Gain some “Common Sense” at the library
Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” Horace Mann’s “Annual Reports,” and John Kenneth Galbraith’s “The Affluent Society,” are three titles are included in a volume called “Books that changed America,” which is found at 028.1 DOW in the Van Zandt County Library.
This is a book of discussions of 25 books that are important in American history. In the same area of the library, “Literacy in America,” and “500 Great Books for Teens,” and other titles highlight some of the classic books that have influenced the American public.
Some—but not all—of the titles mentioned are in the library, but alas, many have been removed from the shelves to make way for material that checks out often. It is public library policy to remove books that have not checked out in five years. It is interesting to see how many of the authors and their works that elicit the comment: “I never heard of that.”
While you are looking at these serious books, notice “Do fish drink water?” and “Poisonous Quotes,” in the same area.
Dog Days at the library met Aug. 12. Freebie Third Friday is at noon Aug. 21.The Library Advisory Board meets Aug. 28, and Friends of the Library Committees are working on plans for 2015-‘16 activities. You can be a part of all this. Just ask any of the staff how you can help.
And if you don’t know what “028.1DOW” means, here’s a short lesson: Non-fiction topics fit into categories, for example, carpentry, mechanics, recipes, baseball. Each of these categories is assigned a number, and filed in an orderly fashion on the shelves. The catalogue will give you a number if you need help. Fiction is shelved alphabetically by author. The Dewey Decimal System is the standard system for organizing Libraries.
Computers rule the world, but you still need to know your ABCs and numbers to effectively use them. The library can help. Use it.
