Happy Holidays from the Friends of Freddy!

     I've always enjoyed Freddy's entry into the Christmas genre, More To And Again or Freddy Goes to the North Pole. It features, as do so many other Christmas books, a threat to that pillar of the Yuletide season, Santa Claus. In a clever twist, however, the threat is not hostile-the whalers see themselves as helping Santa modernize (a comment on the development of world economies over the century before North Pole's publication?). These whalers, lead by the steely Mr. Hooker, are perhaps the most relatable villians ever to stare down Freddy and his friends. Indeed, the confrontation between the two groups is, unusually, initiated by the Bean bunch. These whalers play games with the animals, eat ice cream jovially, and throw snowballs-a far cry from the murderous Herb Garble and the vindictive Simon.
     North Pole also marks the end of the first great era of Freddy's adventures, that time when Brooks' overall view of the books was of a group of animals thrust into unusual places. I think Brooks realized that, as good as these first two entries in the series are, the series couldn't continue under this model, and, sure enough, the next Freddy book, Freddy The Detective, was based on the animals themselves providing the incongruities with ordinary barnyard life. Happily, there was enough character development in Florida and North Pole to allow for this shift to proceed, for the most part, painlessly. It's pretty clear that the series was not meant to focus on Freddy originally, as he (admittedly debatably) dowsn't serve as the central character for a novel again until number 8, Ignormus. 
     In conclusion, we at the Friends of Freddy would like to wish all of you Happy Holidays! Enjoy (or despise) the Christmas music swirling out from every radio station while you can.

Sallie Palmer: My Favorite Library

The following contribution arrived too late to be included in the Favorite Library Contest, but that's no reason not to share it. - The Editors

I'm Sallie Palmer, and I'm 80 years old!  I'm a Friend of Freddy and have been a friend of his for as long as I can remember. I started out by reading library copies, but eventually started my own collection, with the latest Freddy given to me by my parents as a birthday present every year. In recent years, thanks to Overlook Press, from which I was able to obtain copies of titles I was missing, I now have a complete set of Freddies.

 

I've had access to many libraries in my life, all over the world, from the huge New York Public Library down to a library run by the British Women's Club, housed in a former storage closet, in the Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi.

 

Today my favorite is my local library here in Largo, Florida.  It was started in 1916 on the first floor of the old Town Hall by the Largo Women's Club.  A total of 560 books were donated to start the library, almost one apiece for each of the town's 600 residents. Today it's located in a 90,300 squ. ft. building opened in 2002. It's the largest one in Pinellas County, except for St. Petersburg, and has a reciprocal network with the other twelve libraries in the County.  It gets a steady supply of new books.

 

One section of the premises is rented by the local, very active, genealogical society which offers access to books, microfilm records and computer programs to its members.

 

It's a regular destination for me several times a week.

 

It does carry a few Freddy books, but should definitely have more - preferably a whole set!

My Favorite Library Contest: And the Winner is...

Nancy Hatcher of the Norelma Walker Youth Library! You may recall Nancy’s whimsical entry for the My Favorite Library contest featured the Bean animals (and Simon!) arriving at the library in a hot air balloon, reminiscent of Freddy and the Perilous Adventure.

While it is true that Perilous Adventure is my favorite Freddy, the winner was chosen by the voters using a survey posted on the web with a link emailed to all Friends of Freddy members with electronic memberships and posted on the Friends of Freddy Facebook page, blog, maillist, and website. So thank you one and all for voting, and thank you doubly to those who submitted an entry in the contest.

Here is what Nancy said when she learned the Norelma Walker Youth Library had won:

I cannot begin to tell you how absolutely surprised and delighted I was to find your email waiting to be opened. . . . I am thrilled to know that the Norelma Walker Youth Library at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fresno, CA. has won the My Favorite Library contest, especially given the other very excellent entries. We are so pleased to be in the company of others who cherish Freddy and who love their libraries. We thought each of the other entries were quite special and deserving of recognition. We hope that the contest will encourage many others, young and young at heart, to support their library and renew their acquaintance with our clever, intelligent, daring, adventurous and lovable friend Freddy.

The Norelma Walker Youth Library will receive three Freddy books, plus The Art of Freddy and Talking Animals and Others.

Nancy will receive two paperback Freddies.

