Our Love Affair With Superheroes

When I was 12 years old, I fell in love with Christopher Reeve and Superman.  Those dreamy blue eyes and nerdy lock of hair curling on his forehead made me crush hard (to be honest, I've never completely gotten over that crush).  And what's not to like about Superman?  I mean, he can fly faster than a speeding bullet, leap tall buildings with a single bound, etc., etc.  But he's also Clark Kent, the geeky, mild-mannered reporter with glasses who's charmingly klutzy.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who's a fan of one superhero or another.  Our collection of graphic novels (a more respectable rendition of comic books) keeps growing and being used on a regular basis.  Of course, we have Superman graphic novels, but we also have Batman, Aquaman, Iron Man, Captain America, Captain Canuck, Spiderman, Green Lantern...you name it, we probably have it.  And naturally, we have TV shows and movies which are popular and get checked out often.  Just look at all the hubbub the new Wonder Woman movie has been generating in the cinemas.

So, what is it about superheroes that captures the imagination of so many?  Granted, they're all good looking and incredibly muscular, but I think it goes beyond appearances.  In a world that's riddled with problems and tragedies, it's nice to imagine that people with superhuman strength can swoop in and save the day quickly.  It's also comforting to see that all superheroes have a secret identity as everyday, ordinary people who look just like us and deal with normal issues just like us.  Clark Kent loves Lois Lane, but he wants to be loved for himself because Superman is what he can do rather than who he truly is.

Centuries ago, the Greeks and Romans had gods who were capable of extraordinary feats while at the same time exhibiting human shortcomings such as jealousy and hate.  Today, superheroes have taken the place of ancient gods, inspiring us to possibly become our own superheroes and try to make our imperfect world just a little better in our own human way.  And for the record, I actually prefer Clark Kent to Superman because of his vulnerabilities rather than in spite of them.

Wishing you superhero daydreams from the perch.

Manners in the Library

The following post is an oldie but a goodie from 2014, but I thought it was worth a revisit.  It's wonderful to have so many people coming into the library with the Summer Reading Program in full swing.  Yay!  However, please remember to practice good library etiquette.

So here's a basic refresher on how to behave in the library:

• No running in the library.  The library isn't a playground.  Although we're happy to see kids excited about getting their books, we don't want to see them running and getting hurt.  We also don't want to see them playing tag and disrupting other library users who are trying to read and get work done.
• No shouting, yelling, or screaming in the library.  Again, the library isn't a playground.  Please remember to use your library voice (a.k.a. quiet voice or whisper) when you come in so you don't disrupt other people.  Save your loud voice for outside.  And parents--if your children are loud, we're grateful when you take them outside for a moment and return with them once they've calmed down.
• Don't throw library items around.  Books and other library materials aren't intended to stay on shelves unused.  They're supposed to be used and go on visits with borrowers to homes, work, school, and other places.  However, they're not meant to be thrown on the floor and other places where they can get damaged.  If you don't want an item, please leave it at the desk or at other designated areas.  It will be re-shelved properly.
• Don't scribble on the desks (or anywhere else).  You wouldn't scribble on your kitchen table or countertops, would you?  Then please don't scribble or allow kids to scribble on tables, chairs, books, or anything else in the library.  We want to keep the library a clean and inviting place for everyone.  If you or your kids have the need to scribble, we'll be happy to supply you with scratch paper and even crayons!
• Please and thank you are not bad words.  Politeness will get you far in the library, and we at the desk always like it when kids and adults have good manners.  We're here to help you and are happy to do so, but we never get tired of people asking us nicely for our assistance.

Let's make the library a safe, fun, and exciting place for everyone this summer and throughout the year!  After all, it's your library.  Treat the space and the materials in it like you own them, because you do.

My ever humble 2 cents from the perch.