The Joy of Reading – John Wilson Oh for a book and a shady nook, either in door or out. With the green leaves whispering overhead, Or the street cries all about. Where I may read all at my ease, Both of the new and old; For a jolly good book whereon to look, Is better to me than gold.
This month seems to be all about books! October is National Reading Group Month. Teen Read Week is October 13-19. On October 26th the Celebration of Nebraska Books will feature 2013 award-winning authors and their books, and announcement of the 2014 One Book One Nebraska title. With all that to celebrate it seems like a good time to see what images about books and reading are in Nebraska Memories.
The two photos below are from the Dodge County Historical Society collection. The photo of the Joseph H. Williams residence reading corner , taken in about 1888, shows an unusual bookcase with a rocking chair beside it. The girls posed in front of it don’t look very happy with the book in front of them. Hopefully there was something entertaining on the shelves above them! The family members posing in the Robert S. Somers residence reading group photo look pretty serious too.
The siblings in this story gathering photo from the Nebraska Children’s Home Society look like they are having more fun. Photos of children up for adoption were used to help the Society find adoptive parents.
The Library Commission started bookmobile service in 1936, and a search in Nebraska Memories on the word bookmobile will bring up several photos of groups gathered around the wonderful truck with the side window showing the books. These women are at the Bookmobile at Nehawka Public Library . 
