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Times of Oman
13-07-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Monday column: Do we still need to read books?
I walked in a college's library and there were at least a 100 hundred students in it. Then I looked at the shelves that had a few thousand books gathering dust. A short walk to the librarian confirmed that students never borrow books. They go to the library to memorise their class notes so they could pass the exams. Some, use the library to socialize and plan a day out. In defiance of their attitude, I browsed a few titles and picked one that fitted my mood. I settled myself on the sofa and started reading the opening chapter. I lost myself in the next forty minutes mesmirised by the flow of words, the clever phrases, the stirring of emotions and the touching gestures of its characters. When I put down the book, it was as if I abandoned people I had known for years. Before I left the library, I looked at the students again. The one who was nearest me looked up at me and asked,' Sir, is everything alright?' I think she caught the mood on my face. I mumbled something to assure her that everything was okay and left quietly. I cast my thoughts years ago when I was only 12. To say books were a second nature to me would be an exaggeration. I breathed on the sentences I read, I smelled the dampness of the old covers and heard every rustle of the pages I turned. When I was tired of reading, I would rest the book on my stomach, closed my eyes only to pick it up again minutes later. A book to me was a time transporter, a vehicle to unreachable places, a float above the clouds and I could also touch the rainbow on the sky. I do not understand why youngsters of today find no use of literature. No wonder they cannot express themselves on a simple thing. It is not about reading words and learning to write a decent sentence but a book goes beyond a delightful read. It is about learning other people's cultures, the innermost emotions and how to cope with similar situations in real life. Nothing is really fiction when it has been printed in a book. Every word written in a novel reflects real people from the world of imaginary characters. It is not just fiction I buried my nose in. I used to read biography of famous people, too. Through reading, I walked the same difficult paths with them , enjoy the same views from the tallest peaks of the world, crossed the pacific and felt their pain or joy in their emotional rollercoasters. By the time I reached my late teens, reading had prepared me mentally what to expect in the adulthood years that were waiting for me. The teenagers of today miss all that. They enter their adulthood unprepared. They do not know how to turn disappointments into triumph or tame their feelings in a difficult moment. Above all, they cannot relate to each other and end up breaking up friendships because they would not know how to tolerate each other. I would not be exaggerating either when I say young people today do not know how to fix their marriages when it is heading for the rocks. In workplaces, they end up doing badly and miss promotion opportunities because they lack the communication skills. It may only mean that reading, sometimes, may well be a matter of failure and success in life. But having said that, maybe it is not entirely their fault. Parents who do not read raise children who would not read. Teachers also should take some of the blame, too. No point of having libraries if they do not instill enough values in their students to read. In conclusion, reading is simple a torch that shines to the hidden intellectuals of growing up children. It is a pity they don't know about it.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
30 Insufferable Main Character Types From The Last Month That Made Me See Red
tourists, who forgot that people actually live in Greece: mom, who thought this was okay to do at a movie theater: people, who decided the sign didn't apply to them: Related: woman, who clearly wanted attention: adults, who kicked children off a public court: parent, who forgot the cardinal rule of a library: being quiet. If you can't read the above, it says: AITA for taking my kids to the library?(throwaway for privacy reasons)Not here to cause drama or play victim, but I genuinely left the library today feeling humiliated and judged, and I want to know if I'm actually in the morning around 11, I took my three kids to our local library. It's not school holidays, so I thought it'd be a great time for them to pick some books and have a calm morning inside for once. We usually go to the park, but I was tired and just wanted to sit with a were in the kids' section, the area with toys, picture books, soft mats, etc. My toddler was toddling around the tables squealing with two blocks in hand, occasionally jumping off the reading cushions. My 6yo was throwing Duplo around yelling 'lava monster' (he's obsessed with dinosaurs right now), and my 8yo was under the table making cat noises and swatting at ankles as a joke (not touching anyone, most people laughed). I was supervising and making sure they weren't hurting anyone. They were just energetic not they played, I sat down and FaceTimed my sister (who recently had a facelift and is stuck inside recovering). She wanted to say hi to the kids and show me how things were healing. I didn't have headphones so I had her on speaker, but the volume wasn't loud. We chatted for about 25 minutes while a cartoon was playing on the TV nearby so it's not like it was dead my toddler had a few screaming moments over sharing, and my other son dumped out a box of picture books to 'build a trap.' But again