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Wednesday 29 March 2017

L for Library.

At  The Library of Congress in 1979 a very talented writer called Barbara Tuchman (1912-1989) gave a lecture called 'The Book'.She was an American Historian and Author. She focused on writing popular history. One biographer said of her,  "Tuchman was not a historians historian but a lay person's historian, who made the past interesting to millions of readers". Here is what she said at her Lecture called;

Barbara Tuchman

The Book.

 "Books are the carriers of civilization without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.

Without books, the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are the engines of change, (as the poet said), windows on the world.

 Lighthouses erected in the sea of time".

 They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print". 

 Where I lived as a child there was an Art Deco style Library.

 I spent many a happy hour browsing through the amazing assortment of books, picking the books I wanted to read, I started of with Enid Blytons books of The Famous Five and The Secret Seven, such great adventures for children.


Norris Green Library.
 Childrens Section.



 Who can forget Louise .M. Alcott's Little Women?

 Not forgetting Anne of Green Gables  by Lucy .M. Montgomery.



 Then there is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The door leading through to the magical Secret Garden.







 I could reel off lists of books that I hired from the Library, but that would take an age. We were allowed two books per week and I nearly alway read them before the due date. 

 I would read my brothers books, naturally, boy's own' stuff! There was Biggles, about a W.W.2 pilot in the Royal Airforce by H.E. Johns,  also Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes. 

My whole desire for reading and learning centred around this wonderful Library. Quite rightly the Librarians were highly respected in the community. When I started college we used The Central Library in the City to research our particular subjects. 

The Picton Room in Liverpool Central LIBRARY.


My thanks to Denise, Roger,Leslie and the ABCW team, without you there would be no chance for such a
LOQUATIOUS yet LOVELY  group of people to transport their interests and views etc to this LAISSEZ -FAIRE meme.
Best wishes to all,
Di,
ABCW team.



27 comments:

  1. I took a course in Children's Literature at university and had to compile a booklet of my favourite books with accompanying personal prose about them. I recall "Little Women", "Anne of Green Gables" (have visited Prince Edward Island and seen all the areas, including homes, where the books were about), "The Secret Garden" (one of my personal favourites), "Charlotte's Web", "Owls in the Family", and more! Without books, I would be lost! I love getting engrossed in the stories, both for children and for adults. My favourite genres right now are Crime/Mystery and historical novels.

    Leslie
    abcw team

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi leslie,
      I would have liked to have had a study course on Childrens's Literature but sadly it wasn't on the curriculum
      then. I did study a lot of English and some American literature and latterly French.
      As I've got older my thirst for knowledge grow stronger...must have too much time on my hands!
      Love Di xx

      Delete
  2. Wonderful information. I'd not heard of her before. Thank you for keeping her memory alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Illsa,
      I think that this is the first time I've seen your name on ABCW so on behalf of 'the abcw family
      welcome!
      Thanks for your kind words,
      best wishes,
      Di.
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  3. Library is a fabulous choice for the letter L. I spent lots of time in libraries growing up and I had to walk to the library. I still use the library today. Nice post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ellen,
      I still use my local library, I just love books, even the smell of them,
      Thanks for your kind words,
      best wishes.
      Di,
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  4. Ah ~ yes ~ the Library ~ such a wealth of 'goodies' for those who like to read one always has a friend with books ~ thanks,

    Wishing you a fun week ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carol,
      I totally agree with your comments and thanks for stopping by.
      Best wishes,
      Di,
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  5. I had not heard of her before but its always nice to learn something new ;-)

    And you've changed your layout and theme... looks great !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi She's more well known in the US although I had come across some of her works
      now that I've found an interest in her I'm going try and get some of her works from
      the local library.
      Glad you like my new layout. I'm still finding my way around it and I'm thinking
      about moving over to word press as I have an account with them.
      Best regards,
      Di.
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Somehow Roger I thought you may !
      Regards,
      DI xx
      ABCW team,

      Delete
  7. Huyton library, leather chairs, the smell of floorwax and musty air, I loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Thud,
    Good to hear from you.
    yes I remember the smell of lavender floor wax and the leather chairs in th adult Library.
    I guess our libraries would be similar ours was an art-deco style, The picture of the children's library
    looked so much smaller than I remember as a child.
    Best regards,
    Di.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tuchman was a marvelous communicator I like her sweep of history style, I've read A Distant Mirror (about the 14th Century) and The Proud Tower. both of which I could recommend. The library used to be at the bottom of my street as a child, how lucky was that. I like the book title 'carpet' that leads into Liverpool Central Library but I've never been inside, it looks gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joy,
      Tuchman was a wonderful communicator and her interpretation of history makes it easier
      to understand , I'm about to get a copy of the two you mentioned. Our library was at the bottom
      of our road too!
      You really must visit the Central library if you can it's an amazing place.
      We had special passes from our college to read, research and study there
      on certain days. it's a beautiful circular building with an amazing ceiling.
      Next to the library in William Brown Street you will find The Walker Art Gallery
      then further down the road, toward the tunnel you will find The Museum.
      Looking across the road you will see the St John's gardens where you could enjoy
      a packed lunch or just a sit down. The gardens are at the back of St George's Hall,
      then if you feel like taking in a show you have the wonderful Empire theatre......
      What a City!
      Best wishes,
      Di
      ABCW team..
      across
      From
      towards the tunnel you will find The Museum

      Delete
  10. Hi Di!
    Very interesting and creative indeed!
    A Library is the real place to be..
    Your post is a tribute to our dear Roger:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Amit, so lovely to hear from you and so pleased you found my meme
      interesting, Indeed my post is a tribute to our most revered Roger, I'm pretty
      sure his brain is a veritable library in itself,
      I've never known a man with such an extensive knowledge of almost everything!
      Best regards,
      Di.
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  11. Unfortunately I don't know her, but I love reading ! Since I learned to read I started to devore books ! My parents could hardly follow, lol. And it's still the case !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gattina,
      Lovely to hear from you, I love reading too. When I first started using my P.C,
      I stopped reading for a while but I'm pleased to say I have rekindled my interest.
      I buy most of my books on-line from Amazon,
      best wishes,
      Di.
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  12. I love your new design. Bright colors. You inspire me to go check out blogger's new templates. I've been thinking of a title change, thinking it may shake some spidery shingles loose out of my noggin.

    Whenever I go anywhere new, I like to find a library. We were allowed either 5 or 8 books to check out when I was kid. I went for the max. I still visit the library and come out with bunches of books. Thankfully, the Husband loves libraries just as much (his mom was a librarian) and is willing to carry my books for me. The greatest accomplishment for me is being able to say I am in the Library of Congress. :-)

    I appreciate you stopping by the blog and remembering the Mama. I think the two of you would've hit it off, too. Love ya, Di.

    ReplyDelete
  13. what will the world be without libraries? Esp where I grew up, people didn't buy books.

    ReplyDelete
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I usually like to reply to your comments but for some reason when i do post a reply it just diappears, any advice would be most welcome,Thanks Di x

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