Have a card? Not the green kind.

I travel a lot. In every city I have visited, I sign up for a library card. I have strolled through many libraries around the country. But I have never seen libraries with parking lots so full it looks like a K-Mart Blue Light special is going on inside.


Once in a library parking lot, I watched two drivers edge each other for a recently empty parking space. It was not in a Mall parking lot so they were both there to go inside the library.


Which ever new city I visit, I go to the library internet website and click on local information and what appears is:
Arizona Newspapers & Magazines
Arizona State Government,
Maricopa County,
Other Arizona Cities and Towns,
Fast Facts,
Local Genealogy Information,
AM and FM Radio Stations,
Legal Forms,
Official County Websites,
Official City Websites,
Pro Sports Teams,
Statewide Information,
Television Stations,
Transportation,
Zoos/ Animal Parks.
What more does a new person in town need?


Does the Phoenix population of 1.39 million, making Phoenix the sixth largest city in the U.S., have any idea of how lucky they are? There are 13 branch libraries so you will not have to travel far to find one. Just in case, they have mapquest on their website to find your way. Your libraries are one of a kind in the best service and availability. Just a few databases and resources available at your libraries are:
• Arts & Entertainment
• Automotive
• Books & Literature
• Business Resources
• Consumer Information
• Cultural Communities
• Current Events
• eBooks
• Education & Tests
• Employment & Careers
• Genealogy & Biography
• Government & Legal Info.
• Grants & Foundations
• Health & Medicine
• History & Geography
• Home & Living
• Magazines & Newspapers
• Neighborhoods
• Philosophy & Religion
• Phone & Email Directories
• Photographs & Images
• Reference Desk
• Science & Technology
• Sports Resources
• Travel Resources


I loved librarians. They are always so happy to show you around or to talk to you about books. If I were going to have an affair, I would have it with a reference librarian. They know all the right places to go.


You walk up to a reference librarian and ask them a question you have made their day. They brighten and smile as if you had given them money. If they do not know the answer, they jump right up and shoot out from behind their desk. You have to speed up to keep up. They run down aisles, pulling out books, “I think this will help you and if that doesn’t do it, these six other books are sure to have what you need.” Your knees buckled with all the books they pile up on you.


I enjoy watching all the moms who come in with their kids to get more books. The children are learning by example what is important: books, information, and how to find it. Attributes that will help a person throughout their lives, no matter what they do for a living.


I have yet to meet a librarian who does not like their job. There are many other things not to like about their job: low pay, government cuts, cutting library hours to save money, not enough money to buy enough books, or to run the programs they want for their patrons. But they are always enthusiastic about being a librarian.


I asked librarian, Maria Hernandez, from Mesa Public library for some facts and this is what she gave me.


The break down by age of library card holders is:
0-11 28,388
12-17 24,103
18-62 120,871
63- 11,327


“There are about 185,000 library card holders. This is an approximate figure, because it fluctuates as new cards are added. Library cards can be issued to infants (and we have a program called “Born to Read” that gives new parents info on library services, including cards, and a free book, as do most libraries. We don’t keep stats on how many books an individual takes out in a month, privacy issues. But we have all seen people who will take out the limit (25 books) and have multiple cards per family. My personal rule of thumb: as many as you can carry and keep track of, at least that is what I tell the very young humans who ask me.


Remember, we are still the best bargain in town — we continue to offer information in all of its wondrous forms from books to lectures to programs, to everyone for free. Isn’t that wonderful? We can help you, the library user, fix a sink, learn another language, find a road map, and engage a child’s imagination all at the same time — it is like being a magician but without mirrors. Cool, no? We can bring the library to your home via the internet or deliver books to your door through our volunteers, if you are physically unable to come yourself. We have been doing these kinds of things for years and are just getting started. I love libraries for all that they do . . . . don’t you?”


Yes, Ms. Hernandez, I certainly love libraries because of people like you.

Tags: Library, Phoenix, Sixth Largest City in the U.S.