This is the first of what I hope will be a series. The mere
fact that I think I will come up with more than one reason to like Las Vegas shows extreme
optimism on my part. In the past I have written about how hard it has been for
me to like living here. I miss rain and snow and seasons and trees and so many
things about where I grew up in Indiana.
Then last Spring, for the first time ever, I felt a tiny bit of sentimentality
creep up in me, about seeing this place as my home. And while it is still
difficult for me to truly love Las
Vegas as a whole, I have found that there are
individual things here that are worth loving. So, here is the beginning of what
I hope will be a series.
Things to Love About Las Vegas: #1 - The Clark County Library District
What? In Las Vegas, the
city of glitz and skin and casinos and showgirls and drinking and gambling and
excess, the library is the first
thing I came up with? Yes! And it’s not just because I’m a reader or
a nerd. Let me explain.
The first time I entered one of the libraries in Las Vegas (there are
eighteen in the urban district), was for rehearsals for a show. In fact, several
of the branches have full theaters with fly systems and orchestra pits. Real
theaters. In their many theaters I have seen dance performances, plays, and
musicals.
On their stages I have also seen Hawaiian dance
demonstrations, performances by the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater, and
even a Mexican mariachi band – all for free. I think the list of events offered
in our libraries is amazing. Just now I looked on the website to search their events, and there are 977 upcoming events on their list. Wow.
Their events are not just performances. You can go watch a
movie, listen to a lecture, view an art show, listen to poetry, take a computer
class, learn to bellydance, get tax preparation help, and much much more.
Recently I signed up my son in a program called 500 Before
Kindergarten. We write down every book we read together, and every time we read
100 we take in our list and he gets a sticker. When we reach 500 he’ll get a
free book bag. I also want to take him for a free story time or author visit or
art lesson.
Another perk of this library system is convenience. I can renew
my books online with the click of a button. I search their library catalog
online, and if my nearest branch doesn’t have the book I want, I click “Request
It,” and they email me when it’s ready to pick up at my branch. Then I just
walk across the parking lot from my workplace to the library that happens to be
next door, and check it out. Sweet.
This reminds me, I need to head over to the library soon. I
have two books waiting for me on hold, and I need to return our DVD of You’re a
Good Man, Charlie Brown, which we have renewed seven times already. And it’s
time again to let my son run around the aisles and excitedly choose books to
take home. “Trucks!” “Charlie Brown!” “Thomas the Train!” I hope he always
finds excitement at the library!
