The first time I had my picture in the newspaper I was picking out books at the public library. I was 21 months old at the time.
The caption claims that I was getting assistance from the librarians, but I'm pretty sure the look on my face says "Back off, ladies, I can reach all the books on the bottom two shelves."
I have always loved the library.
As a child, my worst punishment was not being allowed to read.
In middle school, I worked as a "teen volunteer" at the library each summer.
And from 1999 to 2007, I had the great fortune to live in three different apartments that were all within walking distance of a library. It's pretty much the second most important thing about a dwelling, to me. Right after running water.
These days, I have to drive four miles down the road to visit the public library. I go every Monday and I shelve books for two hours. It is one of my favorite parts of the week.
You see, the library is closed on Mondays. When I get there, I knock on the back door and one of the librarians comes and lets me in. It's a lot like being in a secret club.
I wheel cart after cart out to the stacks and straighten up each row as I go. It is so quiet and I can think about whatever I want while I'm working. Or sometimes I hum a little, to myself.
I get to find out about all sorts of interesting books this way, books that I would never normally pick up (remember that I judge books by their cover). And when I find things that I want to take home, I just start a pile and check it all out before I leave. A whole pile of magazines and books and movies that I get to take home. For free.
I love the library.
I'm a library girl myself - some of my best memories of childhood involved libraries. Maybe that's why I'm applying to library school.
ReplyDeleteLove this post ... I am addicted to the library! I can't understand why the fad hasn't caught on ... everything is free!
ReplyDeletexox Lexi
Glitter & Pearls