On Saturday, the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library will join thousands of other libraries in a program that would have delighted Benjamin Franklin.
Before his many inventions, before his role as a founding father or diplomat, one of Franklin’s great accomplishments was founding the first library, operated by subscriptions, in Philadelphia in 1731. Almost 60 years later, he donated 116 books from his personal library to the newly renamed town of Franklin, Massachusetts, to create the nation’s first free public library. There are 9,000 libraries in the United States, with more than 17,000 public library outlets nationwide. Public libraries serve over 155 million users, representing nearly half of the American population.
“Take Your Child to the Library Day” is in its 15th year and is designed to help families discover the many resources found at public libraries.
For children, it may serve as their introduction to the library, but for citizens of a certain age, the local library, as the primary repository of information, was an integral part of the education process.
Memories of searching through the card catalogs, navigating the intricacies of the Dewey Decimal System, retrieving books from the rows of bookshelves for term papers and spending hours at a table crafting those assignments remain strong.
For a small town of that era, a well-maintained library was a statement of the town’s health and commitment to the future. The local library often replaced the general store or town square as the place for citizens to meet to share ideas and exchange news.
The arrival of the digital age has changed the nature of modern libraries, but not their missions. Libraries provide access to the internet for some citizens, hold programs designed to meet the needs of children and the elderly, serve as meeting places for a variety of groups, and offer assistance in finding information on subjects difficult to categorize.
Saturday’s “Take Your Child to the Library Day” at Columbus-Lowndes Public Library will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. It is designed to be both fun and informative — giving children the opportunity to enjoy engaging activities while parents learn how the library supports early literacy, learning and family engagement.
The event will feature a special storytime with Mother Goose, book giveaways for all ages, library tours and available resources such as the Parenting Center and Autism Resource Center. All materials featured during the event will be available for checkout.
In addition, small craft stations will be set up throughout the library, offering hands-on activities for children to enjoy at their own pace.
Today’s libraries are far more diverse in their offerings than those of the past. Suffice it to say, they are not your grandfather’s library.
We urge families to join the fun in Columbus Saturday but to also pay attention to events at all of our Golden Triangle libraries.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
