Lost art it is not and should not be.
Ever.
Yes we are in the online information age where most people surf the net for their news and information as opposed to having the printed newspaper delivered, but that should not mean they should stop reading.
Especially recreationally.
You should still be an avid reader. It is good for you in so many ways.
grapplingstars.com femcompetitor.com writer, pexels.com Yaroslav Shuraev photo credit
As printed at Reader’s Digest, “When researchers at the Yale School of Public Health dug into 12 years of HRS data about the reading habits and health of more than 3,600 men and women over the age of 50, a hopeful pattern emerged: People who read books—fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose—for as little as 30 minutes a day over several years were living an average of two years longer than people who didn’t read anything at all.”
That is helpful information about the power of reading.
We suspected as much.
That is why the bar at Femcompetitor Magazine and Grappling Stars of San Francisco is to research, write and publish only 1,000+ word articles.
County Campbell Public Library near Cincinnati adds, “Your brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, just like all muscles in your body. Reading has been found to enhance connectivity in the brain. A decline in memory and brain function is a side effect of aging, but regular reading may help slow the process. Keeping your brain active and engaged can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”
That is a powerful health benefit indeed.
“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”… Ray Bradbury
Being able to read is not something that we should not take for granted.
So many affecting films are based upon classic or popular novels.
grapplingstars.com femcompetitor.com writer, The Weinstein Company photo credit
The Reader is a 2008 German-American romantic drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and written by David Hare, based on the 1995 German novel of the same name by Bernhard Schlink. Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet star along with the young actor David Kross.
Here is what makes the film even more special.
It was the last film for producers Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom died prior to its release.
Production began in Germany in September 2007, and the film opened in limited release on December 10, 2008.
The film tells the story of Michael Berg, a German lawyer who, as a mid-teenager in 1958, has an affair with an older woman, Hanna Schmitz, who then disappears only to resurface years later as one of the defendants in a war crimes trial stemming from her actions as a guard at a Nazi concentration camp. Michael realizes that Hanna is keeping a personal secret she believes is worse than her Nazi past – a secret which, if revealed, could help her at the trial.
What is her secret?
She is illiterate. A fact she has been concealing all her life.
Ms. Winslet won a number of awards for her role, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film itself was nominated for several other major awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.
It is a moving classic which demonstrates with great power how some who are unable to read would never take for granted this magical gift.
Which brings us back to the beauty of the public library.
There is nothing like escaping the humidity on extremely hot summer days or quietly slipping inside, to sit by a window with a view, as the rain softly falls outside while you are warm inside and curled up with a book.
The Iowa State University is a magnificent specimen.
“A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.”… Will Rogers
We love their message from Beth, their Dean. At lib.iastate.edu she smiles, “Each and every day at the Iowa State University Library, you will find expert librarians and staff who are ready to assist with the research needs of all members of the Iowa State community. We offer expertise in the areas of publishing, copyright, data management, open access and research impact. Our excellent collections and services are readily available to everyone at our facilities and online. In keeping with the American Library Association, Library Bill of Rights, we are steadfast in our efforts to offer our users a vibrant and inclusive culture that honors diversity and intellectual freedom.”
grapplingstars.com femcompetitor.com writer, pexels.com Destiawan nur agustra photo credit
We all have our favorite public libraries and when research some of the world’s most impressive libraries in countries around the world, you will be spellbound.
For some breathtaking photos you should view The Library of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada; The Duluth Public Library in downtown Duluth, Minnesota; The National Library of Belarus, the largest library in the Republic of Belarus; The Boston Athenæum, which is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States; The Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, the main public library in the city of Stuttgart, Germany and The British Library which is the national library of the United Kingdom and the largest national library in the world by number of items catalogued. It is estimated to contain 150–200 million+ items from many countries.
We could go on and on and on.
Reading can be the wonder of so much imagination and if you are a parent we encourage you to first spend time reading to your children and then guiding them to read books that will ignite their creativity.
It promises to be a lifelong activity that the previously quoted research shows should extend their life.
And your happiness.
Mayor London Breed Appoints
Michael Lambert as City Librarian
Lambert has served as Acting Librarian since February 2018
San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today appointed Michael Lambert to serve as the City Librarian of the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL). Lambert has served as Acting Librarian since the retirement of City Librarian Luis Herrera in February 2018, and previously served as Deputy City Librarian.
During his tenure, SFPL was named the 2018 National Library of the Year by Library Journal magazine. He has championed increased and equitable access to libraries through expanded hours and a fine-free library system.
“I am proud to appoint Michael Lambert to serve as City Librarian and continue the great work he has done during his many years at the Library,” said Mayor Breed. “Through forward-thinking initiatives likes eliminating burdensome fees that disproportionately affect low-income and minority residents, the San Francisco Public Library continues to serve as a critical public resource. I am confident that under Michael’s leadership, the Library will continue to expand its commitment to equity and access for all of our communities.”
“I am deeply honored to accept Mayor Breed’s appointment to advance the mission of the San Francisco Public Library,” said Lambert. “I look forward to working with the Library Commission and the passionate, dedicated staff to enhance the quality of life for all residents of San Francisco. San Francisco has the premier urban library in the country and I am humbled to be standing on the shoulders of giants as the next City Librarian.”
In March 2014, Lambert was named Deputy City Librarian of the San Francisco Public Library, overseeing public services at the Main Library and the Library’s network of neighborhood branches. He previously managed library operations at San Mateo County Libraries and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina.
"During the past year, Michael Lambert has exemplified the qualities that San Francisco seeks in its library leader: a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in library programs, strong fiscal oversight of the system, and a dynamic vision for library service innovations. I'm so pleased that we are able to promote from within our staff and elevate Michael to the City Librarian," said Library Commission President Dr. Mary Wardell Ghirarduzzi. “On behalf of the Commission we congratulate him as he embarks on this critical leadership role to serve and uplift the community as patrons of the best library in the nation.”
Lambert began his career in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina at the Richland Library. He is a proud alumnus of the University of South Carolina with a degree in History and earned his Master of Library and Information Science Degree from South Carolina’s College of Library & Information Science.
Michael has been active in working with the California Library Association and serves as a board member for the San Francisco Tech Council. He is also a member of the Our Children Our Families Council. Lambert was born in Seoul, Korea and is the first Asian-American to lead the San Francisco Public Library.
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Opening photo grapplingstars.com femcompetitor.com writer, pexels.com Juan Salamanca photo credit
https://www.rd.com/culture/benefits-of-reading/
https://www.cc-pl.org/10-benefits-of-reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reader_(2008_film)
https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/reading
https://sfmayor.org/article/mayor-london-breed-appoints-michael-lambert-city-librarian
