Editor’s note: This column has been edited to restore the final sentence, which was cut off in the original version.

Neil Postman’s 1985 “Amusing Ourselves to Death” was a warning about how television was conditioning us to expect politics and other serious matters to always be entertaining thus posing a threat to democracy and progress on important issues. Postman’s worries seem quaint now that TVs can fit in your pocket, ready to distract us with enticing headlines and thrilling videos while sitting in math class or zooming along on Interstate 70.

It seems there is a new study nearly every day telling us about the detrimental effect of phones and social media on attention spans and mental health, especially for children. So we should all be pleased that Summit High School now has a no-phone policy. It is essential that our students get a good education, so eliminating a major distraction to learning during the school day is a fantastic idea.

One only needs to visit a local restaurant to witness society’s phone addiction. Everyone looking down, scrolling. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology indicated that scrolling videos to avoid boredom actually increases boredom. People get in the habit of being impatient with their phone screen and develop difficulty in focusing their attention. Many psychologists suggest that learning to not look at a phone when boredom arises is the path to more creativity as a relaxed mind is more receptive to new ideas.

Perhaps we can learn to embrace our boredom and find a better friend than our phone. When I was involved in fundraising for the Summit County Library I was intrigued by the many people I spoke to who said they loved going to the library as kids but who rarely went now. Kids are curious about everything so libraries are the perfect place for them to explore the world. Perhaps us adults are in need of recharging our childhood curiosity with a library visit.

To paraphrase Nebraska’s former slogan “The library, honestly it’s not for everyone.” Now that we are 17 years into the iPhone Age, libraries may be too quiet and peaceful for some but for those willing to brave the silence, the Summit County Library may supply the stress relief we need from the crisis du jour on our phones.

We are fortunate that our library is a cut above due to its exceptional staff and innovative programs. On Sept. 5 Summit County Library Director Stephanie Ralph received the Distinction of Library Services award from the Colorado Association of Libraries for her 22 years of making libraries a special place. Stephanie’s management skill stands out in the way she encourages input from the library staff so that many creative ideas are introduced for the benefit of the public.

Our community is fortunate to have three beautiful library branches for the enjoyment and literary enrichment of locals and visitors. There is plenty of space to give each patron a cozy reading corner, but for those too busy to stop by there is an extensive digital catalog of downloadable ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and newspapers.

A key accomplishment for Director Ralph was the library’s collaboration with the Summit School District to give every student access to library materials which will significantly support literacy and connect students to useful research data. Every student can have their own library card. There are also reading programs, events, craft areas, and study rooms available.

Due to the culture wars it is especially sad that in many U.S. states students will go to the library eager to check out a recommended book and find that some busy-body or zealous politician has banned it. The American Library Association recorded 4,240 unique book titles that were targeted for removal or restriction in schools and libraries across the U.S. in 2023. Colorado passed sensible legislation this year to control anti-freedom censorship. Our library sponsors a banned book club. For more information go to SummitCo.LibraryCalendar.com/event/b3c-breck-banned-book-club-316. As Isaac Asimov said, “Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.”

A frequently and ironically banned book is Ray Bradbury’s dystopian Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury said the story is often misunderstood to be about censorship but instead is about the dumbing down of society and “our growing lack of attention” due to choosing the entertainment of television over the knowledge and understanding to be gained from books. For a relaxing break from screens, stress and distraction, check out a banned book today. 

Paul Olson’s column “A Friendly Conservative” publishes biweekly on Tuesdays in the Summit Daily News. Olson has lived in Breckenridge since 1995. Semiretired, he works at REI in Dillon and enjoys snowboarding, Nordic skiing and hiking. Contact him at pobreck@gmail.com.