What's the library got that I can't get online?

     Just a little while ago my husband and I were talking about the upcoming library redistricting vote in Herkimer, NY.  He told me that the guys at his work tease me about how much I love the library. 

     I see the goodhearted teasing as a symptom of how some people my age and younger see public libraries.  With all of the technology that is available to virtually everyone, the question for a lot of people in our communities is "What's the library got that I can't get online?"

     Well, to answer that, this week I would like to share all the ways that I think that Basloe Library (and every public library) is important to me personally.  

Today, let me tell you about my son, Nick.

     All about Nick

     When Nick was in about 4th or 5th grade, Nancy Stowell ran a program in which kids of this age group (many of whom are still friends with Nick) read, improvised the scripts, rehearsed and put on fairy tale parody plays for the younger kids.  

I thought it would be good for Nick because he hated to read, but he loved to write and was quite imaginative.  I also still wanted to encourage him to read, but you know how it is as a parent-sometimes they will listen to others before they listen to you!  And what better place to learn to at least like reading than the library?

Lifelong Friendships and Experiences

Anyway, he absolutely loved that program and had a blast spending time creating with kids his age.  

A few years later, Nick went on to have many leads and supporting roles in high school theater.  So did the other kids that participated in Nancy's program.

Perhaps some of you may know Nick best for playing "Man in Chair" for the Footlighters production of The Drowsy Chaperone.  

He has played so many other roles in the Footlighters and Stage II productions, but even two years later, he still gets stopped on the street by strangers and is asked "Weren't you that kid in that really funny play?"  

He treasures that role, but he would like to move on.

Moving On  

Nick was one of 50 high school seniors to be chosen to attend RIT's special film production programs.  Come this fall, Nick will be studying all aspect of film with only 64 other students for the next four years.  His goal is to be a writer/editor of feature films.

Nick was also chosen by the Stanley Theater with other Mohawk Valley students to be a Youth Ambassador for this year's Broadway Theater productions.  In exchange for promoting the Stanley's productions using social media, Nick and the other students got to enjoy all of this year's productions and meet many of the cast members that traveled through our area.

He also had a film of his chosen to be in HCCC's first ever high school student film festival.  One of the girls that was in Nancy Stowell's drama program with Nick was one of the actresses in the film.  She's also been one of his best friends all these years!

You just don't get that kind of experience, sense of community or influence online! 

So when parents with younger children ask, "What can the library give me that I can't get online?"  

I tell them how one little program at Basloe Library (or any public library) could shape your child's entire future-it did for mine!

_______________________

Question for Ms. Newton:  You began your writing as a young girl.  Did a public library having any influence on your desire to become an author?