The Friends of Freddy agree with Nancy’s assessment that all the entries were “quite special and deserving of recognition.” The voting was very close with Luke Colson and Dave Carley tying for second place, and Mary Curtis taking fourth. While they wrote about their current library, several other people wrote about the libraries where they were first introduced to Freddy. These contestants recalled child- hood memories of forty and fifty years ago and how much Freddy meant to them back when they were as young as Luke, Mary, Anastasia and Silas, the youngest entrant at age nine.

What came through clearly in all of the entries was everyone’s love for the Freddy books and for libraries. Almost everyone in the Friends of Freddy seems to have been introduced to Freddy at their local library and it is only right that the club should contribute something to the libraries in our community in return. With generous support from Overlook Press, the Friends of Freddy have decided to give all of the contestants the opportunity to nominate a “needy” library to receive a full set of the Freddy books. Each contestant will also receive two paperback copies of Freddy. For the purposes of the contest, our definition of “needy” library is one without a full set of the Freddy books. However, we do ask that the contestants consider how well-funded a particular library may be, and whether or not it is visited by a large number of children.

We could not have arranged to provide these books for the contest winners without the assistance of our Needy Schools and Libraries Fund. Through the Fund we have contributed Freddy books to hun- dreds of schools and libraries across America, but especially to those in rural areas. We also have provided books to children’s hospitals and to libraries on military bases. We welcome all contributions to the Fund, no matter their size, and they are 100% tax-deductible. Checks can be mailed to Friends of Freddy, P.O. Box 912, Greenbelt, MD 20768-0912.

- Alice Tracy

Freddy the Librarian

My Favorite Library Contest

Or

Freddy the Librarian

Have you read Freddy the Librarian? No? Neither have I, but you can bet he would have made a great one!  In honor of National Library Week, the Friends of Freddy are initiating “My Favorite Library.”  Send in a brief essay praising your favorite library, and feel free to include a photo or two. Then the members of Friends of Freddy will vote online for the best entry.  


The library selected as the winner of the My Favorite Library Contest will receive:

   - three Freddy books*

   - a copy of  The Art of Freddy

   - a copy of Talking Animals and Other Friends by Michael Cart

The person submitting the winning entry will receive their choice of two Freddy paperbacks.

*If your library already has all of the Freddies, we will donate the books to another local library of your choice, or a selection of other Freddy-related titles will be donated to your library.

Contest Deadline has been extended to May 31 Labor Day (September 2), 2013.


Submissions and inquiries should be sent to Kevin Parker at kevin.parker@tcs.wap.org . 

My Favorite Library: Worden Public Library, by Anastasia Curtis

Dear Friends of Freddy,

My name is Anastasia Curtis. I'm ten years old, and I'm going into 5th grade. I live in Worden, a small town of around 1000 people. I'm glad we have a library. Many towns around us don't. We can order books from bigger libraries at ours. Our library does a book fair once a year, outside. I can walk to the library, and it's always fun to walk to the Post Office, then to the library, and then to the park.

Our library has a good selection of books that I like, like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. If we bring the younger kids, the librarian lets them color. Kindergarten, first, and second grade at my school go to the library every Wednesday. The children's librarian reads them a book, and then the kids can pick a book from the wide selection of children's books, including many of Dr. Seuss's works. I like our little library, and I hope we can get some Freddy Books.

Sincerely,

Anastasia Curtis

(Last from the Curtis family--thanks again! Rebekah AKA Mom)

My Favorite Library: Harrisburg (IL) Public Library, by Silas Curtis

Dear Friends of Freddy,

My name is Silas Curtis and I am almost nine years old. My favorite library is the Harrisburg (IL) Library because the books there are very easy to find and because they have the kind of books I like. We go there because it is close to where we camp in southern Illinois. That is why I like the Harrisburg Public Library.

Sincerely,

Silas Curtis

My Favorite Library: Edwardsville Public Library, by Mary Curtis

 Dear Friends of Freddy,
My name is Mary Curtis. I am seven years old. I like the Edwardsville Library in Edwardsville, IL because it has a nice playroom. The playroom has blocks that you can build towers with. There is a place where you can color in the room.

 We go the Edwardsville Library because our library is very small. We go to our little library too but we go the Edwardsville Library because it is very big and nice. The babies can play in the playroom so Mom or Dad can go find a book. There is a big kid section and a little kid section.

