Thursday, February 19, 2009

Theme Thursday = Library!

My local library branch.
Isn't it adorable?
.
You're either a library person, or you're not. I happen to be one. I
wasn't raised in a library family, so to speak. Don't get me wrong; we
had a few books, but we owned them. My parents just never got in
the groove of taking us to the local public library.
.
My first library experience was in grade school. I loved visiting the
tiny book lined room at the end of the beige linoleum tiled hall,
choosing my limit of three books, taking them up to the librarian's
desk to sign the cards and have the due date printed with one of
those adjustable rubber date stampers. I was a little snoop, too. I
always enjoyed looking at the book cards to see who else had
checked out the book and when. The part I couldn't get used to,
however, was returning them. I would bond with the book, the
characters, illustrations, even color of the binding and scent of the
paper. Resisting the urge to keep it was always a struggle when the
book came due. I haven't changed a bit since then.
.
By the time I got to high school, the library took on a duel purpose.
I adored browsing the shelves for a literary treat, (Gone With the
Wind, lots of Pearl Buck, Bronte and Steinbeck) but it became a
social hang out, as well. My three girlfriends and I would meet in the
school library, at our favorite bleached pine table in the sunny east
corner, faithfully each Monday through Thursday, during study hall
before lunch. Heads together, mini skirts adjusted, we all became
experts in the art of lip reading as we poured over the latest fashion
and pop culture magazines. To this day, I still find myself creatively
inspired by magazines and although I've cut down on many
subscriptions, there are a few I can't live without: Vanity Fair,
Elle Decor, Gourmet and Opera News.
.
Reading to my children was always high on my list and I'm not
exactly sure who enjoyed it most. The fond memories of my wee
cream puffs cuddled around me for an afternoon book, will always be
a joy. I have a weakness for children's books and continue to keep a
section in my personal library, which mysteriously keeps expanding.
.
I find I must visit my local branch at least once a week and know my
ten digit library card number by heart. By the way, did you know
that The Columbus Metropolitan Library has been rated the best
library system in the nation from Hennen's American Public Library
Rating? I am so incredibly spoiled. And, yes, I think it is safe to say
I'm a library person.
.
Oh, and one more thing. Did you know when WT first asked me out,
we happened to be in a library? It was a sign.

102 comments:

  1. Yes....memories of reading to our children....something gold that CAN stay..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes....memories of reading to our children....something gold that CAN stay..

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have many joyous memories of libraries, so many that I may have to blog about them myself. My favorite, though, is from junior high, going with my grandparents after supper to a local branch library where I would check out a stack of books and be so eager to begin that I would read a hurried few sentences each time the car passed under a street light on the way back home.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I go to local branch whenever I need retail therapy and don't have any money. I fill my canvas bag will newly released books, large folios,dvds and childrens books and feel like I scored!

    ReplyDelete
  5. As a child, the Hattiesburg Public Library was my home away from home.
    I practically lived there. I don't use it much these days except for research as I am an avid collector rather than a borrower but I'm thankful they are there for those who do put them to use!
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  6. Willow, this brings back memeories of my first library visit. The library actually came to us, via a book mobile!, as our wee town didn't have it's own library. The next year we moved and I finally got to visit a real library. Oh, the one at school was O.K. but here, there was so...much...more!

    Too, kudos to CML for being voted the best!

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh, yes. i am most definitely a library person as well. libraries have this ethereal atmosphere about them that infallibly attracts me, like a moth to a light.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm not much of a library person - though I am a fan of books. My squaw is though, and the boys love to go. In my hometown the library wasn't exactly the best, but I do remember going there, and remember the smell, which apparently every library shares.

    My most vivid memory was finding a book about Vampires, Werewolves and the Occult - I was 10. I remember reading how I could become a Werewolf - and still remember what to do. I got chills, very scared that even thinking it I would change into a creature of the night. I put the book back.

