Being the kind of person who assesses the effects of a situation after the fact and not during it, I am just now looking at the library strike which shut down all branches over the past few months.
They are not actually going to open the doors to the public until tomorrow but I have heard that the book return slots are now re-0pened.
The day before the library 'closed' I was part of many who walked staggered away under a load of many books, not knowing how long the close-out would last. Subsequent articles and interviews with patrons have revealed just how multi-purposed the library is from books and videos etc. for shut-ins to talking books for the visually impaired to programs for all ages to a place to sit and read the paper or use the computer to audio material to listen to in the car to research for students and authors to photo-copying to just 'regular' borrowing. I'm sure there are more I have forgotten or don't know about.
I visit the library every day on the groceries-errands-bank-post office route. Every room in my home is a 'reading room' with books in 
it, most borrowed from the public library.
Many moves across the years have resulted in simplifying my library to this bookshelf and part of the stacks in the other rooms.
Every so often I sit down and spend time getting re-acquainted with these 'keepers' in the old favourites or cooking or self awareness or travel or home/ garden or fibre arts section (the last two being the largest). These books are 'family' - there when I need them, patiently waiting when I don't pay them attention, 'tried and true' either of long duration or newer acquisition having been 'tested' through the library.
I like how I can have ten or forty or eighty-eight books (I wonder if there is a limit?!) on loan from the library, how I can request a book not in the local system and most of the time have the library track it down ( it is exciting to look at the stamp when it arrives and see where it has come from; I want to write a note and tuck it into the book and say, "well, thanks from Victoria!"). I like how I can take all these books back when I have finished with them.
I look forward to the library opening again tomorrow. I look forward to taking grandkiddie to see the colourful carousel horse which he can sit upon and let him wander around and experience the huge number of books - even more than he has at home! He turned from baby to toddler while the library was closed (amazing how starting to walk does that to a person) so now he is ready and I am more than willing for the introduction.
Libraries have been a major part of my life from early childhood. I realize now how much I have missed it! I am so glad it will be open again. I may just see if I can find the recipe for snickerdoodle cookies in the Schmecks cookbooks on my shelves and take some in to those people friends who are going to be making the library happen again.
Hello Karen,
So nice to meet you through blogworld. I am relatively new at this, and I'm thinking I'm going to be enjoying it very much, especially when I have more time at the end of June. You guessed it, I'm a teacher. We have not been to Victoria yet; only got as far west as Vancouver when our son used to live there. Perhaps some day. I do have a friend, Dave Hockley, a retired principal, who lives in Victoria, so maybe we'll go west sometime again and get to the island. Libraries are special places. I can imagine your delight that they have opened their doors again. Although strikes are not nice, sometimes they are necessary to make the system work better. (That remark comes from a union steward:-) Me.) Take care.
Posted by: Barb Chappelle | April 07, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Hi Barb I believe one of my sons went to the school where Dave Hockley was principal - Vic High? Are you planning to put RSS on your blogs? I really like this because then the blog appears on my home page as it is posted so very convenient. I am sitting in front of an open window enjoying the late afternoon sun and it is - hailing! At least it sounds like hail. Or the rain is tap dancing. Quite glorious. All best.
Posted by: Karen | April 08, 2008 at 07:33 PM
Hi Karen,
Your reference to making Snickerdoodles inspired me to dash to my cookbooks and find my mother's recipe. It is hand written in ink on paper so impregnated with butter that the page is translucent. I used to think that Mom invented Snickerdoodles, as she seemed to always have a pan on the bake, and the name sounded like something only my mother could have thought of. Here is her recipe:
cream together:
1 cup soft butter
1.5 cups sugar
2 beaten eggs
blip of vanilla
sift together:
2.75 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
pinch of salt
Mix all ingredients, chill dough. Shape into walnut-sized balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture to coat (enough cinnamon to make the mixture dark reddish-brown). Place on on teflon baking sheet or line with baking paper, and leave enough space between balls to allow the dough to spread out. Mama would press half a pecan onto each ball before baking (but then we had pecan trees in the yard!). Bake in a medium oven - 325 - 375 F. for about 15 minutes. Do not overcook. Lift off paper immediately and cool on wire racks, as cookies become crisp quickly and can assume strange shapes if not careful. These are best fresh out of the oven, eaten while they are still warm and soft, and accompanied with a tall glass of cold milk. Mmmm.
Posted by: Anne Ginestier | April 13, 2008 at 06:59 AM