 The outside of the library looks kind of like a chapel. It has a fountain with flowers around it. Sometimes the fountain is off.

 My family likes the Freddy books. Mom reads them when Dad is gone. Sometimes Dad is here and he listens to them too. The Edwardsville Library doesn't have any Freddy books.

 Thank you for reading my letter.

 Sincerely,

 Mary Curtis

My Favorite Library: Lenawee County Library, by Luke Colson

 Hi! My name is Luke Colson. I am 12 years old and I live in Michigan. One of my favorite past times is reading. My favorite books ever are Freddy books! I love Freddy and think he is so funny.

The Lenawee District Library is my library. It's at 4459 W. US 223 in Adrian, MI. It's a small library, but it's great!! They have a good selection of books, including a few Freddy books.

My library is special for many reasons. One, because the librarians are kind, cheerful, and helpful. They know me by name. They help me find books when I can't find them, and when I forget my card they will look it up for me. If they don't have the book I want, they will order it for me from another library.

Also, my library has a lot of special events like the bookmark contest, the teen reading challenge, book sales, and adult classes. They also have a story time for the little children.

As you can see, my library is a wonderful library. The librarians make me feel special, and the events encourage children and teens to read more often. I hope my library wins more Freddy books. If they do, I will be the first one to check them out!!!

Top Tips for Collecting Rare Books by Walter R Brooks, by Vic Zoschak

Top Tips for Collecting Rare Books by Walter R Brooks

By Vic Zoschak

Tavistock Books

 

When Walter R Brooks published To and Again in 1927, he had no idea that the children's novel would grow into a beloved series of 26 books. Indeed, the novel (later retitled Freddy Goes to Florida) proved a pivotal work in Brooks' career as an author. To this day, Brooks has a devoted following, as evidenced by groups like Friends of Freddy. If you're a fan of Brooks, you may find yourself building a collection of Freddy the Pig books and related works. As you delve into the world of collecting rare books, keep these guidelines in mind.

 

·         Remember that condition is everything. The value of a rare book is directly affected by its condition. If you're building a Freddy collection, focus on buying the best copies you can afford: both the book itself and the original dust jacket should be as pristine as possible. The dust jackets of Freddy books are particularly appealing, which simply makes an edition with the dust jacket more visually appealing. But moreover, the dust jacket makes the book "complete."

·         Learn how to identify a first edition. Collectors value true first editions most highly. The Freddy series was published by Alfred A Knopf between 1927 and 1958. From 1927 to 1932 or 1933, the publisher would include "second printing," "third printing," etc to indicate subsequent editions. The first edition lacks this on the copyright page. Around 1933, Knopf issued a new statement, saying that "First Edition" or "First American Edition" would be denoted on the copyright page. For more information on first edition identification, consult Zempel and Verkler's First Editions.

·         Remember alternate titles. Several books in the Freddy series were published under one title, then renamed for subsequent editions. A truly complete collection would include first printings of both titles:

▪     To and Again was later published as Freddy Goes to Florida.

▪     More To and Again was reissued as Freddy Goes to the North Pole.

▪     The Story of Freginald was republished as Freddy and Freginald.

▪     The Clockwork Twin was later published as Freddy and the Clockwork Twin.

▪     Wiggins for President was retitled Freddy the Politician.

·         Explore Brooks' other works. Brooks enjoyed an active career as a literary critic and columnist. He also published over 100 short stories for various magazines. These kinds of articles are fascinating additions to a Walter R Brooks collection because they add both depth and dimension. They may also be more difficult to locate and obtain, giving the collector a satisfying "treasure hunt"!

·         When in doubt, consult an expert. Fans of Freddy are lucky to have an active community of fellow enthusiasts--who are also excellent resources. Reach out to others who can share their knowledge with you. And if you have questions about collecting rare books, be sure to talk to a reputable dealer. You can find qualified rare book dealers through professional organizations like the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA).

My Father's Favorite Library, by Chris Peters

My Father's Favorite Libraries

 

Rather than write about my own favorite library, I want to say a little about my Father’s favorites, because his choices had a wonderful impact on my life, reading and otherwise.

