Many Reasons To Be Thankful

By Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager
Washington-Centerville Public Library

Thanksgiving is quite possibly my favorite holiday. There’s all the family togetherness and good food requisite for a traditional holiday, without all the stress of shopping, wrapping, and going into debt! Plus the whole holiday is centered on taking time to think about all the reasons we have to be grateful…and eating.

In this economy, I’m really thankful to have not only a job, but one in which I take great delight. It’s really a joy to come to work in a beautiful facility that houses the answers to almost any question imaginable. There’s a definite sense of pride in working for an institution that, at its essence, embodies the things that make our democracy great – freedom of speech and uncensored access to all types of information.

What’s even more fun is seeing all the ways in which the library positively impacts the daily lives of our users. Patrons tell us all the time how grateful they are to have a library like ours and so I thought it would be fun to share a sampling of what they are thankful for when it comes to their public library:
· Thanks to you and the Library my wife’s 4 year battle with cancer was easier because of books and the Library. She was happier because of the Library and the wonderful world she could escape because of books and the gift of reading.
· Thanks for showing me how to download an eBook. The library levy is one of the few taxes I pay with a smile on my face.
· One of the reasons I'm so happy we relocated to this area is the library system!
· Thanks so much for offer to submit an inter-library loan request for these books. I so appreciate your consideration of being willing to purchase them, if they were available. Thank you for your follow-up! What would I do without Centerville Library as I teach!
· You have such a great large print collection at this library.
· Thank you so much for checking on this for me. What great personal service! I love my library!
· Thank you so much- you guys are on it. Quick replies, courteous service- so seldom occurs in the real world. Thank you!

Not everyone has the opportunity to see their place of employment make a difference in daily life. Yes, I’m thankful to be an employee of Washington-Centerville Public Library, and I’m not alone.