Library Provides Therapy for One Woman

While interviewing staff, volunteers, and customers at the Woods Memorial Branch Library of the Pima County Public Library system, Managing Librarian Coni Weatherford introduced me to a women that visits the library almost every day. Her name is Robin.

Robin accessing the library's free WiFi

You might be thinking that you know an ardent supporter of the libraries that visits often or you might be thinking what a nice place for her to visit, but her story goes much deeper.

You see, it is a test of her strength and will to make a visit to the library. Robin has spent many years as a shut in. She struggles everyday with leaving her house. As part of her therapy, her doctor and therapist suggested she visit the library.

Now she is at the library most days. She leaves her house and her goal is the library. Why such a public place? Why a place that is teeming with kids? Robin put it quite simply, “I feel safe here.”

What a beautiful testament to how the library has saved her life.

Written by Samantha Barry

Do You Want to Be Rich?

I believe that libraries are treasure troves. They provide riches for your mind and soul: books, videos, classes, music, news, and access to the world online--all free.

Never have I believed this idea so much as I have while working on this blog.

Recently while visiting the Woods Memorial Library of the Pima County Public Library system, I had the pleasure of listening to customers tell me why they love the library. A child stopped with his mother and said he loved the Read to a Dog program (I mean who wouldn’t?), a Russian immigrant stopped to tell me that he is thankful to have a place where he can find so many resources that are not censored or controlled, and another man stopped to tell me he comes in everyday to meet a friend because that friend spends all day at the library reading newspapers.

One of the most heartwarming stories came from Jane, a frequent visitor at the Woods Library. With a very proud tilt of her chin, she told me how in the last few years she had lost almost everything due to the economy: her books (35 boxes that she had to sell), her phone, her internet access, and her house. Then with an enormous swell of pride, she told me that she decided to start using the library to help get some of those things back into her life.

Mystery at Woods Memorial Library

She was happily surprised to discover so many new things. She discovered the BBC, which has quickly become her favorite resource for television shows and movies. She commented on the unlimited number of books and has recently discovered her love for mysteries. She has internet access and can utilize online resources to stay in touch with family and friends. She has all the newspapers and magazines that she wants to keep up on the world.


Now, the library means everything to her. She has introduced a friend to the library and likes to recommends books to her. She also credits the staff for her new happiness, saying that they are “...remarkable and go out of their way to help.”

Most of all, I can see she has regained her pride and that the power of the library for her means that she doesn’t have to live without so many things that bring her joy.

In her own words, “I come to the library because it makes me feel rich.”

The library can make you feel rich, too.

Written by Samantha Barry

Paper Mustaches

Rita, a volunteer at the Woods branch, shows off her crafting skills

As a kid, didn’t you just love the first time you were allowed to use the scissors? I would cut a piece of construction paper into tiny confetti just to keep the scissors in my hand. Or what about your first glue stick? And glitter? Pure bliss.

Wouldn’t you love to spend a day once in a while with the old scissors and glue stick, instead of a keyboard and presentations? As a volunteer at the Woods Memorial Branch Library of the Pima County Public Library system, Rita gets to do that every time she is in the library.

When I met her, she ushered me to her work space in the library office and immediately pulled out a paper mustache from a pile she had accumulated. Putting it up to her face she said, “Look how fun my job is." Cutting out paper mustaches is just a sample of her volunteer work, at the Woods Memorial Library. She enjoys developing creative projects for the children at the library.

Rita lives in the neighborhood and after she retired thought it would be fun to volunteer at the library. She is an avid reader so it made perfect sense for her to spend time in a place where she is surrounded by books. She told me it was like "...putting the fox in the hen house.”

And you can see how much fun she is having by just watching her prepare paper artist palettes for an upcoming program. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and the staff at Woods Memorial Library are very appreciative of Rita’s presence and the help she provides.

Painter palettes wait for the next Picasso

When I told Rita I hoped to be working in a public library very soon, she said “Working in the library is the greatest job ever because everyone here loves their job." From what I have learned so far in the library, her words ring very true.

Written by Samantha Barry