 

I was born in 1944, in Pasadena, California, into a large book loving family. My father was a prominent lawyer in Los Angeles. My mother and father assembled an excellent home library, and put in special built-in shelves through the house. They loved books, bookstores…and libraries.

 

Out of these, my father had a number of favorite libraries.

 

After William Randolph Hearst died, my father spent weeks leading a team of appraisers through Hearst Castle to come up with numbers for the California inheritance taxes. There was a Gutenberg bible, first editions of all sorts. Wonderful stuff everywhere.

 

But it wasn’t his favorite library. The Los Angeles and Beverly Hills libraries were close and had wonderful resources.  But there were more libraries.

 

In 1957, (with the money from the Hearst evaluation – you got a percentage, in those days!) my parents took my brothers and I to Rome. It was a meeting of the International Bar Association, and my dad led the California Bar group. As such, he was invited to meet the Pope, and he got to visit the Vatican Library, which was filled with astounding volumes. 

 

Amazing as it was, the Vatican Library wasn’t my Dad’s favorite.

 

The Huntington Library (built by the old robber baron’s money) was just 20 minutes away from our house and another favorite of my parents. We joined (and I was able to go and study there, and do research.) But not Dad’s top favorite.

 

Before that, at UC Berkeley as an undergrad (and later law student) he practically lived at the Doe Memorial Library.

 

The Doe was also important in another way: there were all night study rooms available.  This was often where he worked to support himself and my mother, late at night, with his “52 Assistants.”

 

(In point of fact, Dad sometimes really had a “53rd Assistant” – one of the “strangers” who drifted into the game was, in fact, his friend Jack-- later to be a champion bridge and poker player. Never had a job in his life, did Jack, that didn’t use a deck of cards.  But that was in the future; at that point he was just a young guy who had a memory and a talent for cards.  Afterwards, they’d split the take. Hey, Dad was going to be a lawyer, alright?)

 

 

None of these were my Father’s favorite library however; for that, you have to further back. 

 

Before he worked with movie stars, and Howard Hughes, before he argued cases before the Supreme Court, you have to go all the way back to his childhood.

 

He was born in 1902, one of nine children on a cold water farm in the hard dirt of Fresno, California.

 

And in 1904, the Fresno Carnegie Library opened. And free access to books profoundly changed the direction of my father’s life. 

 

That was always my Father’s favorite library.

Freddy and the Log Cabin, by David Haas

My Favourite Library?

WHERE I FIRST MET FREDDY!

By David Haas

Glengarry Branch of the Calgary Public Library

Early 1950s, Not A Log Cabin

Photo Credit: Calgary Public Library

Colouring added by author

I met Freddy in a log cabin in Calgary on the Western Canadian prairie!

Well, that’s the way I long remembered it. The building was the Calgary Public Library’s Glengarry Branch, opened in 1950. Even in the golden haze of my fond recollection it was not an actual log cabin, rather what we would now call a retro – a cosmetic exterior of partial logs over a more weather proof wall. There still are buildings like that in Alberta.

Alas when researching for this competition I learned the place wasn’t even that. Photographs from the era show that in reality the exterior was just plank siding, probably rough finished and stained a log-like hue.

My mother used to check out books from time to time at the adult department upstairs. And often I tagged along.

The children’s department was downstairs, a treasure trove reached by a separate door and stairway in back of the building. It gave one a delicious sense of entering a place outside the ken of parents. They were allowed in, of course, but not many came. The basement room was paneled in knotty pine, fashionable back then.

I don’t recall my mother being with me the first time I ventured downstairs and checked out my first two books. I’ve never remembered the titles, but I recall a bit about them. One was a story involving a gazillion cats – okay, the internet tells me this must have been the classic Millions Of Cats. The other book involved China and a baking oven (I’m not going to cheat by asking Michael Cart what it would have been).

Nor do I recall a librarian pointing out those books to me, nor later suggesting I try one of their books about a talented porker. I discovered I liked picking out books myself. I cruised the shelves. And Freddy was there!

The Children’s Department of the Glengarry Branch

Showing Shelf Location of Freddy Books

Photo Credit: Calgary Public Library

Colouring added by author

I discovered Freddy on one of those shelves pointed to in the photo. I recall the relevant shelf being about eye level, but the placement of books was not fixed over time. That was I think late 1953 or early 1954, when I was 9 or 10. And over the next year and a half or so – my “Freddy phase” – I went through every Freddy book they had, eagerly watching for new arrivals.

