ACROSS THE nation, library usage is up.

From Seattle to Boston and many points in between, newspapers and blogs available on the Internet suggest that in hard economic times, many folks are swapping their credit cards for library cards.

According to examiner.com, owned by Clarity Media Group, library systems nationwide report an increase in patrons getting library cards, in program attendance, and in circulation.

“It also doesn’t hurt that Americans are actually reading more fiction these days,” the Seattle book examiner wrote, adding, “According to a study done by the National Endowment for the Arts, in the last six years the number of people who reported reading something online or in print had increased by 16.6 million people (roughly three percent of the population) . . .

A LIBRARIAN in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., was quoted as saying that increasing usage of public libraries, due to the down economy, was only half good news.

He said the bad half is that funding is dwindling with state budget cuts, and libraries are being forced to serve more people with fewer resources.

This is a way of backing in to a testimonial for the Upshur County Library, not the first from this corner, by any means.

Like most libraries in the 21st century, the library on Tyler St. offers much more than books, though books are still vital. The library is much used as a computer center for patrons wanting to use the Internet, and there are videotapes, CDs and DVDs to check out. The magazine and newspaper selection is excellent.

THE CHILDREN’S area is large and attractive, a suitable home for regular programs designed specially for the little ones.

In this Lenten season the display cases are filled with Jan Williams’ amazing collection of dolls and figurines that reflect this special spring time in a most appealing away.

A group of dedicated Friends of the Library, ably led by Carole Rodenbaugh, is always seeking new ways to raise extra funds for this worthy cause.

A plant sale is scheduled on the library grounds for March 18-21.

Check it out. A book, if that’s your choice, or any of the library’s other offerings.

ON THE SUBJECT of volunteer efforts that mean so much to our community, I’d like to mention the Upshur County Arts Council presentation of the German Band of North Texas on April 4.

I had the pleasure of meeting the band’s director, Edward Lobb, last week when Joe Woodson brought him by the Mirror office to talk about the performance.

As described in a story elsewhere in this issue, The German Band may not be unique in Texas, but it’s certainly unusual.

Far more than an “oompah” band, this 45-strong aggregation plays authentic German and Austrian music ranging from The Beer Barrel Polka to Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (a Little Night Music) to Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from Wagner’s opera, Lohengrin.

THIS CONCERT band uses original German instruments and emphasizes the mid-range and low-range brass.

It will provide a great opportunity for high school band members to experience a variety of unusual arrangements played by professional musicians.

Now in its 18th season, the Upshur County Arts Council has lived up to its goal of “bringing the arts home” with a wide variety of performances, both classical and popular.

There have been bands before — Denton’s One O’Clock Lab Band, Quantum Brass from Wisconsin, the Lone Star Band from the Dallas Wind Symphony, among other — and many programs ranging from the Light Crust Doughboys and Johnny Gimble in the Western Swing mode to the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra and the Lone star Ballet.

The recent performance by the Hughes Brothers from Branson drew one of the larger audiences. The German Band of North Texas is equally worthy of a big turnout. The price of $15 for adults and $5 for students is more than competitive; it’s a true bargain compared to what you would pay for comparable entertainment in Longview, Tyler or other larger cities.

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A PIECE OF hardwood flooring labeled “made in Gilmer, Texas USA” on the back was brought to the Mirror office recently by Joe Ballowe, who found it as part of a floor that needed replacing in a house he was working on. Joe had not heard of the Gilmer Flooring Mill, which produced it, and no wonder.

The mill operated for a few years after World War II on a site fronting Smith St. on the west side of the railroad tracks in North Gilmer.

The late B. D. Futrell managed the plant, which was owned by several local investors. It turned out high quality oak flooring that was economical enough to use in new houses down to the lower price ranges.

IN THE EARLY 1950s my family and I were the first occupants of a new rent house that had Gilmer flooring mill floors except the kitchen and bathroom. They were fine looking, and I used only area rugs to leave much of it showing. When we moved out and a new owner covered the entire living and dining areas with wall-to-wall carpeting I considered it a mistake. And I still do.

The flooring mill burned to the ground sometime in the 1950s and was never rebuilt. The site is a pasture today, and shows no traces of the factory that once operated there. Until I have time to research the Mirror microfilm files I won’t be able to say exactly when this happened.

sgreene@tatertv.com

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