Library Book: Writers on Libraries a Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Santa Barbara Central Library

by Steven Gilbar (Edited by )

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Santa Barbara's Central Library the Friends of the Library have published Library Writers on Libraries, an anthology of prose and poetry about the glory of libraries. Over 80 writers are represented, including Ray Bradbury, Fannie Flagg, Sue Grafton, Pico Iyer, Leon Litwack, and all the living Santa Barbara poets laureate. Writers who were raised in Santa Barbara, such as Gretel Ehrlich, Hilary Dole Klein, and D. J. Palladino are included as well as former Santa Barbarans, such as John Daniel, Jeff Greenwald, and Gayle Lynds.

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 25, 2017

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful compendium of 80 writers writing about libraries was done in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the public library in Santa Barbara, California. Prolific editor, Steven Gilbar, was the magician behind the effort and T. C. Boyle, Santa Barbara's resident writing guru, wrote the introduction. There are entries by Ray Bradbury, Gretel Ehrlich, Fannie Flagg, Neil Gaiman, Sue Grafton, Pico Iyer, Ursula Le Guin, Gayle Lynds and Gary Soto - most of whom, have geographical ties to Santa Barbara. There are many common themes in the book, most notably the childhood library experiences of the writers. It may not be a book to sit down with and read from "kiver to kiver" (as my mother would have said), but you can, as I did, savor it by reading a few entries every day. You will come away with very warm, fuzzy feelings about libraries, and reading, and writing. DISCLAIMER: In fairness (and with unabashed pride), I have to confess that I have an entry in the book. You can read "I Always Wanted To Be A Librarian" by Bob Bason, beginning on page 11 - and every word of it is true!