It is National Library Week (April 7 - 13, 2024) and I thought What better way to share my love for the libraries than to write about them?
Libraries have been an important part of my life since I became a teenager. When I was in the eighth grade, my family and I would go to the closest library and hang out for a couple hours. I remember walking in for the first time, the warmth of the inside of that small building embracing me, after being out in the snowy weather. I walked around, seeing what was inside that building that was bustling with colors and diversity. Librarians were helping children and adults using the computers, some people were perusing books, and I even saw people sitting on the small couches reading. It was at that moment that I was sold! I could grab a book, and sit on a little couch, then get up and grab another book?!
I ended up borrowing some books and reading them throughout the week. Trips to the library became a regularity; I'd go for the books, my mother would go to use the computer and look at local job opportunities, and my siblings would go make friends and participate in the crafting activities (that's probably where my sister learned to be crafty and creative for most of her childhood).
After that, during my high school years to be more specific, I would go to the library after school with the same intent: hang out and get some reading material. (This was a completely different library). Due to an unwelcoming home environment, the library became a safe haven those four years, where I would sometimes stay until closing time. There was not much to do in this library in terms of teen activities or crafting, but the simple fact of being able to exist in a calm and safe environment for hours before having to go to the house made a huge difference.
Recently, I asked my siblings what were their favorite parts about going to the library, or what do they currently like when they go to one. We talked about it and started reminiscing. My sister let me know that she enjoyed reading in the quiet corners, where she would not be disturbed. My brother's response was much more detailed and brought back memories. He liked reading The Walking Dead graphic novels on the library couches (let me tell you, he went through a phase where he was flying through those books), he would grab a stack of three or four, sit on one of the couches in the tweens area, and simply read those books one after the other. Whatever he didn't finish, he'd borrow and finish at home. Afterwards, we'd walk home under the warm sun, with our school backpacks full of notebooks and our borrowed books. The walk home was usually reserved to talk about the cool things we saw at the library, like a new display or an interesting book that caught our attention and we planned on reading later.
We all enjoyed using the computers. Since we were all in school and part of a low-income socioeconomic level, the computers at the local library and at the school library were how we would do most of our digital assignments. Now remembering the feeling of rush as I tried to finish my assignment while the timer marked the last couple minutes before my session was over makes me laugh; it sure made me not procrastinate when writing.
As an adult I now have access to more libraries and to library apps so that I can read online, and I love that so much. I truly enjoy buying books and building my own home library, but there is something that makes a trip to the library very enjoyable; book shopping does not compare to library book borrowing. I think that the best part of the library is not only that I'm able to borrow many books (that has helped me save so much money), but that I remember how it was a safe place for me growing up, and I see that it is still that safe place for others.
I hope you are also able to find a safe place in your local or school library.
Trying to find a library near you? Check out this site or click here to see if there are any little free libraries in your area.