My first Freddy book? Well, that I don’t remember. Possibly Freddy The Detective. I was already familiar with Sherlock Holmes so this one would have rung a bell. The book that really lodged in my mind was Freddy The Magician. I staged a small magic show at my home for my parents. And, four decades later, downhearted over a stage hypnotist not paying his bill for professional services, suddenly the malignant Signor Zingo came back to me. I obtained the book on an interlibrary loan and was soon roaring with laughter! HOW could I ever have forgotten Leo dressed up in Freddy’s buckskin jacket and feather headdress?

My first Freddy book wasn’t Freddy Goes To Florida, under which title To And Again was on the shelves. I definitely recall checking that yarn out after I already had a few Freddy stories under my belt. I missed what is apparent to the more discerning adult eye, that Freddy is not the central character. The book did however have a long term effect, because Walter R. Brooks had a way of hooking a historical reference into his young reader. For decades, even though I had mostly forgotten the details of the Freddy stories, it was impossible for me to read of Balboa, or see a picture of his famous statue in Panama, without thinking of the Grandfather of the All the Alligators reminiscing fondly about spending half a day chewing on the explorer’s delicious boot of old Spanish leather. Now that is making history come alive – even if I can’t seem to find any evidence that Balboa was ever in Florida. Maybe the Grandfather moved around more in his younger days!

There was another valuable long term effect from my Freddy period, though not attributable to our hero. One librarian stands out in my memory. She was deaf. Children coming up to the desk were told they had to face her when speaking so she could read their lips. In later years as deafness grew upon me (a souvenir of my early army days) I remembered the upfront librarian. If you’re deaf, don’t leave people guessing – tell ’em!

One funny incident occurred late in my Freddy period when I had started to cruise the teenage shelves. I spotted a book titled simply Jinx. I checked it out unread, assuming of course it was about Freddy’s feline sidekick. At home I discovered it was the mildly eye popping (for an 11 or 12 year old) 1951 autobiography of an actress and model named Jinx Falkenburg.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Yosemite (By Nancy Hatcher)

            It was a dreadful, cold dreary day, keeping Freddy and friends huddled and miserable in the barn. Grumbling was not a cure. Freddy began to ruminate about the possibilities of a sojourn to sunnier parts. A trip to California came to mind. The friends thought it would be grand to see a National Park or two, though Mrs. Wiggins fretted about what hat she would wear and Charles wondered about roosters being allowed. Plans were immediately made for another "Perilous Adventure." Freddy procured a hot air balloon. A note was left for Mr. and Mrs. Bean to explain their absence. Everyone hopped into the large basket and the compass was set for Yosemite National Park and they lifted off.

 

            Freddy and his friends considered themselves most fortunate to have found themselves on updrafts taking them over mountains, rivers, and the Great Plains, all with splendid views. The Grand Canyon was spectacular. Whilst taking their afternoon tea with crumpets (though Robert preferred a biscuit), Simon, the lookout atop the balloon, suddenly cried out, "I see California!" Tea cups went flying and several crumpets went overboard as everyone jumped up, Jinx climbing on Hank's back to have a better view. Freddy declared that it was indeed California, and, if one looked very hard, one could see Yosemite's Half Dome! Everyone congratulated each other on this most marvelous adventure that had not been 'perilous' at all. Then, all of a sudden, it happened!

 

            A blustery, gust of wind came blowing off the Sierras, sending the balloon this way and that, up and down. Freddy took command immediately, shouting above the howling wind for everyone to get down quickly as he consulted his navigation guide and determined that the balloon must land immediately. The balloon landed with a thud, not in Yosemite, but a few miles south in the play yard of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno.

 

            Crawling out from under the balloon, Simon took charge of exploring the yard, taking Robert along for protection in case they came upon any suspicious characters, and Jinx for his ability to leap upon window sills to peek inside. Mrs. Wiggins was more interested in finding her hat. Hank decided to wander off in search of fresh grass to chew.

 

            Simon, Robert and Jinx returned with some exiting news! They had discovered a door with a sign, "Welcome to the Norelma Walker Youth Library. Please Come In." "What are we waiting for?" exclaimed Freddy.

