By Jerry Riley

Wish it could be Hawaii Five-0.
Well, at least you can read about it, in the library–if you are a resourceful person. The library containsnot only  many books, but also computers and Librarians. These people are knowledgeable and can usually assist you with anything the library has to offer.
As I was once told by a Librarian, you have to be careful of the dirty books that hide on the shelves–all the smudged fingerprints of people who have read or thumbed through them. People check books out and drop cookie or bread crumbs into them–and, what a revoltin’ development that is.
Everyone looks for the upgraded technology that is now available, often overlooking the archives of information. Recently, I’ve been enjoying the bound copies of some of the old newspapers. They show, as I’ve said in a column or two, history does repeat itself.
The library contains a variety of resources that can help us remain intellectually competitive in this complex world. Some state agencies, in cooperation with local libraries, are attempting to be more accessible to citizens that need their help.
Libraries also provide platforms for social gatherings and a forum for local educational and informational meetings
Fonzie, of Happy Days, once said with a library card he could even check out a librarian.
Just think about all the untold stories contained in the building. Well, at least till the invention of books on tape.

Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor.

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