Libraries

I’ve fallen out of love with libraries because of the glittery distraction of strip mall book stores, but recently, I’ve recommitted to strengthen my relationship with free books. The Malad, Idaho public library is a one-story building that from the outside has the personality of a squash, but when you step inside, the thousands of characters living on the shelves in their hardbound shells are a sonata of stories. It’s mostly a children’s library with book bags and bean bags and miniature sofa sectionals. There’s a table with red Naugahyde straight-back benches on either side and a stuffed toy of Chicken Little sits on top of the picture book shelf. The paperback chapter books stand on tall carousals and it is obvious that they have all been read: The Boxcar Children #102 in the series, the Black Stallion’s Filly and a collection of Paul Zindel novels. But the one that really reminds me that libraries tie us to the community around us as well as worlds beyond us is the torn cover and splayed pages of Charlotte’s Web.