Village of Christmas Readers

When John Christenson of Iowa City received his first model library as a Christmas gift in 1994, he never imagined it would come to this -- a village of 13 miniature libraries and hundreds of people running around with books in their hands he calls Biblioville.

But John, 73, a retired director of libraries in several states including southern Minnesota (Mankato area) for the last 27 years of his career, couldn't help himself. It was like opening up one good book after another, this adding new libraries and more characters.

John, who wears a white beard and admits he's been mistaken for Santa Claus, says his village includes more than 40 Santas.

Some of the Santas sit in front of computers, probably checking their lists to see who is naughty or nice, although John insists they're checking library records. Others check their lists in books or even take a break in outhouses, which shows John's sense of humor.

But, working with libraries was serious business for John.

"The best part," he says, "was finding information for people they wouldn't be able to find anywhere else."

Even though some folks have predicted the end of libraries, just as they've predicted the end of newspapers, people still love to read. And libraries can even be a good place to do that on a computer.

So, my hat is off to John, who has his Biblioville village displayed at the Coralville Public Library at least through the new year.

It's a neat, fascinating collection of old-style libraries and the people who make them such an important part of their lives, even if it is fictitious and in miniature.