We fall in love with books at the library. I still remember my childhood days going to the school library and picking out a book to read for the week. As parents, libraries were a fun (and free) way to spend time with the family. They had arts and crafts events, and then we’d let the kids explore the children’s book section. Libraries also had programs where kids could get free In-N-Out cheeseburgers for reading a certain number of books. (And millennials reminisce about Book-It and free Pizza Hut personal-size pizzas.)
In honor of National Library Week, here are some of my favorite libraries.
Los Angeles Public Library – West Valley Regional Branch
This is my first public library, and it’s where I went to find the books and information that weren’t available at my school library. It was here that I learned how to use the card catalog and Dewey Decimal System. The West Valley Regional Branch appeared in my novel The Remainders to show how libraries also provide valuable services for the most vulnerable in our society.
You’d expect a world-class university to have a world-class library. In terms of the breadth of books, no other library I’ve been to compares with the Powell Library at UCLA. I’d spend my time between classes exploring the stacks. I came across the original bound Congressional Records from the first United States Congress. These weren’t locked away in glass cabinets. They were right on the shelves, ready to be picked up and read. I spent part of an afternoon perusing books that were nearly 200 years old. That was time well spent.
Anaheim Public Library and Fullerton Public Library
As for modern books, several libraries stand out as great supporters of indie authors.
The first is the Anaheim Public Library. They’ve hosted Indie Author Day since 2016, and I’ve been at every one. They also have a number of other author events. The next one is AnaCon on Saturday, May 16, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Central Library. This event features comics and science fiction, including works by local authors and artists. Indie Author Day will be coming in November. I’ll send updates in my newsletter as they become available.
The other is the Fullerton Public Library, which has a Local Author Day on Saturday, August 22. I’ve been at the past few events, and I’ll be there again this year! See my newsletter for more information.
Another library that goes above and beyond for the local writing community is the Mission Viejo Library. They have a writer’s group, of which I’m a member, and they publish an annual anthology. The Mission Viejo Library is also hosting a Local Authors Showcase that is coming on Friday, September 4 from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community Center.
One other library we shouldn’t forget is the Little Free Libraries that pop up in communities everywhere. (We have two in our neighborhood. One of them is a few houses down from us.) Its simple premise of “take a book, leave a book” builds communities as well as literacy. When you see one, you know that the neighborhood values learning.
As you can see, libraries do more than instill a love of reading. They offer families with a free place to spend time together, provide students with valuable resources, preserve the knowledge of the past, support authors as they create works in the present, and strengthen the entire community. This is a perfect time to support your local and school library. If you have a favorite library, post it in the comments.
Related topics:
My Eat Like a Writer Interview
My visit to the Little Free Library
Authors and the power of community
What’s next?
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