this is a children's area. What do people expect?Anyway, an older woman (maybe 60s, floral blouse) came over and in a very passive-aggressive tone asked, 'Could you please take the phone call outside?' I explained I was talking to my sister post-surgery and we'd be done soon. She walked off shaking her head and a few minutes later was whispering to the staff.A staff member came over and told me they'd received 'several complaints.' I was asked to end the call, supervise the kids more closely, and was also told that food wasn't allowed (my daughter had a half-eaten muesli bar in her hand, which I was going to clean up when I was off the call). I was polite, but I honestly felt singled out. There were other noisy kids but I guess because I have three, I'm apparently not supervising properly?We left early, and I just felt so judged. I'm a single mum doing the best I can. My kids are high-energy, creative, and not robots. I'm not going to apologise for them being curious and playful in a space meant for that. If you want complete silence, maybe don't sit in the toy-filled kids' corner and expect a spa AITA for letting my kids be themselves in the children's section and taking a FaceTime call which was not that loud, or was everyone else just being dramatic? terrible, terrible person, who trashed a soup kitchen for views: parent who let their kids ruin the park for everyone else: If you can't read the above, it says: Hello Neighbors,We have a problem we hope you can help us with… for the past 6-8 weeks there has been quite a bit of destructive behavior happening at The Art Park. We have seen it on our surveillance videos and a few kind neighbors have reached out to notify us of what they have seen. It appears to be young children that walked to our campus to play on the playground unaccompanied by an adult. Neighbors and community members are welcome to use our playground, but children MUST BE SUPERVISED and act problems we have noticed include: children defecating and burying the feces on our playground where toddlers play, running around without pants on, children riding bikes in our parking lot/driveway when cars are pulling in, toys from the playground thrown into our koi fish pond, student artwork that was drying outside destroyed and hundreds of landscaping rocks thrown into the parking lot. If this behavior continues, we will be forced to lock up our playground after business hours; this is not an idea that we relish as it will cost us unnecessary funds and the neighborhood will not be able to enjoy the playground any longer. Thank you for any help you can provide in stopping this disrespectful behavior. passenger, who decided her "cleanliness" (you can wipe your seat down or do literally anything else!!!) was more important than the person behind her being able to use their seatback tray: wildly entitled woman, who thought "pick what you want" meant "steal full bushes": Related: man, who BROUGHT HIS OWN HOSE TO A CEMETARY so he could WASH HIS CAR there: selfish person, who couldn't let someone else have something nice: customer, who expected a military discount at a swimwear shop: of these selfish passengers: horrible person, who was either very dumb or a major jerk: Related: driver, who took up FOUR SPACES at a Starbucks: customer, who thought Starbucks employees should be ashamed of themselves for getting a name slightly wrong: "friend," who clearly thought being a dick was funny: attendee, who got up on stage during a watch party just so people would look at them: person, who clearly was trying to pass off their dog as a service dog: If you can't read the above, it says: They do not allow certified service dogs which is absolutely illegal.★☆☆☆☆ Reviewed 22 Jun 2023I spoke with someone at the front desk earlier today to inform them I will be bringing my trained service dog, they said that was fine. The manager called my mom later on to inquire more and started off by asking if I had a disability. Under the laws of the ADA, any person with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by a service animal wherever the person is allowed to go. It is ILLEGAL to refuse service to people with a service dog. I am not able to attend my family weekend away because I cannot bring my service dog. We will not be staying here ever of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family Response from Guest Services / Front Office at The Grand HotelResponded 20 Jul 2023Dear elyse1433,Your review is simply not true. We do allow service animals and we have had service dogs over the years. No one asked if you had a disability. You did not have a reservation with us so we did call your mom because the reservation was in her name. Your mom asked if you could bring your dog and we asked if it was a service dog, your mom informed us that it was not a service dog. Your parents had no problem with this, they still came and were absolutely lovely. When they checked out they said what a great stay they had and that they will be back. We look forward to their return and we wish you the best in wherever you end up staying next time you come to Ogunquit. this entitled reviewer, who got mad a baker didn't have availability: woman, who hogged the tire inflator area to clean out her car: Related: curmudgeonly neighbor: this terrible neighbor, who thought they were entitled to the parking space outside their house when, as commenters pointed out, they could've parked on the street and given their driveway to their mother: If you can't read the above, it says: Being young & able-bodied, surely it would cause you little trouble to park a few houses down the street?Instead, you force my mother to do so, despite the large amount of pain & grief it causes isn't about the law. This is about consideration, respect & care for the elderly, frail & disabled.I hope your parents are treated with more respect than you are be frank, your lack of regard is should be embarrassed of yourself. neighbors, who decided it was fine to block the sidewalk: whoever runs this car dealership, who also blocked the sidewalk: truck driver, who didn't care about anyone else: reviewer, who wanted a restaurant to stay open after closing on SUPERBOWL SUNDAY: subway-goer, who not only brought a giant, loud speaker on the subway, but also definitely created a safety hazard by getting all up in people's business: finally, this entitled person, who was literally Dudley Dursley: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds:
