Priscilla Richardson

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"You can't have your cake and eat it, too," goes the old saying. Now, in the Botetourt County libraries, "you can't keep it, but you can know where it went," according to Buchanan's Jack Wineman, the library board member who came up with the idea. What? This is all about the new plan our libraries have in place. You now can have the library buy any book, or many books, for that matter.

You pay for your choice at the library's discounted rate, get first dibs on borrowing when it comes in, plus get a tax deduction for the cost. The plan applies also to DVDs, books on tape, magazine subscriptions and any other kinds of library material. If the library already owns it, they'll let you know. And they have to exercise some discretion about content, of course.

However, this gives us all a way to read the books we want, and then not to have to store them. Yet they'll still be available when we want to see them again. For a book lover such as myself, this makes a dream come true. I plan to take advantage of this opportunity before my house collapses from the weight of all my books.

Wineman, now a farmer but retired from human resources work around the world for Gulf and Chevron, doesn't claim the idea for this plan as his own. "I'm sure I heard about it or read about it somewhere," he said. But he gets full credit for bringing it to the attention of the rest of the board. Then, library director Stephen Vest set up the forms for patrons to use for their selections.

Vest, 55, certainly seems to have found his calling. A Bedford native who attended Virginia Tech, he at first didn't know what he should do. "I thought I'd be in science, but it just wasn't for me," he said. "Someone at the career counseling center at Tech suggested [library work]. It seemed like a good idea, so I got a summer job at the Bedford library." After obtaining a degree in English, "I then went to a 12-month library program at Peabody in Nashville [Tenn.]."

Vest's first job in Patrick County led to one at Shenandoah University, where he met his wife, Jane. He also worked in Galax as director of the regional library, finally coming to Botetourt to stay 21 years ago. In the Southwest Virginia Information Network Group, an organization that helps libraries with purchasing contracts, he serves as chairman of its scholarship committee. So if you're interested in financial help to attend library school, call Vest at his office in the Blue Ridge Library.

Vest has seen to it that our libraries offer far more than books. You already know about borrowing DVDs, videos and audio books. The fax service has come down in price, now $1 to send, 50 cents a page to receive. Children's programs include preschool story hour at all three libraries, sometimes featuring Opera Clown, a perennial favorite.

Then there's the summer reading program. Starting in June every year, youngsters preschool age and up, mostly elementary school age, read books and keep track of the number of hours they read. For children under age 8, five hours of reading earns a certificate; for those older than 8, it takes 10 hours.

"Last year we had 600 children participate, with 400 that got certificates," Vest said. "Lots of the others read, too, but just didn't turn in their hours." So bring your kids to the library to sign up in June.

Adults aren't left out. Programs by authors, poets and professors were offered this past year, as well as a magic class and the annual genealogy class. Don't forget the annual poetry contest, which now has adult as well as youngster participation. "Last year we had 96 entries from adults," Vest said. "Next spring we'll do it again, so be watching for announcements."

Vest does more than work. He enjoys travel with his family and sings in the Symphony Chorus and the chorus of Opera Roanoke. He works hard, though. The satisfaction ratings for the library system go up every year. Visit your own library, and you'll see why.

For library school scholarship information, call Stephen Vest at the Blue Ridge Public Library, 977-3433.