When I started working at Whitman County Library five years ago I was in for a few surprises. First of all, working at the library is more fun than I would have imagined. I have the greatest co-workers, serve the nicest people and every day is a new adventure.
Surprise No. 2 is how many people use the library and for so many reasons beyond just books. These include computer and internet access, movies, magazines, bingo, support groups, dance classes, art exhibits, money management classes, blood drives, yoga, children's programs and, my personal favorite, book signings by famous authors.
The third and most surprising part of working at the library is all of the "Rotten Tomatoes" I encounter. You see, one of my duties at the library is purchasing new movies, and one of my go-to sites to learn about them is "Rotten Tomatoes," home of the Tomatometer. The Tomatometer is their method of measuring movie quality.
Buying movies for the library is fun because our customers are a dedicated bunch. They love talking about movies, suggesting titles and browsing the library's huge selection. WCL has foreign films, documentaries, Oscar winners, musicals and more. An adult can borrow up to four movies at a time, and a family account is allowed up to eight movies at a time. The library's movies are categorized by rating, which makes it easy for parents and children to find the G and PG rated movies, and the staff is always willing to help you pick out something good to watch. Here are a few I always recommend:
- "Fracture," starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. This twist-a-minute thriller is exceptionally suspenseful and a must watch.
- "Enemy at the Gates," starring Jude Law and Ed Harris. This movie is based on a true story and tells the cat-and-mouse game between a German sniper and a Russian sniper during the World War II battle of Stalingrad.
- "The Book Thief," starring Geoffrey Rush and Sophie Nelissee. This movie tells the tale of a young girl orphaned during WWII. It is a masterful film with endearing characters and is another must see.
- "The Art of the Steal" directed by Don Argott. This documentary follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' $25 billion collection of modern and post-impressionist art. A must watch that will have you seething from the corruption and the art of the steal.
Another of my responsibilities at Whitman County Library is writing the weekly "Library List" that gets printed right next to this column. Thanks to a huge influx of eBooks, we added over 43,000 new titles to our collection last year, and, thanks to the Daily News, we are able to give you a glimpse into some of those each week.
Three of my favorites to recommend are: "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrick Backman, "Let's Pretend This Never Happened" by Jenny Lawson, and "Big, Little Lies" by Liane Moriarity. All three are a joy to read and will have you laughing, crying and recommending them to all the friends in your own slice of life.
If you are looking for a great movie, book or something fun to do, I hope you'll contact Whitman County Library or any of the amazing public libraries that serve our region. I think you'll be in for a surprise, too.
Rachelle Marshall is a library assistant at the Whitman County Library.