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
30 Insufferable Main Character Types From The Last Month That Made Me See Red
tourists, who forgot that people actually live in Greece: mom, who thought this was okay to do at a movie theater: people, who decided the sign didn't apply to them: Related: woman, who clearly wanted attention: adults, who kicked children off a public court: parent, who forgot the cardinal rule of a library: being quiet. If you can't read the above, it says: AITA for taking my kids to the library?(throwaway for privacy reasons)Not here to cause drama or play victim, but I genuinely left the library today feeling humiliated and judged, and I want to know if I'm actually in the morning around 11, I took my three kids to our local library. It's not school holidays, so I thought it'd be a great time for them to pick some books and have a calm morning inside for once. We usually go to the park, but I was tired and just wanted to sit with a were in the kids' section, the area with toys, picture books, soft mats, etc. My toddler was toddling around the tables squealing with two blocks in hand, occasionally jumping off the reading cushions. My 6yo was throwing Duplo around yelling 'lava monster' (he's obsessed with dinosaurs right now), and my 8yo was under the table making cat noises and swatting at ankles as a joke (not touching anyone, most people laughed). I was supervising and making sure they weren't hurting anyone. They were just energetic not they played, I sat down and FaceTimed my sister (who recently had a facelift and is stuck inside recovering). She wanted to say hi to the kids and show me how things were healing. I didn't have headphones so I had her on speaker, but the volume wasn't loud. We chatted for about 25 minutes while a cartoon was playing on the TV nearby so it's not like it was dead my toddler had a few screaming moments over sharing, and my other son dumped out a box of picture books to 'build a trap.' But again this is a children's area. What do people expect?Anyway, an older woman (maybe 60s, floral blouse) came over and in a very passive-aggressive tone asked, 'Could you please take the phone call outside?' I explained I was talking to my sister post-surgery and we'd be done soon. She walked off shaking her head and a few minutes later was whispering to the staff.A staff member came over and told me they'd received 'several complaints.' I was asked to end the call, supervise the kids more closely, and was also told that food wasn't allowed (my daughter had a half-eaten muesli bar in her hand, which I was going to clean up when I was off the call). I was polite, but I honestly felt singled out. There were other noisy kids but I guess because I have three, I'm apparently not supervising properly?We left early, and I just felt so judged. I'm a single mum doing the best I can. My kids are high-energy, creative, and not robots. I'm not going to apologise for them being curious and playful in a space meant for that. If you want complete silence, maybe don't sit in the toy-filled kids' corner and expect a spa AITA for letting my kids be themselves in the children's section and taking a FaceTime call which was not that loud, or was everyone else just being dramatic? terrible, terrible person, who trashed a soup kitchen for views: parent who let their kids ruin the park for everyone else: If you can't read the above, it says: Hello Neighbors,We have a problem we hope you can help us with… for the past 6-8 weeks there has been quite a bit of destructive behavior happening at The Art Park. We have seen it on our surveillance videos and a few kind neighbors have reached out to notify us of what they have seen. It appears to be young children that walked to our campus to play on the playground unaccompanied by an adult. Neighbors and community members are welcome to use our playground, but children MUST BE SUPERVISED and act problems we have noticed include: children defecating and burying the feces on our playground where toddlers play, running around without pants on, children riding bikes in our parking lot/driveway when cars are pulling in, toys from the playground thrown into our koi fish pond, student artwork that was drying outside destroyed and hundreds of landscaping rocks thrown into the parking lot. If this behavior continues, we will be forced to lock up our playground after business hours; this is not an idea that we relish as it will cost us unnecessary funds and the neighborhood will not be able to enjoy the playground any longer. Thank you for any help you can provide in stopping this disrespectful behavior. passenger, who decided her "cleanliness" (you can wipe your seat down or do literally anything else!!!) was more important than the person behind her being able to use their seatback tray: wildly entitled woman, who thought "pick what you want" meant "steal full bushes": Related: man, who BROUGHT HIS OWN HOSE TO A CEMETARY so he could WASH HIS CAR there: selfish person, who couldn't let someone else have something nice: customer, who expected a military discount at a swimwear shop: of these selfish passengers: horrible person, who was either very dumb or a major jerk: Related: driver, who took up FOUR SPACES at a Starbucks: customer, who thought Starbucks employees should be ashamed of themselves for getting a name slightly wrong: "friend," who clearly thought being a dick was funny: attendee, who got up on stage during a watch party just so people would look at them: person, who clearly was trying to pass off their dog as a service dog: If you can't read the above, it says: They do not allow certified service dogs which is absolutely illegal.