By Ken Feser on May 10, 2019.
Freshly back from vacation, out of money, energy and ideas, and starved for recent library news, I couldn’t think of what to write about in this column. I was eventually driven from my keyboard to our staff room where I asked a colleague for her opinion. “Write about the book sale,” she said. Of course!
The Friends of the Library’s semi-annual book sale is a much loved event in this city without a used bookstore. It will be held at the library on Friday, May 31 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Be warned, lots of popular things like DVDs go quickly. Towards the end of the sale on Saturday afternoon, pricing is by the box.
I knew the book sale couldn’t fill a column but fortunately another staffer piped up. “Write about volunteers,” she said. Sure! We always need volunteers for the book sale. I am told we also could use a few more volunteers to help deliver books to our homebound clients, particularly male volunteers for the gentlemen who want to receive this popular service.
On my way back to my office, thinking of how to stretch these subjects to fit a column, another employee waved me over. “I just watched a TED talk about how volunteering is good for you,” she said. “Be sure to mention that.” Absolutely! There is lots of research that shows volunteering reduces stress, anxiety and depression, increases self confidence and looks good on a resume to boot.
Volunteering is one way to build social connections, which we used to take for granted but which are becoming increasingly thin and frayed in our society. It is said that loneliness can have negative health effects equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. While on the subject, I will mention that today’s libraries are all about social connections. We still have books and you are welcome to enjoy the library in solitude but people increasingly come for programs, clubs and other opportunities to be with others.
Another benefit of social connections is you can get inspiration when you are out of ideas.
And one more benefit of volunteering – book sale volunteers get first crack at the merchandise! Drop into the library or call us at 403-502-8525 if you’re interested.
Ken Feser is chief librarian at Medicine Hat Public Library.