“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.” –T.S. Eliot
This quote began my experience with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson and I felt…seen. These last two years have not been easy for anyone and we have all faced our own challenges and struggles along the way. For me, I have had a crisis at work and felt lost and aimless.
My name is Julia, I’m the middle sister of our podcast family, and I’m a children’s librarian. I went from a steady ritual of serving large storytime and after school crowds of excited children and their families to long stretches of time when I talk to no one while I sit at the information desk because people are not coming to the library like they once were. At least they are not at my branch. I have had a HUGE dip in career satisfaction since my main job function has changed to helping people figure out our public computer and printing systems (which is about 75% effective on a good day).
It is so rewarding to find a book that reminds you why you made certain life choices. The main character of this book is one of the traveling librarians of President Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project. If she can ride a mule for hours in all types of weather to bring the magic of literacy to her patrons, I can sit on the information desk and patiently wait until I can get back to being an actual children’s librarian again.
Sibling Library 