One of the persons who played an important role during my childhood and adolescence was Mrs. Mildred Fields, the librarian at the Milan, Tennessee, Public Library, which, during the 1950’s, was located on the ground floor in the old City Hall Building on Williamson Street in Milan.
    One of the reasons I came to appreciate good books at such an early age was due to the positive influence which she had on me each time I would visit the library.  In her gentle and loving way she would whet my appetite for a particular book by telling me just enough about it to get me interested in taking it home and reading it.  And, she would not only recommend a book, but she would discuss a number of reasons why she thought I would enjoy it.
    She opened the door for me into the world of biography and autobiography.  Over and over she stressed the importance of reading biography, and it was because of her encouragement that I began reading materials about the lives of famous persons.  Although that happened many years ago, I still remember her smiling at me, opening a particular book, and saying, “Now here’s a book that I think you will really enjoy.”  And with that she would hand me the book.  It might have been a work about Wilbur and Orville Wright, Abraham Lincoln, Babe Ruth, or some other historical figure.  “Go over to such-and-such page,” she would say, “and begin reading in that last paragraph.  See, I told you that you would like it.”  And, as soon as I had finished reading a particular book, she would immediately entice me to read another one.
    She always sent me away from the library loaded down with materials that would open up new vistas for me.  This helped to thrust a small-town, shy boy into the larger world and provide for him a different--yet necessary--perspective.
    Across the years my love of books has constantly increased.  I cannot imagine what life would be like without good books.  However, this deep appreciation for books had its origin with special people like Mildred Fields.
    I have often wondered how many children and teenagers Mrs. Fields influenced across the years.  How many persons enjoy reading good books today because of the positive influence of persons like Mildred Fields?
    It is only appropriate that in 1971 the name of the Milan Public Library was changed to “The Mildred Fields Memorial Library.”  (DHL)