The “Writers’ Rally in Robeson!” starts a new season Thursday. David Shaffer will lead off the 2009 series. After a career in the computer software business, and 10 years in California as a private detective, he moved to North Carolina in 2001. He continues his career as a private detective but is also a partner in Alabaster Book Publishing Company. He has published four novels and will talk about his latest book at the Osterneck Auditorium on Thursday starting at 7 p.m.

The “Writers’ Rally in Robeson!” is an outstanding series of author visits. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and Lumbee Guaranty Bank and is the brainchild of P. M. Terrell. She is the author of many books; her latest, “Exit 22,” takes place in Robeson County. You can purchase a copy of “Exit 22” at the Lumberton Library.

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I’m reading “The Victoria Vanishes” by Christopher Fowler. One of the central characters is walking down the street thinking about his future and his partner’s future. He has just turned in his resignation from the police force: “... soon they ... would pass into oblivion, to be faintly recalled as members of the old school of police work, a pair of characters, representatives of a classic style of investigation that has since passed into obsolescence ... Had they really achieved anything at all ... improved the lot of Londoners? Or would they soon be as forgotten as old music hall stars?”

I’ve been thinking about that recently. The public library of 1973 is not the public library of 2009. I have wondered if I am a member of the old school of librarianship that has passed into obsolescence. But above all I’ve hoped the public library has “improved the lot of” Robesonians over the last 27 years.

Public libraries are intended to be used by us all. The library staff knows that the public supports the library and traditionally, those who use public libraries are known as patrons. Most people who work in public libraries want to help anyone who enters the building. Those people who work in public libraries and don’t feel that way really shouldn’t be working in a public library. We’ll complain about one of our patrons but we’ll do all we can to give them what they want.

The staff at the Robeson County Public Library works hard to provide the material you need. It is interested in “improving our lot.” Considering all of the economic problems we’ve faced over the last 27 years, they’ve done a remarkable job.

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An update on the Spanish American War Memorial: I’ve received two donations and a telephone call. All I need now is 18 more donations of $25 each.

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I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about the recession and Robeson County’s economic problems. He thought that if Robeson County were entering a recession, it would be a step up for us.



— Bob Fisher is the director of the Robeson County Public Library. He can be reached at rfisher@robesoncountylibrary.com.