A Library Thought

This is a blogpost written while sitting in a library here in our city of Calgary, Alberta. It is about libraries, and why and how I sit here doing what I claim to be important things!! I forgot to post it back there in October. Now I realize it is on topic for my next blog! It will probably show up in a few days! Stay tuned.

October 8, 2025

A little discomfort I deal with each time I go to the library. For me a library is still sort of a luxury. It is a place of anonymity, and from my perspective a spot dedicated to whatever project I have in mind. It may be to read a book or magazine article – paper or digital – or to work at some document trying to take shape in my brain. My world is accepted as it is, and library staff available with whatever query this old guy might have (and older staff ready to defer to someone younger if they are just as confused by the copy machine as I may be).

In my lifetime I have become acquainted with two approaches to library time. The first is time wasted; a considerable presence when there were farm chores to do and hockey and ball games. Library, in those years, suggested absolutely nothing else to do. The other approach is at other end of spectrum, probably some evidence of lifetime patterns learned. Now it is quality time, definitely more important than b*s* sessions in coffee shops or watching hockey on television! Therapists have labeled this old retired Mennonite as a workaholic! So, library is either wasted time or quality time.

These days I pursue what I think needs pursuing, and that means when in the library I am not visiting someone, working at a project in my garage or yard or attending a Zoom meeting from my home office. Quality time. 😏

Here we go. Today's library time will be used to jot down a few “my Alberta thoughts.” At present our province is enduring a teachers’ strike. Our government is not willing to shell out the big bucks for educators, and apparently it’s showdown time. Classrooms are packed and individual student needs are not being met, especially with many extra needs brought on by immigrant children. My first inclination is to give teachers all the support we can to help them do their jobs to best of their ability. Then again (ironic perspective from this longtime NDP), I also wonder about what is the most important here. Our education system is in a new day. It’s not only demographic classroom-size pressures. It begs the question, what quality education can realistically (or should) be provided for children of high echelon high salaried parents. Can an education system provide what is not provided at home, like discipline and parental guidance?

This is where my genuine socialistic inclinations lean just a bit toward the conservative. Many of today's parents need to reclaim parenting - do what you need to do yourself before looking to have government do it for you. I recently overheard a parent make a case for the importance of vacation trips so as to spend quality time with her kids! Duh!!  Maybe that woman should regularly make dinner together with her teenage daughter! Strikes and politics do not provide those things. 

Hopefully the strike will end soon with reasonable resolve, and I also hope parents will realize we must be realistic. That's it! My thoughts for this library day. And yes, today the library staff are diligently serving as alternate teachers!