The Library Book

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

      The Library Book by Susan Orlean is terrifying to anyone who loves books.  This is the true story of the fire on August 29, 1986 at the Los Angeles Public Library.  A fire that destroyed hundreds of thousands of books, documents, records, you name it, it was there and it was either destroyed or affected by a fire that blazed for seven hours. Fire, smoke, water, none of these things are good for books.

          While the author takes us there, introduces us to staff and even the main suspect, this isn’t a book so technical you don’t want to read it.  Just the opposite, it’s so completely scary, like any fire, you can’t take your eyes off it.

We are introduced to so much more about libraries, about the books, the system, the people, the history of libraries, if you are a book/library lover, you will plow through this book. I did. 

     I know I’m gushing, but this was fascinating. We meet the politicians, the architects, the patrons. We learn the story of libraries as the anchor to communities and of the lengths librarians around the world will go to bring books to people. We meet the early librarians, hear about the many programs begun for the patrons who are homeless and look to the library for warmth and acceptance and a free place to be.

     I loved the author's reflection at the end that you don’t have to take a book off a shelf to know that there is a voice inside that book waiting to speak to you.  And that behind that book there is someone who wrote it and who truly hopes someone will listen.  Her reflection reminded me of when I was working in a school library and read The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore to second graders and in the end one little boy, the one I would have least expected, said, "Oh, I get it!  Books don't come alive until someone reads them!"  That's what libraries are for.  To watch one burn is heart stopping.

    If you are a book person, you'll love this one.