By Janet Hosey
More than 40 years after he received it as a child, David Dorris still carries the same Joliet Public Library card in his wallet.
The paper card, now yellowed with age and reinforced with tape, has been with him since the early 1980s. Librarian Gabriela Mora noticed it when he when he stopped by the Black Road Branch to check out materials.
“We love seeing these cards still in use,” Mora said. “I told him he’s famous in our eyes.”
Several years ago, a different librarian had added a barcode sticker so the well-worn card could continue checking out books, music and more.
For Dorris, 53, the card is much more than a way to borrow books and music.
“I keep it for nostalgia, I suppose,” he said. “It just felt like a part of me.”
A childhood filled with discovery
That little paper card represents a lifetime of curiosity that began as a child wandering the stacks at the Ottawa Street Branch.
“I wasn’t much of a card catalog kid,” Dorris said. “I liked walking around randomly discovering things. I’d wander the shelves looking at titles. Anything that caught my eye, I’d pull it out and explore it.”
History was his favorite subject, especially Egyptian and Native American history.
“At that time, it was enough to excite the imagination,” he said. “I discovered a whole other universe out there I never even dreamed was possible.”
He credits his mom and grandmother for instilling a love for the library, as both were frequent users and voracious readers who brought him along with them.
More than books through every stage of life
Over time, his interests changed. He checked out vinyl records and, later, music CDs. He got into science fiction in his teen years, and used the library’s reference section.
As a teenager, the library’s extensive and varied collection taught him that the library stands for literary freedom and the importance of open knowledge.
“For me the library was always a window to a world of possibilities,” Dorris said. “It really it helped me discover myself.”
A trusted place in a changing world
For Dorris, the library has come to represent dependability and structure.
“It’s a great counterbalance to the internet, which is like the wild west in a way,” he said.
Dorris considers himself a casual library user, mainly checking out music, an occasional book and using the internet. And that card in his wallet is all he needs to access it.
“It’s really good to have a library card. You never know when you’ll need to use it,” he said, sharing how he used the library’s internet after a storm knocked out power at his house. “It’s not just about books. It’s CDs, it’s gaming, it’s the internet. It’s a wealth of resources I haven’t even used yet.”
At some point, he said, he’s going to visit the Digital Media Studio to convert some cassettes to CDs.
Dorris’s paper library card may be worn around the edges, but the opportunities it represents continue to grow.
From books, movies and music to e-books, gaming and programs, the Joliet Public Library offers something for every stage of life.
“The library is very unassuming, yet it is simmering with vibrancy and filled with possibilities,” he said.
Ready to discover what’s possible?
Whether you’re getting your very first library card or returning after years away, your library card unlocks books, movies, music, technology, online resources, programs and so much more. Stop by either library branch or visit jolietlibrary.org to learn how to get your free library card and start exploring.