Literary Walking Tours, Communal Bookshelves, and the Changing Dynamics of Libraries

Somebody emailed me this week, lamenting the decline of libraries in a particular region of the country. Presumably, politics are involved in the equation, but it also made me wonder when I last visited a library as a patron (not for a book signing). It's been years.

Are libraries becoming less necessary because most people have all the access to books that they want without them via e-readers, Amazon and bookstores? Retailers that sell e-books offer thousands of them for free. Secondhand stores offer paperbacks for a quarter. And private lending libraries are becoming more popular. If you want to read and don't have a lot of money, more options exist now than in previous generations.

But niche style libraries seem to be finding a place.

A couple of months ago, I told you about Laura Moulton, The Street Librarian, in Portland, Oregon who runs Street Books - a bicycle powered mobile library that lends books to people who live outside or are living at the margins. Take a few minutes to watch this video that highlights her fantastic work.​

​In the video, she says the books she offers often connect people who wouldn't ordinarily have a conversation. How cool is that?

Not long ago, I was visiting a hospital and noticed a lending library located right outside the gift shop. Anybody is welcome to take a book or leave a book. Putting the lending library in front of the gift shop was a classy move because it may hurt sales. Apparently, the hospital cares more about making sure that all people have access to books than they do about selling books. I made a return trip a few weeks later to donate a few of my own titles to the library.

And you've probably seen or read about street libraries (not to be confusing with Street Books) in which people plant what appears to be oversized mailboxes in their front yard with an invitation for people to take or leave a book.

The point is, as libraries morph into new entities most of us can do something to support them - whether it's starting or supporting an organization like Street books, starting or supporting a lending library, or starting or supporting a street library. We don't have to wait for politicians.

Now, let's get to this week's thoughts about slowing down and living deeper. 

• For years, I've kept a commonplace book without really knowing what it was called. Then I came across this article: How and why to keep a "commonplace book." In it, Ryan Holiday explains: "A commonplace book is a central resource or depository for ideas, quotes, anecdotes, observations and information you come across during your life and didactic pursuits. The purpose of the book is to record and organize these gems for later use in your life, in your business, in your writing, speaking or whatever it is that you do." Do you keep a commonplace book? 

• HarperCollins has set up a website that offers a literary walking tour of New York City. It's a neat idea. Probably not as developed as it should be, but it's a good start. 

• As somebody who has a daily walking goal (8,000 steps), I read every article I can find about the health benefits of walking. Consumer Reports published this article on National Walking Day (April 5): How to get the biggest benefits of walking. I was most interested in what it had to say about the benefits of walking faster. BTW, if you want to connect on Fitbit and engage in weekly walking challenges, send me a friend request here or just search for me on the app via my email address.

• If you have an inquisitive mind, you might be interested in the Today I Found Out YouTube channel. In recent days, it answers questions such as, "Do Fish Get Thirsty?" "Why Is There an R in Mrs?" and "Why Don't Airplane Seats Line Up with Windows?"

• I read a blog post this week from author Karen Lynn. She used to work in a bookstore. She said the store had a communal bookshelf for advanced reader copies. As employees read the books, they added a post-in note with their thoughts about each book. How much fun would that be to see what others thought about the book you are reading? I think I'd wait until after I read it and then offer my own thoughts before reading the thoughts of others, though.

•  I think I've shared this quote before, but it's worth repeating. In his book, "The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything," Stephen M.R. Covey said: “We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behaviour.”

• As somebody who's always looking to create more margin in my life, I offer this: 5 ways to create more margin now. ​

If you like what you're reading here and want to support it, then join my email list, or consider buying a book or becoming a patron (all patrons receive free copies of my e-books as they are released as a thank you for the support).

Have a great weekend!