Our family is composed of library junkies. In Maine, we visit our fabulous public library at least once a week and reliably stumble back home home under the weight of tote bags overloaded with books. Maybe it was the years I spent in India and Tanzania with limited access to reading materials, but if there’s one thing I tend to over-pack before a trip, it’s books. I get nervous when we stray too far from our library.
In this respect, we were lucky to land in Monteverde. In addition to running a school, the Quakers operate a community library. In perfect Quaker spirit, the library is never locked, and check outs are done on the honor system. A dedicated volunteer staff meets at least once a week to index donations and to manage the collection of more than 20,000 books. In terms of community spirit, this library is one of a kind. Yet there was one thing we missed from our library back in Maine: access to abundant, new picture books.
I published an essay in The Washington Post about the Monteverde Friends Library and the ingenious gift relatives offered my kids over the course of our year abroad–a monthly care package of graphic novels. The kids waited with bated breath for these packages, and after they opened them, the house fell silent for hours as they disappeared into the books.
I hope you enjoy reading about our year in graphic novels–we relished each of the books sent to us, and now that we’re back in Maine, we remember the Monteverde Library with great fondness.
If you and your family have lived or traveled abroad with limited access to books, leave a comment to tell us about your experience. Did you rely on e-readers? Maybe you passed precious books around the local expat community? Or did you develop some other solution?
January 24, 2018 at 11:40 am
Yay for great grandparents!
On Wed, Jan 24, 2018 at 8:04 AM, Warmer than Canada wrote:
> katiequirkauthor posted: “Our family is composed of library junkies. In > Maine, we visit our fabulous public library at least once a week and > reliably stumble back home home under the weight of tote bags overloaded > with books. Maybe it was the years I spent in India and Tanzania wi” >
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January 25, 2018 at 11:53 am
Hi Katie, Thanks for the forward. I FW your article to Marshall Cobb who is has just finished publishing a children’s book and writing more, Will of the Hill. An e-book also. http://www.marshall-cobb.com. Tim Lietzke is on the last ten page of my memoirs, pushing it up a few notches. So will send it to you when finished. The Institute is taking the leadership in solar panels. Good news and today CR is signing a law to give stimulus to EV. Good news. You are missing to cold down here. We are hoping for some weather Warmer than Cost Rica. When will it come. But that must mean it is hotter some place else. A new writers course is being offered By Joe you don’t know. He is a poet with a PHD. Looking forward. Love your blog. Paul
Sent from my iPad
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January 25, 2018 at 12:03 pm
So lovely to hear from you, Paul! I can’t explain the cold you are feeling down there–we certainly haven’t stolen your heat, at least not up here in Maine. I’m delighted to learn about Marshall’s latest pubs and wish I could be in Monteverde to study with you and the poet, Joe.
In other news, a British friend of mine recently visited Monteverde and he sent me a picture of your Bellbird sculpture–one of his highlights, even though he had no idea the artist was a friend of mine. We miss you all terribly!
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