While it is said we read to know we are not alone, it is also true that libraries and bookstores are communal places, providing a safe environment for all and filling vital, societal roles. Having worked in both for more than 40 years, I can attest to these dual notions. Of all my interactions over the years with readers, customers and library patrons, two instances remain strong in my memory.
The first was some years ago when a woman in her 60s was hesitant to come into my bookstore. It transpired that she had never been in a bookstore, did not read, and only came in on this particular day as she wanted to buy a book for the person who had been taking care of her during illness.
This one visit turned into regular appearances and many pleasant chats about books. One Christmas she greeted me and thanked me, telling me that she had lived all her life in a housing commission flat in Kensington, Melbourne, but now, through reading, she 'lived in the world'.
The other interaction occurred only recently. A group of five teenage girls of Maori descent came into the library and sat in a group under one of many large black and white photographs of people from the local area.
One of them approached me, asking for pencils and paper; they proceeded to spend the afternoon in the library, laughing and drawing. As they were leaving, the girl handed me back the pencils and I remarked that they seemed to have enjoyed a pleasant few hours with us. Her friend looked at me and replied: 'Yes, it was great, especially as we were sitting under the picture of our aunty.'
In both instances, I was proud to be providing a safe and welcoming place for people who may not always be made to feel at home; and I was buoyed by the idea that those young girls would hold lovely memories of their aunty in the context of the local library.
Libraries have never been needed more than in these times. They are, at turns, safe havens, information bureaus, meeting places, and study locations. They are open to all and do not pose any financial barrier in that their services and activities are free. This is vital in societies where the disparity between rich and poor is growing and where people from all backgrounds are finding their way in their new