[Publib] Hemet Library

[Backwage at aol.com]

Yesterday I had an appointment to meet with some disaffected workers in  
Hemet.  Hemet is far from Pasadena.  About two hours far.  There  was nothing 
else in Hemet that could induce me to travel there.  But I  went.
 
Of course, the Wonder of the Internet gave me directions via Google and  
Yahoo.  These proved to be false prophets.  Their directions were  apparently 
for an alternative universe or for roads to be constructed under  a future 
stimulus plan.  At any rate I got turned around  considerably.  The only 
reason I kept from becoming angry was the satellite  radio station and the 
knowledge that I had an ace in the hole.
 
After driving around aimlessly for a good while I decided to  play the ace. 
 I asked a passing policeman where the library was  situated.  In a few 
minutes I was striding through an air conditioned  foyer, headed for the 
reference desk.
 
The Hemet Public Library occupies a very pleasant and roomy building of  
recent vintage.  And you can believe that it was full yesterday.   There were 
children, adults and senior citizens packing the place, using  computers, 
reading books, doing research and summer school homework.  I  took the only 
available place in the parking lot.
 
The reference desk was busy but I got help right away.  The librarian  had 
a volunteer print me out a superior set of directions to my objective while  
we chatted about the library.  It appears that the system (consisting of  
this single building) has had its budget cut--did they say by 38%?  The  
upper floor is practically unused, and the facility operates only four days a  
week.  Four days, when the patrons are packed in like sardines to use the  
place.  Hemet is a living commentary on the state of things here in  
California's libraries during this recession.  And testimony to the  popularity (not 
to mention the efficiency) of the public library in times of  hardship.  
 
Hemet's library is hanging on, and the people love the place.  I hope  that 
those people will try to restore funding when times get better.
 
As for me, I took my directions to the place I was supposed to go.   The 
problem was that the workers I was to meet didn't show up.  Maybe I'll  have 
to go back to Hemet; that wouldn't be such a hardship--next time I'll  
schedule more time to visit that nice new library of theirs, if it happens to be  
open the day I drive out.
 
Michael McGrorty
 
 
 
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