Friday, August 21, 2009

#18: Oak Park Branch

Visiting Time: 2:00-3:15PM
Did I get lost on my way? No. :)
Book Checked Out: A Woman Alone: Travel tales from around the world

Book Selection: 1 bookmark
Seating: 2 bookmarks
Staff: 4 bookmarks
Architecture/Atmosphere: 2 bookmarks
Total: 9 bookmarks

While reading at this branch, a mother called looking for her son. The librarian announced the boy's name, and he came and took the receiver. She'd wanted to tell him she was on her way, and that he should wait outside.

After the boy left, the librarian told the security guard that she often has problems with children being left alone at the library after it closes. She says their policy is to wait with the child for fifteen minutes, and then call the police. Somehow I would've thought there are rules against leaving young children in public places unattended for even a minute.

I've never thought of libraries as somewhere to leave your child while you work or run errands. As a child, I was fortunate enough to have a mother who didn't have to work. When I went to the library, it was with her.

Today I borrowed A Woman Alone, which is a collection of solo travel essays written by women. So far I've discovered a place I'd never heard of before--the Faroe Islands--and learned that maybe Italian men aren't as forward as their stereotype indicates.

Pictures:
There were a lot of people in this branch, and I didn't want to disturb them by taking too many photos. But here are two:
(Nice neon.)


(Art along the far wall.)

2 comments:

Lakin said...

wow! Halfway! Kudso! Today I'm going to start the Sonoma County Spin-off Library Review ...or would it be Revue? Plan to post by end of the weekend, as the week ahead is crazy, crazy wild (first week of the semester....aarrrggh)

Anonymous said...

Unfortuately, it's very common to leave children alone in the library while the parent does errands, even reasonably young children in elementary school.

They feel that they're safe there. I don't think parents realize that the staff really can't watch them and do their work, and help everyone, too. And, staff have no way to prevent them from leaving the library if they desire to do so.