 

            Freddy and his friends found themselves in a small, cozy library that appeared wonderful and captivating for any young reader, even older ones, and even intelligent barnyard readers! Jinx found himself staring straight up to a top shelf where there sat another cat, the Cat in the Hat! From a rocking chair came, "Hello, please look around," from Paddington Bear. A small inquisitive monkey, swung down from atop a bookcase, introducing himself as "Curious George" and asked, "Where did you come from and how did you get here?" It was astonishing! The stuffed animals began talking, just like Freddy and his friends!

 

            After many "how-do-you-do's," Peter Rabbit hopped over from his window sill where he had been looking longingly at the Community Garden and offered a tour of the collection. There were fiction and non-fiction alike, biographies, poetry, shelves and shelves of beautifully illustrated  picture books and thick "chapter" books. Freddy gasped when he saw the complete collection of books about himself and his adventures! And the complete set of first edition facsimiles of the "Oz books," all of "The Adventures of Tintin," Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Harry Potter books, and more. "We are computerized, all 1600 books are catalogued, everyone has a library card, and we have a 'dot' system," explained Peter, "where books have a colored dot on their spine to indicate green for the environment, blue for peace, purple for women's history, red for civil rights, yellow for the labor movement, pink for LGBT, and orange for local authors such as William Saroyan, Leo Politi and Margarita Engle."

 

            "Most impressive," observed Hank. They all loved the round, hooked globe rug upon which to curl up to read, the small blue table and yellow chairs, the handmade, quilt map on the wall, the windows through which the sun lit up the collection, and finally, a great poster of Freddy the Pig himself! Everyone agreed that this was a most, marvelous library. "Good things come in small packages!" said Freddy.

 

            Alas, it was time to get on with their journey. The balloon was filled with air, the friends all gathered for a sweet farewell. Freddy and friends made promises to return again. And they did. But, that is another story.

 

The End.

 

           

My Favorite Library: Faxon Branch Library, by Henry Cohn

My Favorite Library 

Faxon Branch Library

Elmwood, Connecticut

Submitted by Henry Cohn

            I choose as my favorite library the Faxon branch because when my fourth grade teacher gave me Freddy the Detective to read, and I enjoyed it, I went to the Faxon Branch for more Freddies.  This is the library which allowed my love of Freddy to be nourished.

            In those days, the early 1950’s, I lived with my parents near Elmwood.  Downtown Elmwood was the working person’s section of more affluent West Hartford. Faxon served that community well.  I frequently visited the Faxon branch, and hardly ever went to the main Noah Webster library on Main Street in West Hartford.  It was closer and had what I needed.  There were times that I didn’t go to the library myself, but told my parents what I wanted to take out.  I would look forward to their return from Faxon with a book for me.

            Faxon had only a few precious Freddies—Freddy Goes to Florida, Freddy the Detective, Freddy the Politician, Freddy Plays Football, Freddy and the Men from Mars and my favorite, Freddy and the Bean Home News.  I must have read BHN at least four times back then. 

            While I remember all the wonderful times spent reading the Freddies, Faxon could also support my teen tastes. I don’t remember all the titles, but they came from the Faxon branch.

            Now I live on the other side of West Hartford from Elmwood, but I go to Faxon when I can get a book more quickly there than from the main Noah Webster library or the other West Hartford branch closer to my home.

Faxon still has a great and helpful staff.  They have searched for a variety of difficult to find items for me through the years.

The branch serves a variety of ethnic groups today as West Hartford has a much larger and more diverse population than it did in the 1950’s.  Now, in 2013, this library features a Welcome Center with books and DVD’s in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Vietnamese.  They have sessions to practice English, and occasional opportunities for their patrons to meet with local community leaders. They have a poetry writing group and adult book discussions.  And they serve the entire West Hartford community with a film and discussion series – RACE MATTERS – where my wife saw the movie Crash a number of years ago, and where she just recently attended a program on the book Elizabeth and Hazel on the Little Rock Nine.

            Sad to say, all the Freddies that I read are now gone, probably discarded.  When I heard about the Friends of Freddy in the 1990’s, my interest in reading the books returned, as well as my desire to make sure that the Faxon Branch had at least some copies.  I donated a couple of books to Faxon at that time. 

