Sullivan County
Silver-Haired Perspective
They Were Not My Feathered Friends:
During my last two years of high school, I was a part-time janitor for a small public library. In addition to the inside custodial duties, I maintained the outside grounds and kept the front steps swept. Completing the sweeping part of my job would have been very easy, if it had not been for the couple of dozen pigeons that made their permanent residence on the top ledge of that stone building. From that overhang, there was almost a continual falling of feathers, nesting materials, and bird wastes.
The regular library patrons were astutely aware of the air-drops; consequently, they would always navigate very quickly through the hazardous zone. Of course, they would never gaze upwardly while being in that targeted area.
Since, the vast majority of the litter fell on the 11 steps that led up to the front door, I had to sweep and clean that entire stairway every morning and afternoon; except on Sundays when the library was closed. I simply abhorred those dirty, feathered creatures.
My distain for those polluters was further augmented by a comment I overheard one afternoon while sweeping the steps. As a young mother and her preteen boy walked by me, I hear her tell him, “Son, if you don’t go to college, you might be like him and have to clean-up bird-do.”
I knew my life could be a little more dignified and less complicated if somehow I were able to eliminate those cooing predators. But, any attack strategy would have to be approved by the head librarian.
That boss lady was in her early sixties, of small stature, very educated, extremely articulate, very precise in her speech pattern, easily excitable, and in some respects had the personality of Chatsworth Osborne’s mother on the Dobie Gillis television show. Since, I was basically a non-sophisticated rural-type kid; she appeared to me as the 800-pound gorilla. Just one of her not-so-pleased looks would cause my heart to skip-a-beat.
Amazingly, one day I was able to approach her with a most innovative plan. My idea was to use my dad’s twelve-gauge shotgun and eliminate or at least greatly reduce the size of the permanent roosting flock.
Holy Smokes! You would have thought that she had just discovered that Jack-the-Ripper was in her presence. She simply went ballistic. So, in an attempt to settle her down, I told her of my alternative plan of scaling the wall (mountain style) and placing some poison on the ledge.
Well, for the next several minutes (seemed like hours) the librarian sternly lectured me on the various flaws in my thinking process. She stated I could be arrested for discharging a firearm in the town limits, the gun shots would alarm the nearby neighbors, I could fall and break my neck, the birds would scatter the poison resulting in other birds/pets to die, and that I had undoubtedly been watching too many “shoot-em-up” westerns on television. Needless to say, those pigeons continued to bestow havoc on my daily routines.
Several years later (1976), Christine and I decided to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary by taking a trip to Indiana. She had never been there and was anxious to accompany me on a physical journey down memory lane. Near the top of our priority list was to visit the library and see the infamous pigeons.
Within a few seconds of our arrival at the library, Christine laughed and pointed to the top ledge. When I looked up, I was taken aback to discover that there were no birds in sight. Someone had placed some chicken wire over the area that once housed the pigeons. Why o’ why, didn’t I think of that simple solution?
Periodically, over-the-years, whenever I have a brief bout of self-importance; my wife will adjust my ego, by reminding me about how I allowed some supposed dumb fowl to create a two-year messy fiasco for me.
John , Professional
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Libraries for a Lifetime
Books, newspapers and other printed materials have been an integral part of my daily life for most of my 80 years.
My earliest memory of exposure to the wonderful stories in books is of sitting on my father's lap and being read to. Later, we usually shared an apple.
Then came the public school experience with all the textbooks and school libraries, followed by the fabulous Indiana University Library visits to study and to do research.
Libraries, with all their many resources, are truly citadels of learning thru all the formative years as well as a source for life long continuing education. They are a "port in a storm."
And then there is the pleasure of reading a good book--what a way to rest and relax.
I have visted libraries East to New York City, South to Georgia State College for Women, North to University of Notre Dame, West to the University of Illinois, and to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. My neighbor to the South, Vincennes, has a great library.
I must confess--I have a love affair with the Sullivan Library! It's the friendly faces, the helping hands, the genealogy section, the childrens' activities taking place and the serenity of the house that have won my heart. I hope that the Sullivan Library and I can grow older together.
June, Retired
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Sullivan Public Library Is Heaven
When I was a little boy, my mother would take me by the hand every two weeks or so and we would walk from our home on N. Court St. to the Sullivan Public Library. I remember walking along the concrete wall on Lovers' Lane. It scared my mother, who was afraid I would fall off and get hurt.
Whilma Snavely was the kind and patient librarian. Mom and I would check out six or eight books, some for her and some for me. When we got home, I would rush to my bedroom to read. Whenever I came across a word I did not know, I would press my finger to the page and run to find Mom and ask, "What's this word?" she pronounced it and told me what it meant. Then I would run back to my bedroom and read that sentence over. Many, many times I pestered her with the same question but she never lost patience, always giving me the correct pronunciations and definitions.
Through these library books, I cultivated a love of words. I majored in English at IU and became an English teacher, and, later, a newspaper journalist.
To me, the Sullivan Public Library is heaven and its books are manna.
Ken Bledsoe, Academic/educator
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What Would We Do Without Libraries?
Let me tell you how the library in our small town in Dugger, IN, helped me. Would you have thought to go to your library for information if you wanted to establish a Coal Museum honoring the occupation which helped build the town? Nor would I, but as librarian, I learned there are books to help you in most everything you want to do. They point you in the right direction.
From the book "Robert's Rules of Order," I learned if you are asking the public for monies, you must be legally organized. This was a high priority in my museum work. There are current books to help you plan your wedding, write your resume, build a patio, fix your plumbing, research your genealogy, and men really use the Chilton's books for car repair. Libraries are a cultural center for both adults and children. It isn't a "hush hush, tsk tsk" library anymore. There are newspapers, periodicals, movies, computers and copy machines. Children have all kinds of books, puzzles, story hour, crafts and summer reading programs.
What would we do without libraries? We know what happend to a European country who made a huge bonfire out of its books. LIBRARIES have documented proof for the Doubting Thomases of that debacle.
I have spent many happy hours reading. It wipes the cobwebs from my brain and keeps me in touch with the world. Try it!
Ruby, Retired
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Citizens Come Together to Rebuild Library
Carlisle, IN had a Carnegie Library built in 1916. In 1965, a celebration was planned for Carlisle's 150th birthday. Bonds were purchased by citizens to finance the project. The meetings to plan the event were held in the library. The library burned, though, on March 17. All books and plans for the event were destroyed in the fire. After the celebration, the people returned all the profits from their bonds and ticket sales to build a new library to replace the old one they missed so much. With that and the insurance money received, a new library opened on the town square debt free in December, 1965.
Agnes, Librarian
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The Long Arm of the Library
Sullivan Library in the late 50's and early 60's. Read about a small local library back then:
John T. Snyder, in his recent book, "Innocence 'bout Forgot", has a chapter about the library and his teenage employment there. A first "job" with a salary of $50 a month, John humorously describes his interview and experiences as janitor. The job description included: sweeping steps, opening and closing windows, dusting, and firing the coal furnace. He also relates the profound affect the assistant librarian had on his life. As a librarian and a classmate of John's, it was interesting to discover another aspect of the long arm of the library.
Becky, Librarian
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Library Highlights
Growing up in a small rural town in Oklahoma, the library was the highlight of my life. My mother took me to the library at least once a week. When I left home and moved to Minnesota, I was delighted to find out I could go to more than one library within the Twin Cities. What a treat! Then, later on in life, moving to Indiana, I found out I could have more than one library card through the reciprocal card system in the counties. But, the best part is, now I have a job in a library and I love it. It's like a little piece of heaven in this life.
Kim, Librarian
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