can understand, help, change, and grow through communicating with one another.
I am looking forward to communicating with you all about interesting people, interesting books, interesting ideas, and a very interesting library.
Dear Sharon Hawkes: i had the pleasure of meeting you July 31 at the Jeremy Ludkin / Tanglewood lecture that day. When i got home and looked at your literature, it occurred to me you might have some advice on my sorry subject: getting rid of books. i’m no burner and i hate to throw a book away, but my NY apartment is creeping up on me. Kindle and ebooks have slowed the encroachment somewhat, but i can’t take it any more — the ridicule, i mean, of my clutter. i can’t offer the books to you very conveniently and they’re not gems in any case. Some are dated law books (i was a legal journalist) of scant use to anyone, yet i cringe at tossing them anywhere. What does one do generally? Yes, offer them to libraries, and i can call the estimable Queens library, but i was just wondering whether there’s wisdom on the subject.
In light of your gracious hospitality, this comes under the heading of No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. If it’s too far out, toss this.
Meanwhile, i’ll be back at your handsome library next Tanglewood season, where i have been going just one weekend a year. Plainly you have a survival struggle and i wish you well. Jack MacKenzie
John P MacKenzie