Public libraries are an abundance of resources whether you live in a stick and brick home or travel fulltime like us. According to the American Library Association there are over 17,000 public libraries in the United States.
It is the goal of a library to provide community access to information. A changing society has required that our libraries also change. If you have not been in a library lately, today’s library is probably not the library you remember. Go explore what your local library has to offer. I guarantee you will learn something you didn’t know.
Library Card
Today’s library card provides the key to open doors of infinite opportunities. I remember getting dropped off at the local library when I was a teenager and I had a project due. I would start at the card catalog, then spend some time gathering the books from different rows. When I felt I had enough materials I would sit at one of the many tables perusing the materials.
I grew-up in a small community with a library which resided in a beautifully built granite stone building. The architecture was grand, classic and intimidating. The shelves were high, the lighting level low, with additional table lightening, and silence. The click and clack of the librarians shoes on the marble floor, followed by an occasional sneeze from the dusty books were the only sounds.
Once I had jotted down some notes, and decided which resources I wanted to bring home for further reading. I checked out my books and sat in one of the wooden armed chairs, reading until my mother returned to pick me up. This is the library of my youth. It’s not the library of today’s youth.
More than Books
Our domicile state is Nevada. We obtained a library card shortly after we established residency in our new state. It is a simple easy process, which only took a few minutes and some basic information. We belong to the library in Nevada, but we visit many libraries along our journey and use the resources they offer.
Today’s library is a buzz of activity. Public access to computers and printers is offered at many libraries. Life skills classes and opportunities as well as help connecting to community resources. Programs for literacy and job skills. Children’s story time and group readings. Private work spaces, provided for meetings. Group spaces for classes or projects.
Many libraries provide access to borrow toys like Lego kits and classic games or science kits. Puzzles are common to see set-up on a table encouraging people to participate in a community activity. I have also seen various tools, sewing machines, and instruments available to be borrowed. The days of borrowing just books and magazines is long gone in most communities. Today’s libraries feel vibrant and welcoming.
The Apps
Whether you are at the library or traveling there are may still be many resources at your fingertips. Listed below are the apps that our library provides us free access to. If you’re not sure what is available to you, a simple phone call or visit to your local library is a good place to start.
Boundless
Boundless is an app by Baker and Taylor, a library distributor, containing Ebooks and audiobooks. The content in this library app is focused on kids and teens. It includes age appropriate content to for them to read and listen to. In addition this app has activity sheets, coloring pages, and educator resource guides that can be printed and used.
Kanopy
This is a video streaming service that partners with libraries and universities to bring free entertainment to card holders. You can find movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films and educational videos. Libraries that participate will typically provide you with a specified number of loans per month for this app. Additionally, it is possible depending on the technology you own, to mirror these films from your devices to your TV.
Libby
Libby is the library reading app by Overdrive. If your library is a participant you can borrow ebooks and audiobooks through their app. It even allows you to download the books for the length you borrow them, in order to access them without internet. This has become one of our most used apps because it allows us to listen to audiobooks on long drives without having to stop because of internet or cell service.
Hoopla
This service provides access to over 500,000 items, by far the most out of these 4 apps. Here you can choose from audiobooks, ebooks, comics, magazines, movies, TV shows, and music. Many of the titles found through this app can also be downloaded to your device for use without internet or cell service.
Children’s Programs
The children’s programs which are offered in many communities, provide a head start on the path to literacy. From story times to youth summer reading programs. Today’s library has something for every age child. Crafting classes, science projects, STEM programs, robotics teams, as well as access to traditional groups like chess clubs and foreign language learning groups.
Jess and I visited the local library with our daughter and granddaughter. She was just over a year old and already knew her way around the designated children’s area. There were toys and books and the perfect sized lounge chairs for her. She was engaged with the toys while her mom picked out the week’s books. As other children entered the area she played with the toys alongside them. We spent about an hour playing and exploring before it was time to go home.