    I loved this post - even it was very personally revealing. Thanks for the trust.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This was such a well written & genuine post! You are my unmet sister apparently
    I could smell the chalk Dust in that beige linoleum hallway. . . . Aloha Willow. I'm hooked now.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've always loved libraries too. I've spent entire days in different public libraries.

    And I remember those pine tables in the 60s!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Here's our village library
    http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/gallery/building/lyneham_picF0022.jpg
    It's only one room and we can order books in

    ReplyDelete
  12. OK, what was really going on back behind the periodicals?

    ReplyDelete
  13. You really are a library person, who woodha thunk it!
    For me, walls of book are more in the nature of a security blanket. That was the one thing after our little blaze we missed the most. Not being able to automatically lay your hand on a certain text, poem or information. We had over5,000 to choose from. We have amassed quite a few again, but so many were unavaileable or unattainable. I still miss a great many of our store of childrens' books.
    Getting the info. on line can never replace the sensuous delight of an old book in hand.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the photo of your local library. Adorable.

    I love libraries now but not our dingy huge stone grey montrocities(sp?) of ones growing up. They always seems so depressing. no plants, no life and very great indeed---plus they stank and lots of dingy characters hung out there to say in from the cold. LOL.

    I was the same way with books--so hard to give them up! I kept one out for years and years, finally returning it before i left home, about 5 years later! i left the country so they could never track me down! Ha.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I used to hide out in the school library to avoid being picked on.
    Librarys still provide me with peace and security

    Lisa xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. i love the library too and some of my best times in college were spent in the various libraries at the various universities i attended. this makes me feel a bit of sad longing for those days. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's funny. Just yesterday I drove past the Fire Hall and remembered the library that used to sit there. The first one I ever entered. I was thinking what a shame it was that it had been torn down. It was a 30's style, one-room building with large double hung, single paned windows. Lots of light, solid oak flooring, it housed the librarian's (there was only one) solid oak desk. Little kids dusty footprints contrasted against the shine of the floor. Shrill, wee voices (one mine) echoed off of the walls. I got my Brownie Pin there. I met Smokey the Bear and Ranger Phil there. The small patch of lawn that was the park outside was left intact and the firemen use it for PT. I loved that building! Thanks for the time portal.

    In contrast, my best friend and I saw our first flasher outside the new, downtown library when I was a Sophmore. Oh yeah! Trench Coat and everything!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Loved libraries for a long time...I remember my first library, a missionary erected it in our district, so people really weren't as enthusiastic about going there. I met Edgar Allan Poe...Thomas Aquinas, and maybe other inspirations om the way.

    Ten Thousand Leagues Under the Sea... has had a lasting impression. Were it not for the Libraries, I bet I would be a tad too daft!
    Thank you for touching the right spot! You are welcome there anytime!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ahh! He asked you out in a library! That is darling! I am SO a library person! I even have access to the library where my parents live while being in France! I can download audiobooks directly from the library site!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sadly our libraries seem to be under threat in Britain, which is a great shame because I share your love affair with them.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I also have library love and miss the local library I used to belong to in London. French libraries have books in - well - French and when I read for pleasure I don't want to have to have a dictionary beside me.

    ReplyDelete
  22. My mother, English teacher that she was, used to drop me off to spend entire lovely summer afternoons reading in the cool quiet of the library. Interestingly, to ME, anyway, my 27 year romance with my husband began in a library. It's no wonder that I'd rather be in a library than almost anywhere else I can imagine!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love libraries too. Some of my best friends hang out there on shelves I caressed many times. Nice post. I have enjoyed it.

    Abraham Lincoln
    Brookville Daily Photo

    ReplyDelete
  24. My childhood dream was to be "accidentally" locked in the library so that I could stay up reading books all night :-) I used to carry VERY BIG BAGS for all the books I'd check out. My daughter is a big reader too.

    Such a great post, Willow!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I USED to be a library person. But the internet/surfing has taken over.

