What Next?

Photo by Lynne Brubaker, Time Magazine

John Grisham is most definitely a ‘whole shelf’ author.  The trouble is that the whole shelf is legal thrillers, which are a little beyond my scope  (I can’t keep track of all the legalese without cliff notes and a tutor).  The rest of the world has no problem keeping score and stocks up on Grisham books like milk before a snowstorm.  In the last 20 years, Grisham has written 21 bestselling books that have been translated into 38 languages.  He now has more than 250 million books in print and 7 movie adaptations.  His success and wild popularity have led him to his position as this year’s Honorary Chairman for National Library Week.  His wide appeal puts him in a unique and powerful position to reach out and encourage the masses to support their libraries.

Grisham spoke about his childhood library memories at the ALA’s National Conference in June, “I have a long, wonderful history with libraries and librarians.  When we moved we did two things immediately, joined the local Baptist church… and went to the local library. "  Grisham grew up in Mississippi with four siblings and not a lot of money.  His mother stayed home while his father worked construction and young  John dreamed of becoming a baseball player.  The Grishams made weekly treks to the library to check out stacks of books for the week.  He remembers getting ‘lost’ in books as a kid and credits the library with providing a place where boys could discover they loved to read.  He also recalls,  “you wouldn’t be caught dead reading Nancy Drew [because it was a girls’ series]…so you just didn’t get caught.”

These are memories that I can relate to.  I can vividly remember the local library in each town we lived in while I was growing up because it was an integral part of my life.  Back then, we needed books to keep us occupied and pass the long soap opera filled afternoons.  Then, as Grisham remembers, we fell in love (and got a little obsessed) and nothing could keep us from the next trip to get more booty.  Grisham’s appeal as Library Week’s spokesman to the over 35 crowd is clear - nostalgic talk about simpler times is always a winner and, when it comes to the library, I’m a sucker for it myself.  But what about the Net.Generation, people born after 1982?  What role has the library played in their lives?  What memories do they have?  What is the library’s relevance to their lives now and in the future?

The ALA strategic plan for the next five years talks a lot about supporting the library and librarians, promoting excellence and diversity and creating accessible environments but the word “book” doesn’t pop up once in their five goals.  Instead they seek the “transformation of libraries and library services in a dynamic and increasingly global digital information environment”.   That is the library that the Net.Generation will remember when they are old and grey...tapping away on the computers, checking out DVDs, watching films, playing computer games, accessing online databases and downloading ebooks and music.  An action area in the plan does include helping patrons develop skills, such as reading (now called a traditional skill) and using the computers but the focus has changed from being a temple of great thoughts to presenting great thoughts in colorful bite size pieces.  The modern library offers author presentations, book clubs, after school programming, adult learning classes, summer reading programs, theatrical performances and homework help.  The scope and quantity of event at libraries across the country is astounding and who wouldn’t love to learn in such fun and entertaining ways?

Bob Dylan was right, the times, they are a-changin’.  Even though I’m a little grumpy about letting the bookshelves collect dust, the library is changing too.  The are adapting to “enhance learning and ensure access to information for all” just like they have been quietly doing for the last 135 years.  Thank goodness they keep moving forward.