Years ago, some Davenport Public librarians saved one of the last of the library’s typewriters from the auction pile. It has been in steady use ever since – for forms, envelopes and for those who apparently just like to type!
Library formats and databases have come and gone; but the little-typewriter-that-could remains in the corner of the Main library’s first floor.
A New York Times article, “Click, Clack, Ding! Sigh…” describes a movement of typewriter enthusiasts who “appreciate tangibility, the object-ness of things.” Advantages include the timelessness of the machine, “unlike laptops and smartphones, which become obsolete the moment they hit the market.” In contrast to these delicate devices,” old typewriters are built like battleships ” and are easy to repair.
They also serve to focus a writer on writing; there’s only one thing you can do on a typewriter. You can’t have several windows open - multitasking on Facebook, email and Twitter.
So, bring the kids and grandkids by the Main library to see an actual, working typewriter. They’ll be amazed.
It’s not very often that a new genre comes down the pike for arts and literature. You may have heard the term “steampunk” bandied about but didn’t investigate. It’s kind of like Goth only without the sad faces, black (the only color fit to adorn a tormented soul) and boo-hoo defeatist music.
While the Frugal Librarian, or as we affectionately call him, “Froogs”, is psyched about the release of Window’s Vista’s successor, Windows 7, later this year, there is a very good and super-affordable alternative called Ubuntu to tide you over. You may have heard words like “open-source” and “Linux” get tossed about by your bespectacled acquaintances. The benevolent nerds of the world in the spirit of competition put together very sophisticated quality pieces of software that benefit you for absolutely no cost. Sometimes they rival packages that cost hundreds. Though the 2010 census may prove me wrong, there are more Homo Sapien Nerdicuses in the world than there are Microsoft employees. Ubuntu is such an innovation.