That human touch

I was watching TV last night (and I will admit to watching a lot of TV while I knit, read or browse through publisher's catalogs), and saw an ad for a new electronic gizmo that will teach your child to read. It works by the child pointing to a word or letter, and the electronic book 'saying' the word or sound. My initial thought was nifty - I am all for anything that helps new (or struggling) readers. But as I thought about it more, I really thought it is kind of a sad thing too. Where is the human contact, that sitting and sharing a book or a moment with another person? For some reason, electronics have given us the illusion of contact while really distancing us all.

It started with radio - we no longer had to go out to a theater to see a show. Television took away the chance to talk with other listeners, guessing the color of the gowns, the appearance of the ballroom, how the characters dressed or what they looked like. Now we could just sit and stare and be shown it all. The advent of computers and now smartphones have removed the need to actually talk at all - we can just send a brief note. Sure we may be talking to more people, and people all over the world, but are we really sharing a moment together? Can we sense the real emotions going on? I know I stick in a LOL or smiley face when talking to my kids far away from New Hampshire even though I am feeling blue. Are we losing the chance to really connect?

I have to say, there are still things going on - and I am proud that some of them here at the library - that allow for some human touch. I have been a part of the evening knitting group since its start, and the sense of community of that group is awesome (and I mean that in all its many uses). Almost immediately, we were willing to share very personal experiences and have found great support from one another. At the same time, we have a heck of a fun time, laughing loud enough to be shushed on occasion. And it isn't just this one group - the daytime knitting group is bonding similarly. Quite honestly, I thought this kind of bonding was a thing of fiction or movies (like the Jane Austen Book Club), but here I am seeing and living it every week. Even better, we welcome each new member and make them part of the group - no cliques here.

Another program here makes that human connection - but it is really a human to dog connection. We have a couple of READ dogs visiting regularly, providing the chance for kids to read out loud and share a few minutes with a friendly dog. Pets have become more challenging these days too - so many rentals restrict pets, so many people now have allergies, so many parents have to both work leaving no time for pets. But pets are an important friend for some children - some loving companion that will listen to you and not criticize or make fun of you. So our READ dogs fill that role, even if it is only for a few minutes.

So the library does provide the opportunity to connect with the world, the community and with each other. It takes so many forms from people talking with the staff, informal meetings to talk about the day over newspapers, more formal meetings of a wide variety of groups, to sitting next to your mom or dad and sharing a book. It is a vital thing in this day and age of electronic insulation - and it is just another aspect of what your library is all about.

Website: Your child and television
Movie: Jane Austen Book Club