    Not for the better, I know. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. We had the most glorious Victorian library, sculpted of the most beautiful red stone. I loved the dark smooth woods of the interior and the huge tables...was always intimidated by the 'shhh' of the stern librarian though.

    But in the 60's, they tore down this beauty to put up the ghastly version from George Jetsons' hometown...we were all sickened by its' gross modern rendition, where's the old book smell and the geraniums on the sill.

    Ahhh, to climb those grand old steps again...

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've been thrown out of a few. Of course it was never my fault. I live with a reading teacher, and I was raised by a mother who was an avid reader. I know the people with whom I associate who read are the most interesting. I wish everyone enjoyed reading. Pappy

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello Willow,

    When we first arrived in Melrose, I joined the library in order to save money, knowing that LOTS of unread books were packed away in boxes! But now I've got access to my own books, I tend not to use it!

    It is a great facility though and we are spoiled by being able to enter any of the four libraries in the Border area with the one membership.

    ReplyDelete
  29. i like to spend most of my time in the libraries..it will give more peace ...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh...the rubber stamped due date. Yes. And card catalogs, too.

    Definitely a library person here.

    I know this isn't the same as browsing the aisles, but I was just sent a treasure of a link:
    http://www.digital-librarian.com/images.html
    Make sure you have some free time and a cup of tea handy...you'll be lost in cyberspace for hours....

    ReplyDelete
  31. Its only 6:54 in the morning here and you already have 30 comments! The library is one of my favorite places. You can find so many things, and go so many places within your own safe, little library. Books are a great treasure that we should hold on to forever.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Libraries are such sanctuaries, aren't they? Ohio libraries seem to rock, has been my recent experience.

    ReplyDelete
  33. High Desert Diva, looks like I'll be adding some links! Fantastic! :)And thanks much.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I have fond memories of the Bookmobile coming to our school. It seemed fun to get on a big long bus lined with books...so exciting!
    I wonder if they still have them.

    ReplyDelete
  35. great post. I love libraries and have paid $50/year to join one in Vermont as I like it so well. The NH libraries dont have much money. I like the idea too of providing books for free for folks. Plus they often provide so many other fun things too. I also worked in Cleveland Public Library after college and contemplated getting my MLS degree but went to San Francisco for the summer of love instead. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. THanks for a great post and sharing your stories. I find my self at home in the library.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love the smell of a public library. Does that sound weird? I haven't been to one in years as I have gotten spoiled and buy books via Amazon.com or at our local bookstore. But, even in the bookstore the books don't smell the same as in the library! LOL.

    We have a library upstairs in our house with just children's books in it that we had for our boys, and now have for our grandson.

    My favorite children's books? Fly High Fly Low; Make Way for the Ducklings; Pepitos Story... and any of the Shel Silverstein poems (those books are worn out)!

    What are yours willow?

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love the smell of a public library. Does that sound weird? I haven't been to one in years as I have gotten spoiled and buy books via Amazon.com or at our local bookstore. But, even in the bookstore the books don't smell the same as in the library! LOL.

    We have a library upstairs in our house with just children's books in it that we had for our boys, and now have for our grandson.

    My favorite children's books? Fly High Fly Low; Make Way for the Ducklings; Pepitos Story... and any of the Shel Silverstein poems (those books are worn out)!

    What are yours willow?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Denese, some of my favorite children's books are Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel, anything by Chris Van Allsburg, Lisbeth Zwerger or Louise Brierly. Oh, and all the Curious George books, to name a few!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I used to be a library junkie but haven't been in a long, long time. Reading this makes me want to make a visit although Louisville's public library system leaves much to be desired. I used to check out music alot. I used to go there when I needed a quiet place to study without distractions. The new library at the University of Kentucky is state of the art. I need to make a visit there sometime and write a post about it.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks for this post. I've been reading your blog for a while now. Ever since it was selected for a Blogs of Note. It's beautiful.

    My mom always took us to the library in the summer. I was a military kid so the library was on the base. I remember having a Nancy Drew summer. Every week, I went back for two more mysteries.

