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I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and
I'd got to the Carnegie
Library in the Oakland area.
And for me it was where I could go and just lose myself
in a book,
and sometimes find a sense of community that I wasn't really finding at school.
So, in many ways I think that libraries saved my life. You know when we first moved to
what's now
my home, Nantuckett Island,
twenty-five years ago,
Our kids were one and four
and I was a stay-at-home
dad. And I was new to the area,
looking for things to do with the children. We stumbled upon
The Nantuckett Atheneum,
which is a wonderful historic
building, but it's also
the public library and they had a children's section down in the basement
and that became where we'd just hang out every afternnon. I got to know the librarian,
the staff. A years later, I was asked to come on the board, and that
institution, more than
any other, I've ever been associated with
helped me find...
make a home and a very special place. And also gave me the stuff,
the documents to eventually become a historian.
Because that's where my research began,
on the history of Nantuckett, which was actually led to my first history book.
So the Nantuckett Athaneum, for me, is really where it all began,in a sense,
as a father
and as a writer.
And it continues, the reference librarian,
Sharon, at the library
fifteen years ago when I was first beginning "In the Heart of the Sea,"
was my lifeline to other places, and so
the interlibraryloan was
how I was able to write this book on an island.
thirty miles out to sea.
It's obviously critical to all aspects
of who I am.
I have to say that the entire staff
at the Nantuckett Atheneum,
past and present, are just...
they are fundamental community members, and without them
Nantuckett,
particularly the off season,
would not have a heart, really. It's what keeps it all going.
Libraries are vital and they're always under-funded and
under-appreciated in terms of the costs required to maintain it.
Particularly for the Atheneum, which is a historical building.
It's not just a library. It's part of the fabric...
Library budget cuts
are
just so misguided, because
libraries in bad economic times are
the ultimate refuge for people.
And to cut staff, as they become more and more
important and relevant to
community and society
is just senseless.
Politicians and community members need to know
the importance that these institutions have and you just cannot cut them,
because
they're already to the bone.
[On censorship] This whole notion of banning a book
is so misguided
because, the minute it's banned, it's important, because people wonder why.
The whole reason this country is here
is because we're supposedly keeping those gates open.
We all have choice, we all have the ability
to make those kinds of decisions.
To make those decisions for us,
I think, is misguided and personally being a contrarian,
if I'm told that I'm not supposed to read
them, that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Well, I just have a new book coming out, "Why Read Moby ***,"
and that's coming out in October. I'm really excited. I'm known as a historian,
but this is as much a work of
literary criticism and its very personal,
because for me, it's kind of a personal bible. But what I'm now doing, research-wise,
is a book about Boston and the American Revolution,
so thats
what I'm in the middle of now,
and really enjoying the research, going to the spots,
and hopefully start writing soon.