Welcome to the Library

 A couple of weeks ago I saw Shakespeare's play As You Like It. The first time I saw this play was in the town of Stratford, Canada - a town famous for it's Shakespeare festivals and productions. This time I saw the play in my local library. 

That's right, I got to see a classic English play at my local library and it was good. 

It was also free to attend and they kept the dirty jokes in.

This isn't unusual for the library near me. They put on a play every few months that's completely free for anyone to attend. Yes, they ask that you preregister and it's implied that you should be a member of our library system, but if there's still seats in the room, they'll let you in.

I love going to the library. I have since I was a kid. They have always had great programing and a quiet space to spend time. 

However, my love of libraries was likely cultivated by the children's program creators at PBS. Several of my favorite shows (Wishbone, Reading Rainbow, and Arthur to name a few) often told me to check out a book at my local library. It was part of Wishbone's ending catchphrase (seriously we need a new version of Wishbone, maybe one where Joe is grown up with his kids and their loyal literary loving pooch introducing kids to new literary classics).

I loved this show.

Not only does my library have books, they have board games (and space to play said board games), DVDs, magazines, and sometimes CDs (these are becoming less and less available). I can access my library's digital archives using the Libby app. 

If there's a book I'm interested in, but don't feel like purchasing (or I didn't win the GoodReads free giveaway), I get it at the library. Hilariously, my library likes to let me know how much I've saved with the dollar amount clearly labeled on my check-out receipts.

My art club usually meets in one of the libraries in the county and, the first club I joined when I moved to Maryland, was based out of our library. I didn't go to the libraries in New Jersey as much as I have in Maryland or Virginia, but I still had a card and had my taxes done...for free. 

That's right, you can get your taxes done at the local library FOR FREE. It might be sponsored by AARP. but they won't turn you away just because you're under the age of 50. 

True, there are a few extras you have to pay for. If I need to print something, I have to pay 10 cents a page. This isn't a hardship at all. I can also use the scanner, too. We also have a 3D printer, but I've never asked about using it.

The library offers a lot of community benefits, but it is at risk. Between book banners, funding cuts, and political pressure, libraries in parts of the United States are struggling. Rural communities are the most at risk of losing access to libraries and their programing. 

There have been suggestions that the solution is to privatize libraries - think an Amazon version. However, this wouldn't solve the problem and might even exasperate it. People would lose out on their free access to information, a safe place to spend time, and necessary community programing (did I mention I got my taxes done FOR FREE). Privatization also puts profits over accessibility, meaning that rural areas would still lose out due to their lower volume of foot traffic. 

Also, libraries aren't supposed to make a profit (neither are post offices, firefighters, and other public services). Libraries are supposed to serve their communities - which my library does.

The libraries I've had the privilege to be a member of have all been spectacular. They've had great programing and space for community events. The librarians have always done a fantastic job. 

The best way you can support your local library is to get a library card. The number of people who have library cards can impact the budget they receive. You can also volunteer to help with programing or host a club at the library. 

Currently, my library is doing a post-holiday food drive. When I went to drop off my due books, I also included some of the requested food items for donation. 

So I'd like to end this post on an Arthur quote: "having fun isn't hard when you have a library card".

Until next week. 

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

Welcome to The Comedy Side of Shakespear

Happy belated Earth Day! It was cold and rainy here yesterday, but today is perfect weather to go outside and enjoy Mother Nature. I spent the weekend in New York City being "touristy" and enjoying spending some time with my mom.

We ended up getting tickets to see Drunk Shakespeare, an off Broadway production that runs six nights a week and starts with a shot of pineapple vodka. Last night we saw the drunk version of Macbeth. It was hysterical. I'm not sure how much of the production was improve and how much was rehearsed.

This night's play started with an action to see who will be the "King" and "Queen" for the night. The two people who win an auction then get to sit on the throne, drink a $30 bottle of champagne out of "phallic looking cups", and can interrupt the production twice to make a critique of the designated drunk actor. The designated drunk actor must take four shots before the play starts and will continue to take more shots (up to six total) if the "King" or (in our case) "Queen" don't think they've had enough to drink.

I can honestly say that it was one of the funniest Macbeth productions I have ever seen. Granted, I haven't seen many versions of the play, but Macbeth is not the Shakespeare play that comes to mind when I think comedy.

I have a complicated relationship with Shakespeare. On the one hand, I hated reading the plays in Middle and High School because they were difficult to understand. As soon as one of our teachers found an audio version for us to listen to, my classmates and I had a much easier time following along and figuring out why the heck was going on with Hamlet. I also remember thinking Romeo and Juliet was the worst example of teen angst rebellion gone wrong and not some horrible tragedy.

Now, when it comes to seeing Shakespeare on stage, I am all for it. I love seeing the plays come to life. I prefer the comedies. I remember seeing "As You Like It" when I was 15 in Canada and laughing my butt off.

Maybe I just prefer comedies to tragedies.

In the 90s and 2000s, adaptations of Shakespeare plays were all over the play. You had "10 Things I Hate About You" (The Taming of the Shrew), Disney's "The Lion King" (baby's first Hamlet), and "Romeo and Juliet" (just Romeo and Juliet). I remember watching these movies as a kid and then realizing that they were Shakespearean after reading the plays.

I know Shakespeare's stories have influenced my writing. He had an a amazing way of captivating his audience and appealing to the common people as well as his wealthy patrons. I especially love the poetic insults, though to be honest I usually have to think about it for a moment before I get it.

I would always recommend seeing a Shakespeare play live (since they can be so difficult to read). Drunk Shakespeare or one of the other many parodies that exist are also well worth checking out. Well, I know for a fact Drunk Shakespeare is worth checking out.

Especially since its a different show ever time.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.

Until next week.