A Few Minutes with the Mayor – September 2023

Reading is a big deal in my family’s life. Reading is a daily pleasure for us, and I don’t know if I could go to sleep at night without reading for a while. As a family without a television until 1958, my parents read to my siblings and me every night. Dad would get tired of reading story books and discovered we could be entertained with reference works from the huge set of encyclopedias every household owned at that time. We were probably the only kids in lower elementary school who knew the Egyptians mummified their dearly departed, or the location and length of the Amazon and Yangtze rivers. I also read to my children every night, and treasured that time with them. I loved that spark of curiosity and wonder that books stimulated. I still do.

I was engaged in a conversation recently with friends discussing how we learned to read, and what it meant to us. I was surprised to learn that I was not alone as a 1950’s child who learned to read from comic books. I would hang out with my older cousins as they read the latest editions of their favorites, or re-read older issues. They would have foot-high stacks of comics they would excitedly exchange. They would discuss the plots of their comics, and conjecture about what the next issue would bring. As a five-year-old, I thought they were so cool and grown up. Reading was a world I was envious of, and with their patient and sometimes not so patient help, I learned the alphabet and started memorizing words. I loved Western and Fantasy comic books best. Reading seemed miraculous; the power of words, how they fired my imagination, and what new ideas I learned! I have tried to pass my love of reading on to my children and grandchildren. Sometimes I see that television, streaming, and other forms of electronics are more interesting and fun to them. That makes me sad, but it’s the way of things now. I still suggest books to them, and sometimes they do read them. I will admit helping with homework is a lot easier using a computer.

You may have noticed a new addition to our City Hall grounds. We have added a new Little Library, between the Planning Department and the backdoor of City Hall. This is an independent, non-affiliated, small exchange library. Our aim is to promote literacy, a love of reading, and a place to exchange books. Tom Glover and Jorge Valles from our Public Works Department built this little gem, using recycled materials left over from other projects. Please visit and exchange any types of books in good condition. If the shelves are full, please bring your donations to the front desk and we will put them out, as space empties. There are at least six other “Little Libraries” in Jacksonville. Some are independent and others are affiliated with the “Little Free Library” program. Their locations are: the 1100 block of South 3rd Street, the 200 block of Wells Fargo Drive, the 900 block of Beverly Way, North Oregon between West C and West D Streets, the 900 block of Beverly Drive, and the Vineyard View Gazebo. These little libraries are a fun way to keep books in circulation and share with others. Remember, they are exchange libraries. Bring books to exchange, or they will run out of books.

Two other places to find books in Jacksonville are our local bookstore, Rebel Heart Books, and the Jacksonville Public Library.

Rebel Heart Books carries a wide variety of all types of fiction and nonfiction. You will find Eileen and her staff to be knowledgeable book aficionados who can help you find something you will love. Rebel Heart Books offers different types of programs and book-related events that are interesting and fun.

The Jacksonville Public Library is a beloved institution in our city. Rina, and the staff of librarians, and volunteers, are dedicated to helping us find what we need, when we need it. With the county-wide borrowing system online, books and audiobooks are readily available. This library offers computer use and a meeting room too.

I think reading is one of the most important concepts and habits we can teach our children. I encourage you to visit all the choices Jacksonville has to offer for books. Buy, borrow, donate, and share books. Help someone learn to read. Give books to your friends and family as gifts. Literacy opens so many doors for a person of any age. Books mean a way to learn, to travel, to be entertained, to experience things we would never do without learning to read.

The thought of books and reading brings to mind children, and school. The 2023-2024 school year started August 28th. Please be mindful of our local kids headed to and from school. School is in session from approximately 7:50am until 2:50pm. Students are traveling by foot and bicycle before and after school. Some of these kids are still so small you can’t see them below your hood or in your rearview mirror. Leave your house earlier than usual to allow time to adhere to city speed limits and avoid creating a dangerous situation for our students. Please be pro-active, not re-active when you are driving in Jacksonville.

Until October, be on the lookout for Jacksonville’s fun fall activities. I hope to see you out enjoying cooler weather.