Tag: Libraries

I’m In The Library *To The Max*

So, as mentioned previously, my books are now in the Hikari City Public Library. But apparently that wasn’t the end of my library adventures.

The other day, I stopped by my neighborhood sake shop and the owner told me the library’s new head, who had taken over after my last donation, wanted to talk to me about boosting local library usage. Which, despite my enthusiasm for libraries, seemed like something beyond my skillset. But, hey, I’m always happy to meet and talk.

I talked to the new head, who in a small-town coincidence, knew me because our sons went to preschool together. He wanted to talk about things like running book recommendations from “interesting people” in the library newsletters and such, and briefly mentioned that the library would love to stock my sake book. I also happened to get a shipment of the US version of Strange Houses just before, so I brought one along, too.

So, we set up a little publicity stunt where I donated books to the library when a reporter from the local newspaper just happened to be there to get pictures!

Two men in glasses standing in front of a bookshelf holding two books, smiling at the camera.
Me and the library head in the Setouchi Times.

I have no idea if this will raise interest in the local library, but I certainly hope it does.

A piece of paper pinned to a corkboard. It is a Japanese language description of my book Discovering Yamaguchi Sake, with a big pop-logo reading in Japanese "This Week's Recommendation."
The library set out a recommendation board for my book.

I’m in the library

Figuratively as well as literally.

A tabletop display of The Devil's Flute Murders and the U. S. And U. K. Versions of Strange Pictures, along with a photocopy of a newspaper article about the translation of Strange Pictures.
My books on display.

When I got a whole bunch of comp copies of both editions of Strange Pictures, for more than I knew what to do with, the first place I went was to the library to see if I could donate some to put on their shelves.

Hikari Public Library is small and serves a relatively limited Japanese community, so there isn’t a lot of demand for English materials, but the staff not only accepted the books, they celebrated them. They were openly excited to get copies after seeing the local newspaper article about my Uketsu translations. I’m not sure I can explain how good that feels.

I’m one of those people for whom libraries are borderline sacred. I have been a ravenous reader since I was in first grade, and there were no bookstores in my small town. So, I practically lived in the library. The librarian, Mrs. Beard—who was almost laughably stereotypical librarian: little old lady in glasses on a chain—knew me by name and never tried too restrain my reading by age or “difficulty.” She just helped me find books to love.

That library was utterly foundational to who I am. It’s where I discovered Stephen King. Where I explored art and history and parts of the world that I never dreamed that I might actually one day get to see. It was where I started to see stories as more than just words on a page, but a way to live other people’s lives for a time.

I really could go on and on. The smell of all those old books, the quiet and cool spaces where you can just read and read as long as you want… You know, I’m sure, for yourself.

And now I’m right there on the shelves at the library. How lucky I am too live this life.