★☆☆☆☆ Reviewed 22 Jun 2023I spoke with someone at the front desk earlier today to inform them I will be bringing my trained service dog, they said that was fine. The manager called my mom later on to inquire more and started off by asking if I had a disability. Under the laws of the ADA, any person with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by a service animal wherever the person is allowed to go. It is ILLEGAL to refuse service to people with a service dog. I am not able to attend my family weekend away because I cannot bring my service dog. We will not be staying here ever of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family Response from Guest Services / Front Office at The Grand HotelResponded 20 Jul 2023Dear elyse1433,Your review is simply not true. We do allow service animals and we have had service dogs over the years. No one asked if you had a disability. You did not have a reservation with us so we did call your mom because the reservation was in her name. Your mom asked if you could bring your dog and we asked if it was a service dog, your mom informed us that it was not a service dog. Your parents had no problem with this, they still came and were absolutely lovely. When they checked out they said what a great stay they had and that they will be back. We look forward to their return and we wish you the best in wherever you end up staying next time you come to Ogunquit. this entitled reviewer, who got mad a baker didn't have availability: woman, who hogged the tire inflator area to clean out her car: Related: curmudgeonly neighbor: this terrible neighbor, who thought they were entitled to the parking space outside their house when, as commenters pointed out, they could've parked on the street and given their driveway to their mother: If you can't read the above, it says: Being young & able-bodied, surely it would cause you little trouble to park a few houses down the street?Instead, you force my mother to do so, despite the large amount of pain & grief it causes isn't about the law. This is about consideration, respect & care for the elderly, frail & disabled.I hope your parents are treated with more respect than you are be frank, your lack of regard is should be embarrassed of yourself. neighbors, who decided it was fine to block the sidewalk: whoever runs this car dealership, who also blocked the sidewalk: truck driver, who didn't care about anyone else: reviewer, who wanted a restaurant to stay open after closing on SUPERBOWL SUNDAY: subway-goer, who not only brought a giant, loud speaker on the subway, but also definitely created a safety hazard by getting all up in people's business: finally, this entitled person, who was literally Dudley Dursley: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds:
The Guardian
15-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Flipping the bird at an old man wasn't exactly in my playbook. It felt like a rupture
Here's a scene: I'm at a library on the outskirts of Melbourne. I'm 'in conversation' with a librarian. It's not possible to keep those words out of scare quotes, not if you're aware of the small and faulty machine that keeps Australian book publicity moving. What I am doing is being asked generous, kind, eminently answerable questions about my new book so that I can move a few units. It's a 'conversation' I'm grateful for because I like moving units and I like talking to librarians and, let's be real, I also like talking about myself. The crowd, including several Melbourne friends, is attentive and also kind and generous. What could go wrong? Libraries are safe spaces, temporary haven for kids and their parents, rough sleepers and the lonely, and people who a millennial friend describes as neurospicy. I love libraries. They're full of readers and I love them too. So, this library is a safe space. The warm murmur of people, some of them sitting on the carpet in the aisles, disappeared into words. The big windows looking on to a lake, giving light to the pages. I'm glad to be there. The crowd (the 'crowd') includes a couple of men, one in his possibly late 60s, one in his possibly late 70s. The first listens and smiles; the second stands at the back of the room to one side. He is very clearly someone who doesn't know who I am and doesn't care, but neither do I – he's there and I'm grateful. At the end of the conversation there are a few questions, some carefully crafted by writing friends who know that the terrible silence that follows 'does anyone have a question?' is a lonely place. Then the older man puts up his hand and the microphone is handed to him. Then he starts a long story about his long life, and I let him talk because I get it. I mean, I just talked about myself; have at it, buddy. It's not surprising to me that what he says has absolutely nothing to do with my book. I wait, not for him to finish, but for a couple of minutes of monologue to pass, and then I say something like, it's