Our daughter had a large pile of books, which she checked out and we each carried a handful. When we returned home it was lunch and then nap time. Before our granddaughter’s nap we decided to read a couple of the new books. Before we knew it we had read the entire stack of books. Her attention never waned. She was curious and engaged throughout all the books. Her appetite for knowledge was ferocious. She took her nap and then several hours later, we read all the books again before bed time.
Technology Keeping us Connected
Our daughter and son-in-law lived two thousand miles away, when they announced the birth of our first grandchild. We realized then we would be long distance grandparents. However, I still wanted to be able to read bedtime stories to my grandchildren and recite my favorite poems to them. We started off by recording our voices reading stories on our computer. Then sending the files to our daughter to play, before our granddaughter was even born.
As time progressed, technology did also. We began using our I-phones to record us reading books, then uploading them to our private Youtube channel. As we began to travel around the county we used local libraries to complete our recordings. They have ample books and usually private spaces where we can record ourselves reading.
Our granddaughter watches and listens to our recordings on the family’s I-pad. Because of copyright rules we are not allowed to make our readings public without the consent of the author, therefore it is a private reading for their use only. This is not the same as being in the same room and seeing the smiles and frowns of a story being told in real time. However, the connection it has helped us create is real.
Youtube
Most people are familiar with Youtube, but did you know you can make your videos unsearchable and for private use? Such amazing technology, for someone who grew up before there was an internet and a cell phone was technology only seen on Star Trek. The ability to utilize these technologies for learning and connection and only limited by our imaginations.
We have a YouTube channel. For us there is both a public presence sharing hiking and informational videos as well as a private one. As mentioned above we read books to our grandchildren keeping those videos private and only for them. To do this, you first have to have a YouTube channel. When you add a video you have recorded to create your YouTube video you will be asked at the end if it is private, unlisted, or public. There is even an explanation of what each of them mean when you make your selection. From there your video is now published.
While this was not a complete detailed description of how to create your own YouTube channel and publish your videos a quick internet search will find you many videos on just how to do so.
Teddy Stories
Teddy stories manifested because of our granddaughter’s love of books. Our Cockerpoo Teddy is full of personality. His peculiar antics we knew would lead to wonderful stories, that she and other children would enjoy. With the realization of our full-time RV journey, we had the time and energy to put into creative endeavors.
Jess and I discuss titles and story ideas together. Then I write the words. After many readings, one of which is to our granddaughter, we agree upon the story. Jess creates the illustrations on our I-pad and software, we purchased and she taught herself to use. Once we are happy with words and pictures, she uses additional software to cut the pages into book format. This new format we send off for final approval from our granddaughter and daughter.
We make any additional suggested changes, then send to Amazon self-publishing for an editor’s copy. After we review a hard copy, which takes a few weeks to receive. We are ready to release to the public. Self-publishing is a way to make our stories available to the public, it is not a money making endeavor. Because the books are purchased individually, as opposed to large batches most of the book fee goes to the book maker.
Doing Things that Matter
We receive a small stipend for each book sold on Amazon. But, fortunately we purchased our own ISBN#’s. This simple step ensures we own the rights to sell our own books. We still pay for the printing cost and receive no stipend, but own our material and can do with it what we want. If Amazon assigns their ISBN#’s we no longer have the right to sell ourselves or anywhere else. Please be aware of this if you choose to self-publish on Amazon.
While we were camp hosting for several months in New Mexico a local book store was happy to put our Teddy story on their shelf. They even decided to feature it in their pride month celebration. Like in real life the fictional Teddy has two moms and they take turn sharing in Teddy’s adventures. This was a small privately owned book store, but still a thrill. The fact that our book was featured amongst the pride books was an even greater joy.
The ideas contained within books can open our minds and change the world. Learning to read is the ticket to a lifetime of exploration and understanding. Libraries are the key to unlocking the doors and removing the barriers. They are free, accepting and are full of people wanting to help you achieve your goals. Slowing down has helped us actualized our creative goals. Who knows maybe someone reading this blog is an editor or publisher, or knows an editor or publisher and forwards this piece to them. Maybe someday our Teddy stories will printed in hard copy and available at your local library.
Live Simple Live Happy
