LIBRARY WORKERS SHARE FAVORITE BOOKS, AUTHORS

Librarians. They work in an environment that revolves around helping other people read.

From the well-worn paperbound classics to the electric phrases pulsing out of today's computer screens, words are everywhere a librarian goes, filling bookshelves, magazine racks and newspaper folios.

In light of the upcoming 1998 Youth Education Literacy and Learning campaign (YELL), the Southeast Missourian recently asked library workers at the Cape Girardeau Public Library what they like to read.

Although having very different personalities, the workers have one thing in common beside their workplace: a love of reading.

Marilyn Hutchings is a reference associate at the library. She's worked there for 2 1/2 years.

In fiction, she turns to the novels of Maeve Binchy, an Irish writer whose works include "Copper Beach."

Hutchings said it seems as if she has always been reading.

"I realize I had to learn at sometime but I don't remember it," she said. "I do remember bugging my parents to teach me how to write, though."

Her favorite book as a young girl was "The Black Stallion," by Walter Farley.

"I practically had that one memorized," Hutchings said.

Hutchings said her daughter, now an adult, is also an avid reader.

"She started out with Dr. Seuss and those books," she said.

Like many kids her age, she moved on to the "Babysitter's Club" series and enjoyed "Goosebumps" books as well, Hutchings said.

"It's kind of funny. I used to give her books and say, here's something good to read. Now she says 'Hey Mom, I think you'd like this," Hutchings said.

John Stringham of Cape Girardeau is a circulation staff member at the library.

His love of reading and "need to pay the rent" led to the job at the library.

He likes reading the Wall Street Journal, particularly the editorials and features.

Stringham said he'll read anything by P.J. O'Rourke. Stringham said O'Rourke, a regular contributor to Rolling Stone, is the magazine's "token conservative."

His favorite O'Rourke novels are, "Parliament of Whores," "Age and Guile" and "Beat Youth: Innocence and a Bad Haircut"

Melissa Verble is a circulation staff member at Cape Girardeau Public Library. Her goal is to one day be a librarian.

A native of Vanduser, Verble said she's always loved books.

"I started reading very young," she said. "I think I skipped children's classics and went straight to young adult books."

As a child she wanted to read whatever her mother was reading and started reading westerns, especially those by Louis L'Amour.

She developed a taste for science fiction and fantasy, which remains her favorite genre.

Her favorite writers are Robert Heinlein, author of "Double Star," "Starship Troopers" and "Job: a Comedy of Justice and Stranger in a Strange Land;" Isaac Asimov and Roger Zelazny.

"Heinlein is my 'comfort food.' I read his books over and over," Verble said.

Since 1991, the Southeast Missourian has coordinated the publishing and distribution of the special YELL newspaper to be sold by volunteers in the old newsboy hawking style.

YELL starts Sept. 15. when volunteers in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City will man street corners to hawk special-edition newspapers until they run out.

Funds generated by YELL are used to provide grants to schools and other educational programs throughout the year that promote literacy and citizenship.

Coordinated by the newly formed YELL Foundation, the event also funds the Newspapers In Education program, which provides area teachers with free newspapers to aid in classroom instruction.

Volunteers are needed for this year's event. People interested in helping out should contact Mark Kneer at (573) 334-7115.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITES

Readers are invited to send in personal essays about their favorite books, what they read to children and why, and other literacy topics. To submit an essay, contact Joni Adams, care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699.