            I have entered this contest in hopes of bolstering the Freddy collection at the Faxon Branch.  I hope to benefit my old place of learning and the deserving population it serves.

"My Favorite Library," by Dave Carley

Confession: I have been a serially lover of libraries.

As a child I was a prodigious user of the Carnegie Library in my hometown of Peterborough, Ontario.  The children’s section was on the top floor of the handsome red-brick structure and that’s where I first encountered the pig of all pigs. I would dash in to the room (quietly), grab my allotment of two Freddys off the shelves, get them stamped and carded, and bike home as fast as I could, to begin reading.

In high school, my chums and I would feel very sophisticated as we did our homework in the carrels at the Bata Library at Trent University; a gorgeous building perched on the banks of the Otonabee River. (Our high school library was a bit too juvenile, we sniffed.)

At The University of Toronto there were various college libraries to love, ranging from an ancient, Hogwarts-style one at Knox College to the brutalist but easily-navigated Robarts Library.

Toronto’s Children’s Library is where I first learned (back in the 1980s) that the Freddy series was out of print.

And up north, I’ve been associated with the tiny library in the village of Buckhorn, a vital hub of learning and reading for an entire community.

Each one of those libraries was my favourite when I was using it.  I’ve loved them all, loved them well, and we always parted on good terms .

But I am going to tell you about my most recent favourite, the London (Ontario) Library’s Central branch. London is a couple hours west of the acknowledged centre of the Canadian universe (Toronto), a pleasant mid-sized city of about 375,000. Something in the city’s water produces entertainers – Hume Cronyn, Victor Garber, Ryan Gosling, Guy Lombardo and Rachel MacAdams all hail from there.  Frederick Banting, the discoverer of Insulin lived in London. The city’s nickname is ‘The Forest City’ and there are lovely old shaded streets, lined with gracious homes. There’s a well-respected university (University of Western Ontario) and some fine hospitals.

It’s not all sweetness and light. The city has lost some of its industrial base in recent years and the downtown is a nightmare of bad urban planning. Many beautiful old retail buildings have been torn down, and a lot of the commercial base has disappeared. Sitting in the centre of it all, like a forgotten hole in a retail donut, was a deserted 1970s-era Galleria Mall. Which brings me neatly to My Favourite Library.

When the retail vanished, the library moved into the mall, taking over the space formerly occupied by the department store anchor. A clever restoration in 2002 opened up the department store and now there are four magic floors of books and activity, connected by escalators travelling up the centre.

Libraries have changed. The stern, shushing madam librarians of my childhood have been replaced with helpful, smiling and caring employees. An incredible variety of Londoners use the Central Branch – from job seekers on computers to professors researching to community groups to, of course, to book lovers. The London library is a pioneer in innovative activities including:

·         A Women’s health group that meets regularly with a public health nurse

·         Abraham’s Café – an ongoing program for discussing faith and religious topics, with panels and representatives from Islam, Judaism and Christianity

·         Annual Book Camp – a literary day camp for children in the summer

·         Gadget clinics – people bring in their new handheld devices, tablets and e-readers, and get help from staff about how to actually use them

·         A film festival and concerts

I had the privilege of being the Writer in Residence at the Central Branch one year. (The fact that the library even has a writer in residence should shoot it up to the top of the list of Favourite libraries.) Part of my job was to talk with writers and user-groups, and stage readings of plays. I was given a little office just behind the Harlequin romances, a vantage point from which I discreetly studied that fascinating species of book lover, the romanticus furtivus. (Because you would be very surprised who sneaks up to the Harlequin section for a romance quickie between the covers.)

Alas, my office was two floors away from the Children’s library, which is home to a complete collection of Overlook Freddys.  But I would ride the escalator down and admire them.

If you are in London -  and why wouldn’t you be - take a look at what a creative urban library can do in animating a city’s downtown. Admire their full complement of Freddys. And join me in voting for the London Library’s Central Branch as Favourite Library!

- Dave Carley

We've started the search for reviewers in earnest. Anyone willing is welcome to write one up and send it to me!

Freddy reviews to be posted (hopefully)

With any luck this blog will be seeing reviews from FoF members  about their favorit Freddy books. They will include likes/dislikes/favorite characters/series rankings, etc. I'm very excited about this project and hope to see it get going soon!

This is the new Friends of Freddy blog!