A half-century, plus, at the library

1950s
I have a reading affair with Perry Mason for many years, under the blankets of my bed with my flashlight, after meeting him at the public library in my southern Wisconsin home town.

1960s
I become an Existentialist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls college library. The Peace Corps bring a traveling library to me in Owerri, Nigeria, West Africa, where I'm teaching English to Natives.

1970s
I discover Dr. Spock at my local library in Waupaca County, just in time to get answers about raising my two children.

1980s
I teach five years for free at the younger children's summer library reading program in central Wisconsin.

1990s
I train to become a Second Language teacher, using the UW-Stevens Point college library and local library (Portage County Public Library). I learn to become a "traditionally built woman," and about drinking red bush tea after being introduced to new characters and countries from a library in Taiwan.

2000s
I continue to live happily, without TV, for more than 10 years. How? My local library provides me with books to read, books to listen to, DVDs to watch on my home computer, CDs to listen to on my radio, tax assistance in the Spring, monthly book discussion groups from Fall to Spring, and I've only begun to discover what is available to me through the Portage County Public Library.

--Cherry E. Shauger, Portage County Public Library