    I read all the time, but I tend to go to bookstores. You've encouraged me to return our library week. Thank you for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  42. What a lovely spot for a library!

    ReplyDelete
  43. The memories that came flooding back! My proudest young moment was when I received my first library card, And the Library Lady, reading to us on Saturday morning. Were there better times?

    ReplyDelete
  44. This is why I am so intimidated by your knowledge and talents and writing abilities and on and on and on......the only times, as children, that we went to the library was to play "ditch" and go to the top floor where they had a "Native Indian" model village and the women were topless. How I ever made it through school is a mystery.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love the library. I don't have to be looking for books either. I just like being there. While I'm in school, I have to keep myself away so that I will study for my classes instead of reading a good book!

    I used to see who had checked out a book too ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Nice post.
    I can't wait to read to my son,I mean more than actually cause he's very young.
    Your local library is very pretty.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. When I was a girl I took the few children's books that we DID own and I took a magic marker and drew a "date due" page in the front of each one.

    My husband read Moonfleet to our son. He (husband) was so afflicted by tears at the end, I had to read the last few pages. Sometimes you get nostalic for things when you are still stuck in the middle of them.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love the way libraries can get you just about anything you want that is not on the shelves. Plus, my library in Massapequa offered Bill Clinton's program enabling resident aliens to become citizens. It worked, after at least 18 years of trying to take the 'proper' route of filling out forms that were never answered.

    ReplyDelete
  49. I'm not sure if my earlier message got through

    When I was a little girl I took all the children's books that we DID own, took a magic marker and drew a "date due" in the front of all of them.

    My husband was reading J.Meade Faulkner's Moonfleet to my son. My husband was so afflicted by tears that I had to read the last few pages. Seems sometimes you can can nostalgic for things when you are still stuck in the middle of them.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I, too, adore libraries and can spend hours roaming the stacks. I remember visiting my local library at a young age. It was magnificent! It seemed so large and imposing to a small child, and smelled so old. I can't imagine how many hours my father spent waiting for me in the car, newspaper propped on the steering wheel. He never complained, and simply shook his head when I finally emerged, barely able to carry the armload of books I'd borrowed. My gratitude for his patience can't possibly be expressed.

    Thanks for bringing back special memories, Willow!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Ahhh, library love. I am DEFINITELY a library person and I'm my training my boys to be love it, too. We go often and we read every day.

    And, I do so miss the libraries in Columbus. The prof and I enjoyed many outings to the big library downtown when we lived there, in between we frequented the Upper Arlington branch, often walking there from our flat.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I love libraries too. Even if I'm in a strange town, just for a day, I will make my way to the library to have a "snoop" around. Fond memories of so many places. Thanks, W.

    Kat

    ReplyDelete
  53. I come from a large family and so the library was a place of peace and quiet for me. I always was happy to return the books because then I knew I would get a new one and start another reading adventure. I guess I was a book worm. Will always be a book worm.

    Beautiful post as always.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  54. as an incurable nosey parker I sure do miss the libary cards in the back of books - not only to see who checked a book out but to see the history of the book being checked out.... I found it always sad when I saw that the book hadn't been checked out in months (or even years).

    a most excellent omen that you and wt were in a library when you made your first future plan....I have always found that libraries are a place where the past, present, and the future converge!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I am waiting with bated breath for our local library's semi annual book sale. Hard covers for $1!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Deb, our local branch has those sales, too! Aren't they the best? Our big main library downtown actually has a whole shop of library discard books. I think hard backs are $2 and softcover $1.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Ohhh, I love the library, in all of its guises! Was planning to write about that, but will wait. Your vignette is, as always, perfect. And I do think that a love of reading is one of the best gifts we can give our children--how does that verse go? "Richer than I you can never be/I had a mother who read to me?" You, and your children, are rich indeed.

