For me, one of the very hardest things about Covid was the closure of all my local libraries. The day Woollahra Library reopened, I think I was the first customer through the door. I LOVE libraries!
My views were certainly shared by American man Dan Pelzer, who died this year at the age of 92. On his death he left for his relatives a 109-page handwritten list of all the books he had read since 1962, most of them borrowed from his local library. As a young man, he served in the Peace Corps in Nepal and there found a small library with only 150 books. This began his reading habit. As a young father, he took his children to the library every Saturday. Dan’s reading tastes were wide-ranging, though he preferred John Grisham to James Joyce (he did get through Ulysses but described it as “pure torture”). His daughter has now created a website reproduction of Dan’s reading lists called ‘What Dan Read’, see it at https://what-dan-read.com/. It lists 3,599 books. By 2023, his eyesight had deteriorated so much that reading had become too difficult for Dan. Now the library in Columbus that he frequented most often has set up a display of samples of the books he read. He worked as a social worker, so read books about mental health. He read about economics and politics, about religion and video games, and he read popular fiction and classics.
I have no idea what real estate or property Dan Pelzer left his family, but I think his legacy is far more wonderful than that of some selfish tycoon. Dan loved reading and has now left a list of books that gave him enjoyment, comfort and, occasionally, a challenge. His list is there for those of us who love reading to emulate, try and better, get ideas from, and laugh over. That’s a lovely gift to leave behind on your death!
Are you a good user of that most wonderful of institutions, the library? When did you last pop into your local library to find some treat to borrow? I belong to three different library systems, so usually have a good chance of finding what I want. How many do you belong to? If libraries don’t get our support, they will be closed. Do make sure you follow Dan’s fantastic example and use your local library. I feel sad that I never got to meet Dan – he must have been a lovely man!
Do you keep a reading list? Do you borrow from your Library? Let me know your thoughts in a comment.
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John
I am a member of Burwood, Strathfield and InnerWest libraries, as well as several university ones around the world. I very much like the atmosphere of them; most have fine free Wifi (The Strathfield one has been unreliable in my experience); and there are many fine events of a local and historical nature that fascinate me. There are also many events associated with the libraries such as local history walks, which I very much appreciate. They are a wonderful resource of which too few people seem to be aware, although plenty of school students in Burwood and Ashfield certainly use them. I am enormously proud of my grandfather for having received an OBE for his efforts to establish libraries in country Victoria.
Susannah Fullerton
That’s a great reason for awarding an OBE! Yes, libraries are fabulous places and offer so much, quite apart from books. Isn’t it wonderful when you can join several different libraries and have access to lots of branches.
Carol Horton
I adore using Libraries and am fortunate to live very close to the wonderful Stanton Library in North Sydney.It is affiliated with libraries in Mosman, Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Greenwich and St Leonards. I also belong to Willoughby Library.
Margy
Wherever I’ve lived in the world, once I’d joined the local library I felt settled. I’m a member of two libraries here and nearly always have at least one book out, either a paper copy for my book group or my choice or an e-audiobook for my walks in the neighbourhood. Like Dan, I also keep a list of what I’ve read. I have my Book of Books with a page of notes on each book for my bad memory! I started this much later in life so my list will never be as long as our hero, Dan.