clear that the past is vivid for all of us. That's why I've written about it. Afterwards there's a signing line. The two men are there. The older stands to one side of the desk I'm sitting at, as though we're friends and he has more special things to say just to me. He doesn't need to buy a book. The other man steps in front of a woman and her child waiting for me to sign their copy and I say, actually, you've pushed in – can you wait at the back of the line? I don't say, you dick, but I think it. When he gets to the front of the line he tells me a pretty engaging story about his past, and then he goes away without having bought a book. I'm on my way out, getting my bag, chatting to the librarian, who's smart and warm and kind, and has worn herself out talking about me. The older man is still there and he's saying, can I have a photo? I've had my photo taken an inordinate number of times in the last 24 hours and I haven't enjoyed it. I'm in my late 50s and I haven't yet reconciled myself to the way I look. The person I now appear to be, heavier, with a lined face and teeth I don't like, isn't someone I want to know about. I know, my bad – I should love my older self. So, partly because I'm sick of it but mostly because this bloke only wants a photo as an extension of the attention he craves, I say no. I point to the big photo of me on the screen, taken several years ago, and say, you can take a photo of that. I'm turning away as he says you looked better with long hair. Without warning – to me or anyone around me – I'm swinging back round to face him and I'm giving him the finger. Then I'm saying, a hot flush surging across my body and face: You don't get to talk to women like that. You can't speak to me like that. I catch a glimpse of the librarian's face – tears have sprung to her eyes. I see my young publicist, who's holding my bag and stepping between me and the old man. She ushers me away and I can hear the man protesting or saying something, whatever it is, something about me, something about himself. I don't look back as Jasmine and I step outside into the bright autumn air and hurry towards our taxi. So many things to say about this. First, that flipping the bird at an old man wasn't exactly in my playbook – not at any time and especially not when I'm trying to sell books. But also, flipping the bird wasn't something I wanted to be doing. Not because it's rude, but because it felt like a rupture, a violation – of me, not of him. A thousand times I've tolerated and even, sometimes, welcomed comments on my appearance. A thousand times I've stood, politely rigid, while a man tells me about himself. This usually happens when it's me who's meant to be the focus. Some men – not all of them – subconsciously hate this and need to remind themselves that they exist by telling me about themselves. I've learned now to civilly stop them, or even point out to them what they're up to, but I've never made a rude gesture, because control over a situation like this is what I want and need. Women learn this control young, and practise it – or fail to practise it – throughout their lives, because the comments and the monologues never stop coming. But as it turns out there's some ghost chilli in my own spice mix. I wanted to say to that man: do you think I'm not looking at you? Do you think I didn't notice that you looked like a praying mantis, frail and savage, wobbling away in the corner of my vision, waiting to do something nasty? You're old too, dickhead. And you probably looked better when you had all your hair. The rupture came because the abyss below it was already there. But the concealment of that abyss, where self-doubt lives (self-doubt about my looks, and even about my intelligence) is my safe space. It's my choice to stand guard over it and repel people with thoughtful, firm, clear words. It made me feel shaky and hurt when I gave him the finger. I hope it gave him a shock and I hope it hurt him too, and I don't regret it. I just don't like it when men make me lose my cool, because it's my fucking cool. Tegan Bennett Daylight is a 56-year-old teacher, critic and writer of novels, including How to Survive 1985
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Closing the book on a 50-year library legacy
Jill Watson has been happy in her work at the library for 50 years. Photo: LDR/Supplied Ashburton has undergone huge change since 1975, with six mayors and countless councillors, but always one constant - the librarian. Jill Watson admits "1975 feels a long time ago". She is set to retire on August 8 after five decades at the Ashburton Library. It's rare someone stays in a role for so long, but it's easy to see why Jill stayed so long - she simply loves the job. "It's been marvellous and just the greatest job. "It's one of the best-kept secrets as far as jobs go. It just hasn't felt hard. "And working with people who have been terrific and put up with a lot from me." She can't have been that bad as she lasted 50 years, and a number of the staff have chalked up multiple decades as well - including Nicky Farrell who has worked under Jill for 45 years. Jill joked: "It was the only library in town so where could they run to?" She moved to Ashburton "for a boy" after starting her career at the Christchurch City Library. While the boyfriend didn't last long, she ended up staying in the job she loved for half a century. A young Jill (sixth from the left) in the early days of her career at the Ashburton Library. Photo: LDR/Supplied Jill couldn't recall her first day back in 1975, where she start in the children's library. "We were the centre for the school library service. They would send boxes of books down and the schools