Definition of a Small Town and Their Libraries

On Thursday I was talking to the teacher of the classroom I work in about the books she sends home.  She told me that the reason why she started sending these books home was when she told parents to have their kids read at home and they didn't have any!  SHOCK!  In my home growing up, you could either sit on it or read it!  I said, "What about libraries?". She shook her head.  She didn't know  if the kids were really even reading.  The parents may have just been signing off that they did.  My reasoning that I explained was "Small  towns."  No was her reply, she had the same experience when she taught in Buhl.  I thought she was going to say Twin.  I realized that she thought Buhl was a big town!  Well, they do have at least one red, yellow and green light. HA!  I went in my car and laughed and shook my head. 

Castleford Idaho population 277 as posted on the welcome sign.  No library.

Buhl Idaho population 3654 at the 2010 census.  11 miles from Castleford. The smallest community library I've ever been to.

Twin Falls Idaho  population about 44K as posted on the signs.  37 Miles from Castleford.  A large beautiful library!

 

 The Twin Falls Library

Nampa Idaho population about 81K as posted on the signs.  A large library  in an old bank where my brother is the director.

 

Bellevue Washington population? 122,363 at the 2010 census.  A county wide (the largest in the state) library system.

 The skyline of Bellevue.

All the libraries in King County.  I lived closest to Newport.

I shouldn't be in shock that these families don't go to the library.  The 5 year old I work with in Twin had never been until I took him!