    Thank you for bringing back some great memories.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Good looking building...your library. Our branch is two blocks away sitting on a lagoon. It was just modernized and it's amazing how many people use the computers...always people waiting. I love seeing all the ages visiting, a community for sure!If they have a book in another branch, they drive it over to your branch as a service..nice.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I love libraries too and was brought up with them and took my children there when they were little - luckily in the Uk we still have plenty of them around but they don't seem to be the HUSH places of the past! I remember whispering alot as a child in the library! Lovely post and fantastic new header ! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  60. Betsy and I had the same thought...the bookmobile! Ours parked on such a steep hill that you practically had to climb to back of the bus.

    ReplyDelete
  61. When I started reading the comments, I thought I would be the only one who waited for the Bookmobile - but apparently not! I have a very strong memory of the way the books looked and smelled, and I remember how exciting it was for me to browse the shelves.

    Nowadays, I spend several months of the year in RV parks, mostly in Mexico. My "library" when I'm traveling is the Take One Leave One shelf at whatever park I'm in. At times, the pickings are slim - but sometimes, there are books I've never heard of that turn out to be stunners.

    I also have a wallet full of temporary library cards from those wonderful, understanding librarians in places like Hungerford in the UK and Lake Havasu, AZ. Bless them all.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I am a book person, though not as much of a library person as you. I should be - the Library of Congress is right down the street.

    At Lake Tahoe I worked at the community college library. Writing funny overdue notices was my favorite part of that job.

    Your local library IS totally adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  63. We are a library family...my husband is the president of our local library and my eldest daughter has her MLS and is the librarian of another cute little library in a neighboring town...

    ...as someone stated earlier...you have opened the door to many memories which I will have to write down soon...I just found my old library card from the library in the town I grew up in...still in the last book I took out I guess..."The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Vol I" I must owe an awful lot on that!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Willow -love the big portico up front, here. Nice place to duck in out of the rain. Of course, once you're there, may as well trot on in! And hte snap of my bok pile--that's my current reading supply! Well, 90% or so :)

    ReplyDelete
  65. I've always been an avid library goer I distinctly remember the wonderful smell of my childhood library. I now use the internet to search and order books and movies from all over Nova Scotia and make a habit to stop in every Thursday - new book delivery day.

    Cheers from the gang at Black Street

    ReplyDelete
  66. I snooped at cards too...

    I met a person who moved to town a year ago and still hasn't 'found time' t o visit our library which she passes nearly every day. She does have time to shop and stroll around, so it isnt a time constraint thing at all. I'd say she's not a library person. sad, but more elbow room for those who love the place... still I cannot imagine!!!

    I used to go crazy about mags too--now we get magazines in cycles it seems. I come from readers and have produced readers. I married a reader. and by readers I mean all very avid readers!

    ReplyDelete
  67. Oh yes, memories of libraries!
    Like you, I shlepped my wee ones to the library as soon as were born. Three months old and propped up in my lap, I read to them whatever caught my fancy. I remember them, one after the other, obtaining their own library card as soon as they were able to sign it (that was the condition set by the library, they had to be able to sign the card).
    My favorite years as an adult reader were the ones when I "owned" my own shelf at the Library of Congress, where I had practically any book ever published at my fingertips, all it took was filling out a book slip. Of course, I needed to bog down on certain subjects, but every now and then I "slipped" a non-research book in, feeling giddy from all that guilty pleasure of leafing through it.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Clare's comment is great! I have friends who overdo the PT, and now I can recommend this idea! It sure feels good to bring home a dvd and some fun new books!

    ReplyDelete
  69. i absolutely love the library! it was my favorite time in school and soooo miss the card catalogue. but through progress & technology we have blogs. it's a trade off!

    greetings from sunny florida!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Sandraleigh - I live very near Hungerford and know it well - It shocked us ll to the core when the shootings happened in 1987 - I was pregnant with my son at the time and very emotional anyway

    ReplyDelete
  71. I love taking my grandchildren to the Library. I have nearly always been a library person, just love the smell of old books!
    Oddly enough am not really a reader!

