Judy Klavens-Giunta, RDN, Library Assistant, Red Bank Public Library
From a young age libraries have been a huge part of my existence. At first they were a place of wonder, but as I got older I would go to the library because it was a comfortable and calm place, almost an oasis, a place where I could find ways to travel to another place and/or time. Even when I was a young child, it was important to me to have a book to read. I can remember getting anxious as I finished one book and didn’t have one lined up to follow. To this day that is still true. And by the way, book is the operative word here. Being from the Baby Boom generation books and printed materials were what we all knew growing up and well into adulthood. Also, I like the tactile feel and smell of a book.
I like to hold a book in my hands when I read. I have never been a person who enjoyed reading long articles on my computer even when that became the main way to access information and do research. Okay, so truth be told, many of us that have had to research the “old fashioned” way by ordering journal article reprints and reading sections of academic books, are in awe of the ease of accessing research information online. As a returning student I’ve done my share of research projects/studies on my way to becoming a dietitian and that was way before the expansion of the internet to what it is now.
Nowadays, a click of a mouse in Google Scholar and voila, there are all (or most of) the journal articles or book excerpts you need. But as far as books go, up until now, I have had no interest in reading them “online.” (So, a little digression, who still puts the period inside the quotation marks and allows two spaces after a period before starting the next sentence. Sheesh, even punctuation has changed.)
Faced with the Library closing for who knew how long, I was concerned about having enough books to read for however long we were closed. Especially since we would be stuck at home for long periods of time. But I was not too worried, because I checked out quite a few books on my last day in the building and after all there were a couple of large piles of books previously purchased from various used bookstores at home. I always wondered why I kept collecting used books because as a regular patron of our library, even before working there, I always had more than enough books on loan to ensure I was never without something to read. Well, I wondered no longer, and I was set for the duration - or so I thought.
None of us really knew what to expect when the stay-at-home order came. How much was the pandemic going to turn our world upside down? Or, how long it was going to last for that matter. Imagine my utter panic when I realized a couple weeks ago that I was probably going to run out of books to read before the library or used bookstores opened again and my supply could be replenished. How was I going to get by!!
So, I figured the best thing to do was to become more familiar with our 24-Hour Library resources (with the bonus of becoming better able to help patrons do the same). There was some anxiety involved in this experience, but it really was for the most part user friendly. The hardest part was just taking the first step, but once I logged into each site, wow there was so much out there. Here were resources that would assure that I would always have something to read. But of course, these were not hard copy books and using these resources meant I needed something to download these materials to. Oh, good grief I needed a tablet.
After much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands, I decided to investigate a Kindle or Android Tablet (since I have an Android phone, I thought it would be easier to use). I really felt it would be the only way to ease my anxiety about where I would get reading material once my books ran out. However, it replaced one anxiety with another – having to deal with new electronics - well new to me that is. I have always managed to master new technologies/electronics when I have encountered them as part of a job or personal need but I always feel a certain anxiety during the learning process because this was not something I grew up with.
I went back and forth for quite a while (watching nervously as my book supply continued to dwindle to my last few books) and decided to go for the tablet since it had more flexibility. But then what kind, which model, etc., etc. My decision was made a little bit easier by the fact that I planned to use reward points from an account that I have had for over a decade – I had no idea they had a reward program until recently and I actually had enough points to get a decent tablet and I was able to get it at no cost. Of course, that also meant choosing from what they had. On the other hand, even if it were a bust, I wouldn’t be out of pocket and I could always gift it. I researched tablets and made my decision based on what was available and placed my order.
Not however, the end of the story. It arrived quickly. But once it arrived It sat on my couch for almost a week while I agonized over having to go through the set-up process. What if it didn’t work right. I was remembering how absolutely flummoxed I was when I got my first smart phone about 15 years ago. For days, I alternated between marveling at the efficiency of the technology or wanting to toss it out the window because I couldn’t figure something out. That experience left lingering anxiety about new electronics even to this day and made me anxious about setting up the tablet even though, as I said, I have been able to master whatever I needed to without too much trouble.
All these concerns, all this anxiety (like I needed more during these crazy times). What if I had to download all kinds of apps and/or software. Did it have a blue light filter-forgot to check that out-would I get eyestrain? I finally bit the bullet and charged it, turned it on and went through the set up. Well as I should have realized from my experience purchasing a new laptop a couple years ago, this is not the 1980’s boot disc requiring world anymore. Turn things on and they are for the most part ready to go. By the way, did I just date myself? If you don’t know what I am talking about boot discs (usually a floppy disc) used to be the only way you could get a computer to “boot up.” None of this just turning it on stuff. Google those terms if you want to know more. You can do that now too. Facts at your fingertips. What a world!
Anyway, back to my tablet set-up. Turns out when I set up an account using my Gmail, it automatically pulled everything over from my phone and I kid you not practically no set up required – well maybe download of a few apps. I was thrilled and relieved. A week or so has gone by and I am in heaven. How did I ever live without a tablet (like my feeling once I got use to my smart phone). A much more pleasant experience reading from an online source when you are holding what you are reading from in front of your face rather than leaning over a laptop screen.
So now I have one less thing to be anxious about and right now that is certainly a good thing given that we really have no idea of what the “new” normal is going to be. At least I don’t have to worry that I will run out of something to read and I have a new convenient tool which has helped to improve my online experience. One more thing, I have realized I am more resilient than I thought. I just need to trust what I have learned and what I know from my life experience. I am stronger for it.
Everybody be safe and connect with just how resilient you really are.
Judy Klavens-Giunta is a library assistant at the Red Bank Public Library and a retired public and community health dietitian/nutritionist