would come in for their collections." After almost three years, she stepped up to the role of library manager at the age of 23. When she started the former library building was only eight years old and considered to be an "extremely modern and forward-thinking library". The old building had been renovated as a millennium project which "gave the whole place a new lease of life and made it more pleasant". Twenty years and some earthquake damage later, it had lost its lustre and "leaked like a sieve". Retirement had crossed Jill's mind but she couldn't leave with the new library on the horizon and the lure of a new bright and vibrant space that is "two-and-a-half times the size". "I wanted to be part of the move and make sure we could offer the modern services and programmes that were right for this building." During the planning phase for Te Whare Whakatere, Jill said she never expected the community to tell the council to build the bigger, more expensive option. After a year-and-a-half in the new $62.1m library and civic centre, Jill believes it was worth it as the place is buzzing. The new building sparked a doubling of visitor numbers and pushed up borrowing rates. She said one of the best things about the new library is they have built lots of nooks and crannies. "You can find a chair in a corner that will be perfectly quiet and just look at the window. "I've got my favourite spot sorted, on the second floor overlooking Baring Square, hopefully catching a glimpse of the snow on the mountains." Jill (front left) with the other library staff shortly after she became library manager. Photo: LDR/Supplied Technology has come a long way since 1975 and Jill has witnessed it all. Libraries have moved from using cards to computer systems, which didn't come naturally for the library leader, who is "not really a techy person". "I hit the period where computers just started working out, and I would have quite happily missed it. "I was pretty happy with the old gooseneck stamp. "But it was all very labour intensive, so it probably is much better these days." A library is no longer just a building full of books, she said. "I prefer to see it as not only a big building full of books but something else." It offered magazines, then videos, cassettes, and DVDs and now eBooks and internet access, but "people still mostly come for books". Ashburton Library also offers a long list of diverse programmes and learning opportunities, the result of a "staff that overachieves on you". The days of a librarian shushing people are also long gone, she said. The new library, Te Kete Tuhinga, is a busy space with people constantly buzzing about - a far cry from the low point of Covid when the old downtrodden library was empty and the patronage was slow to return post-lockdowns. One of the hardest parts of the job was when a previous council introduced fees, including a per-book charge, she said. The fees and fines have been phased out over time making the library more accessible, and much to Jill's delight the last of those - a reservation fee - was removed this year. Jill's monumental milestone was marked at the recent council meeting where people and facilities group manager Sarah Mosley said 50 years of service was "hard to fathom". "[Jill's] dedication and passion has left an indelible mark on the Ashburton community". "Your 50 years' service is a testament to your unwavering commitment and your love of the work you do". Mosely said Jill has "always been careful with council's money, however at the same time is an expert at spending it". Jill joked later that if she had been a wasteful spender, they might have noticed before she reached 50 years. She will leave some big shoes to fill, and Jill would know as the avid shopper converted a bedroom in her farmhouse into a walk-in wardrobe that houses quite the shoe collection - something Mosley quipped could feature in Ashburton's museum and art gallery one day. The council was reasonably confident no other employee has ever served as long as her but the old records aren't reliable enough to confirm it. Jill couldn't recall anyone coming close to her five-decade tenure. Not one to stand idle, Jill has plenty to keep her busy but is looking forward to one of the perks of retirement. "One of the things I've looked forward to for years is getting out on frosty days at about 10am instead of 7:30am, and then getting inside to light the fire at 4:30pm instead of coming home in the dark to a cold house." Retirement holds more time on her small farm at Chertsey with some sheep and "a bit of a garden". "I'm looking at one of those robots that now the lawns because it's my least favourite part of living there." She breeds and shows dogs - norwich terriers. One of them is a well-known figure, with Riffraff the children's reading dog at the library for several years but now retired. Jill and her dog Riff Raff in the children's library. Photo: LDR/Supplied Jill said she plans to continue to spend the summers travelling to dog shows in her caravan. "I think I will still be very busy. "I've also got a pile of books I've been meaning to read." Unsurprisingly, the long-serving librarian loves to read. "My memory is not what it used to be so I could read a book three times but I've never been that good at remembering storylines. "I enjoy audiobooks. I do a lot of gardening and work around the farm which is tedious so you can just listen to something else - it's a different way of reading." Jill couldn't stop smiling on the opening day of the new library, Te Kete Tuhinga, when Te Whare Whakatere opened to the public on January 22, 2024. Photo: JONATHAN LEASK/LDR LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
