I saw a listing of different days and weeks that are observed and noticed that this week is National Library Week. I was thinking about what a role libraries have played in my life. My family didn't get a television until I was in fifth grade. This meant that as kids, we spent a lot of time playing outdoors, but we also spent a lot of time reading. We had a very small library that was close to us and my Mom took us there regularly. There were 4 kids in our family and we would take a big cardboard box with us to haul our books back home in. I remember my Mom sitting at a table, for quite some time, filling out all those cards by hand, with the name of the books we were taking out. We would have to count our books so we knew how many had to come back. We always took part in the summer reading program and got to go to special outings and won prizes because of the books we read. We also had a library in our church and we took out books from it every week. I'm sure that all those opportunities when I was young helped to increase my love of reading. When my kids were young, I took them to the library too. They each had their own tote bag and I made them count their books, just like I used to, so we didn't lose any. They all like to read too, so I guess that strategy worked. We are so lucky to have libraries available to us, with a selection of books ready for reading!
You are so right - we are very lucky. I loved the library as a girl. It was my favorite place to go, and our childrens' librarian was so nice and helpful.
ReplyDeleteyou had a good mom! :o)
ReplyDeletei remember the bookmobile, that came around - i would go there often ...
i sure have enjoyed my 6 months working at the library ... i am counting down to my last week now - and then a summer off ! wa-hoo!
I've always loved books and have always wanted to write one. Maybe someday....
ReplyDeleteI go to our local library at least twice a month. I check out books, audio books and sometimes DVDs. We have a wonderful library and the staff is so nice.
Hope you had a wonderful weekend.
Hugs!
Kat
We love the library too !! I take the kids there all the time. Have since they were babies !! It's much easier now though as I can reserve books that I want on line and they let me know when they are returned and I can just pick them up. Of course, I always browse through the cook book section and lately I've taken to browsing the computer section as well. Last time we were there we got some good chapter books for Jono too ! The other day he sat with his nose in one of those books for ages ! I love seeing that !!
ReplyDeleteWe sure are fortunate! We love the library! I have to admit I think we pay for alot of their stuff from our wonderful late fees, but I love that my kids love to read! And tecnology today means you can look for a book and find it online, order it from any library in the system and wala it comes! Thanks for this post Mari!
ReplyDeleteThats weird because an idea popped in my head last week to take the kids to the library- and we never go to the library.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go to library much at all when I was growing up so it never occurs to me to go.
Anyway, I took the kids to the library and Gracie thought it was so coool.
At our house, we make good use of the awesome library near us. Apparently I should have gone there more since my blog has a Junior high readablity factor. hahahah
ReplyDeleteThis amazes me because I don't remember going to the library at all!! Maybe since I was the last one mom didn't have that time anymore and she was working then.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that explains why I'm not so crazy about reading.
That might be true about Cheri. I remember going to the library with our big cardboard box. It took forever filling out all those cards! You should see the library now that it's been rebuilt. I love it there!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is an avid reader so he made sure that we took our children on weekly trips to the library. On Thursday night they showed cartoons so that was an added incentive take the family each week.
ReplyDeleteI cannot figure out how you posted this on Saturday and my bloglines just picked it up today, Monday. I know that Michigan is a hike from here, but come on Bloglines!
ReplyDeleteLibraries are amazing. Ruthie adores to go. I never went to the public library, but my parents always had books at home for me to read. Randall (my hubby) calls me a nerd b/c I love to read, but I pray that Ruthie develops my love for books.
ReplyDeleteI am a library lover. So much in fact that I still have a book (Dr. Dolittle's Puddleby Adventures) I checked out when I was in 2nd grade...I am now 60 years old. Please don't turn me in.
ReplyDeletespeaking of libraries I need to go return some books today!
ReplyDeleteWe appreciate our Library and we donate books often. Have a Blessed day.
ReplyDeleteDoes renting movies there count?! :-) My boys do love going to the library.
ReplyDeleteMy dad would like this...he was an elementary school librian for many years.
ReplyDeleteGuess my love of books is inherited :)
I love the library. I fondly remember the first time my dad took me to the library, and I was given my first library card. I've continued the tradition, and as soon as my son & daughter were old enough I took them to the library for their first library cards. My son doesn't read very much but my daughter loves to read.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid and lived out in the country, the Lancaster Library had a Bookmobile that stopped near our farm. I was so thrilled!
ReplyDeleteI used to take our kids to the Lancaster Library once a month in the summer time, and they would loan twelve books each. One time I forgot to take all those books back, and when I finally did, my bill was 70 - some bucks!! That was back in the 80's, and a $70 fine was absolutely devastating!
I agree libraries are great places.
ReplyDeleteI love books now but didn't have any to speak of as a child.
ReplyDelete