Wednesday I was asked to be a part of the Perry Carnegie Library’s annual fundraiser hosted by the Progress Club as a featured author (https://www.facebook.com/perry.carnegie?fref=ts).  Along with author Shelley Malicote-Stutchman we visited with the patrons of the library, librarians, and members of the community. We were told we would go down in history as the first authors to be featured in the library.  I hope we won’t be the last. 

The lovely library has maintained its original architecture all the while being updated and new carpet.     But the library may look original, it is as up to date as any in the country with e-published and audio books, not to mention access to the internet and online research. 

I grew up at a Carnegie library – though the one in Enid has been razed.  I loved walking up the stairs with my sisters in summer when school was out, and breathing deep the smell of aging paper and ink.  It was like stepping back in time. How many stories does it hold and how many minds researched or invented those stories?

I can’t wait to go back to the library in Perry, Oklahoma.  I hope to be invited back soon and we can hold a workshop for budding writers. 

Thank you for thinking of me, Perry Carnegie Library!