Ann Patchett, Keith Richards, and Your Public Library
At Tuesday night’s Literary Voices fundraising dinner benefiting the Metropolitan Library System, best-selling author Ann Patchett made a case for public libraries as among the best and most important services offered by a community.
Patchett pointed out the inarguably unequal health care services available in our society, as well as the fundamental inequalities in educational opportunities and legal services. On the other hand, for Patchett the public library offers an ideal of equality, a sanctuary open to anyone and a repository of the broadest possible resources for learning, job-hunting help, or limitless entertainment.
Patchett also discussed the value of reading fiction in answer to folks who insist they have to “learn something” from picking up a book. The author argued that readers of fiction are forced to empathize with and inhabit the lives of people they would never otherwise meet — in the case of her own remarkable novels, readers confront terrorists, opera singers, magicians, politicians, unwed mothers, and wayward Nebraskans. In Patchett’s view, fiction offers a window to the human condition every bit as valid and informative as a history book or a how-to manual.
In this podcast from the Wall Street Journal, Patchett discusses the particular value of reading in tough economic times. In this PIF magazine interview, Patchett discusses her writing career and some of the sources of inspiration for her novels.
Patchett’s passionate advocacy for public libraries also reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, Rolling Stones guitarist and indestructable human debauchery machine Keith Richards’ thoughts about the proud institution where I work:
When you are growing up, there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully — the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a great equalizer.
Rock on, public libraries.
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Keith Richards and the public library: two images I don’t usually associate together. I’d like to see his library card!