Storytime

February 14th is a day to celebrate. I'm not talking soppy sentimental cards and last minute dash to the florist or petrol station for a bunch of sad flowers...but.....LIBRARY LOVERS' DAY. Time to celebrate ALL the reasons why we love our libraries. I've spent this week getting some really intense feedback on why some of our patrons love the library. The fact that all of these patrons were under the age of five is irrelevant...they have legitimate reasons why the library is the place to be. Go Sophia! And of course libraries have moved on from simply having print books, we have audio and e-books and e-audio. We have magazines, both in print and online. Non-fiction, biography, graphic novels, manga, genres, newspapers, books in other languages.... Yes, we are a definite base of learning. Both in person with a huge variety of workshops, seminars and classes being held, weekly or monthly. Everything from yoga to gardening, digital education and making preser...

It just so happens that Library Lovers Day falls on another loving day...Valentines. And while we all know, constantly bombarded by visions of giving our loved ones flowers, chocolates and jewellery, why we are MEANT to celebrate love and all it's fuzzy redness....Library Lovers Day quietly sails by with few folks celebrating. But for some of us, it's a very special day. And of course there are so many reasons to love your library. Firstly it's FREE. Yep, free. Nothing, nada, nil, no cost. Libraries are also inclusive. We don't care what religion or gender or nationality you are, we don't care if you are rich or poor, literate or not. We merely welcome you all. Libraries are also vital community hubs. We help to build communities, people connect and meet there, it's a great place to catch up.  And we have so many activities...FREE. There are book clubs and craft groups, conversation clubs and writing groups. We have speakers ...

Yep...hard to believe but it has been four years (and two days) of writing stuff each week. And except for some times when travelling and having no access to the internet...I have indeed written something each week. I'm not saying I've written amazing, jaw dropping, world shattering pieces. I've simply put down what I've been doing or thinking...really it's how I try to figure out this 'writing' thing that I do. And hopefully it resonates with a person or two, even if every now and then. I have written on a variety of topics or themes over the years... from books I've read to where do ideas come from....from doing Nanowrimo in 2011 (and yes that novel still sits there, glumly staring at me) to editing...from writing that synopsis to the unreliable narrator...from books for young adults to the winter blues. I have chatted about why libraries are FANTASTIC ---and frankly could talk so much more on this subject. A tad bias perhaps, but let's f...