Just a few Reasons to Love the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library

There is no better place to recharge your intellectual – and, sometimes, emotional –batteries than the library. If you haven't been in awhile head on over for an afternoon. You don’t know what they’re missing.

There are many reasons why I love the library and here are a few of my favourites!

You’re surrounded by some of the greatest minds in history – at your fingertips. Walk in. The sheer amount of material is enough to inspire. Any subject, any question, and idea you may want to explore – it’s all right there. And not just the latest bestsellers; you’ll find volumes there that a bookseller could never carry. Ages of wisdom! For instance, on the self-help shelves, you’ll find advice from great minds from years, decades, even centuries ago.

Silence. Serenity. It’s about respect, and nice manners. No cell phones ringing, either. Peace and quiet: Priceless. It's an Oasis. A mini-vacation. It's so much easier to read People in a comfy chair than in line at the supermarket.

Being able to focus! Sample your day. How often in a room is the TV on, with a constant stream of chatter from one of the 24-hour news channels? Sometimes the radio is on as well. Next add cell phones, ipads, laptops, other peoples chatter and barking dogs. Can you say “overload”? The library may be the only place left in the world where there is no soundtrack, no ticker tape news in the background. You can hear yourself think.

You can take books home. For FREE. And not only books – CDs, back issues of magazines, and DVDs.

Deadlines. Okay, admit it. How many books are on your shelf, stacked by your bed, even still in the bag with the receipt? You’ll get around to reading them “someday.” But – if the book has a due date, you’ll usually read it – or at least make a decision about whether you really want to read it or not. There are only three reasons I usually finish a book – especially nonfiction. One, it’s too compelling to put down; two, my book club meets in two days; three, it’s due at the library tomorrow. Deadlines can be inspiring.

It’s a community centre, too. Check it out! Movie nights, classes on writing, book clubs, lectures, play readings, and more. There was even an all-candidates debate during the recent election. Check the library's website or add them on facebook. Keep up-to-date about what's going on there. They also have a posting board in the library stairwell, so if you are looking for guitar lessons, a play that is in town, or a baby-sitter for the night chances are you will find a flier posted.

Used book sales! Oh, yes these are BIG trouble for me. Last time there was a book sale I came home with three BOXES of books. So much fun. And, at the prices they sell them at, you can buy them, read them - and donate them back when you're done.

At the library, you are surrounded by fellow seekers: people who read, who look for answers, and enjoy the presence of other humans. And – just for the joy of it – you can also visit the children’s section and watch the kids play.

The expertise of the staff. Librarians know a lot. Try them. Research librarians are amazing resources. Ask them questions; it’ll save time and frustration, and the answers come with a smile too.

Oh, and (have I already said this?) it’s all free. The peace, the knowledge, the solitude, the company; the books and all the rest. Try it – even one hour a week. You’ll be hooked – or at least I hope you will. The world waits for you at the library. Use it, support it, teach your children and friends about its pleasures. It’s your tax dollars at work, in the best possible way.

Another Great TED Video - Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy

Local politics -- schools, zoning, council elections -- hit us where we live. So why don't more of us actually get involved? Is it apathy? Dave Meslin says no. He identifies 7 barriers that keep us from taking part in our communities, even when we truly care.

Get Out and Vote!

It sometimes can be tough to make up your mind about who to vote for and to decide who will be the best person to represent and GET THINGS DONE for your community!

No one wants to enter the voting booth and make a snap decision when so much is at stake. Voting is an important part of becoming part of the growth and change you want to see in your local community, so it is best to make an informed decision and get out and vote for the person/party that best matches what you feel is best for your community.

I have found a few things that I like to go through in order to make the best choice to represent me.

Do an Internet search of each candidate and look at how they feel about the issues that matter to you. How do they stand on Health, Job Creation, Supporting local economies, or what are they going to do in terms of supporting initiatives for a healthy eco-system. Who is going to challenge Bruce Power and the storage and movement of nuclear waste? These are a few of the issues that I looked at, so you would adjust your search to look at the issues that matter to you.

Talk to the people in your life on what needs to be done to make Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound a better place to live. Talk about the debates, both of the local candidates and of the national leaders. Talk to people you disagree with as well , expand and challenge the way you think on things, and get the answers you need to fill out where your knowledge of where the candidates stand on the issues.

Use a ranking system of pluses and minuses - how does each candidate make you feel in your gut?

The biggest thing though is to make sure you have a say in who is representing YOU in our federal government. Who matches what you want?

Decide that and then go out and Vote!