    ReplyDelete
  72. I'm a library person too. If I want to know something I gravitate there rather than the Interneck a lot of the time. When I decided to start my blog, I got about 8 books on 'How to Blog' from the library!!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Our local branch has been under renovation forever ... so now I think of Barnes & Noble as my library and dont worry about late returns ...

    ReplyDelete
  74. I love libraries too Willow. We even visit them while on vacation.

    My first library memory is being told by our teacher that when we visit the library we must be quiet. For some reason that made me think it must be a special place. And yes, today I love libraries because of quiet and because it's like treasure hunting to find the right book.

    ReplyDelete
  75. wait...there's a library rating system? I gotta check this out. And you are spoiled. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  76. I was thinking about my reading preferences through the decades this morning while I showered. I can still picture where those books were located in tiny neighborhood library.

    My sister and I were the only library people in our family. I was allowed to walk to the library by myself when I was 10. I loved it! That was a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  77. A sign, indeed!...

    Oh, I cherish that my mother was a library enthusiast. I can still remember getting my first card and looking forward to piling in the car with my brother and sister for our library excursions. We would love to go for story telling, too.

    We had our first group drawing exhibit last year in our public library and I felt so at home.


    Loved this post!

    ReplyDelete
  78. I like the front of house of libraries, and the reserve stacks. I liked quite a few of the ones I've seen in Ohio.

    Backstage, and the management of libraries, nearly always leaves something to be desired.

    ReplyDelete
  79. We have a huge truck, the Mobile Library, visit us Saturday mornings and all day Wednesday. The books come from a larger town library 30 kilometres away. I love the older section of that library; carpeted with deep club chairs and so quiet! It has a certain smell about it too that draws me in.

    ReplyDelete
  80. I am ever grateful to my Mother who who used to take sister and I to the library and taught us a love of books and reading.

    ReplyDelete
  81. I am pleased to have found your blog. I love children's books too.

    You bought back many memories of library trips for me.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Fascinating blog, must check out more of your writing :-)

    ReplyDelete
  83. I respect libraries. I'm afraid of them...but I respect them.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Your library is pretty cute. Great memories!

    ReplyDelete
  85. I live very close to a library and love visiting it. They ladies there hold lots of educational classes. Lots of gardening related topics as the area is fond of gardening.

    ReplyDelete
  86. That's a nice post, Willow. I remember being a kid and we had these sort of vinyl "mats" that were filled with a little cushion, and we went and used them to sit on the floor at the library where we had "story time" one afternoon a week. I loved that. My favorite memories are of me being read to as a child, and I, too, love children's stories. Opera News and Vanity Fair also make it to our house. Gourmet I pick up when I like what's cooking at the checkout lines. ;)) come to think of it, I met my ex in our school library--I worked there and was asked to go and tell him his snoring was disturbing others!! LOL--hmmmm...maybe that should have been a red flag? He was a good guy, and Eric's dad. He's gone, now, though, and I still think of libraries and him...

    ReplyDelete
  87. My mother and sister work at the library. It is a very important thing to go to. I live where the worst library flooding has ever happened in the United States.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Thanks for the lovely story and reminder to use our public libraries.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Hi there how are you? I was looking through your blog and found it interesting and wanted to leave you a comment.

    I have an invitation for you to come and visit my art blog here in San Diego Southern California. I started this blog in an attempt at finding a creative way to find new friends, and explore my artistic skills through bloging. I have since found many new friends from an international audience. I hope you will stop by and enjoy the various labels and music videos I design for my art blog.
    I hope to see you soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  90. It looks like you could have a drive through componant here...

    ReplyDelete
  91. Growing up we were not exposed very much to the public library, the closest being 15 miles away. However, I remember taking my kids to the library all the time and they would bring tons of books home wrapped in shrink-wrap. Both were outstanding scolastically and I'm sure their reading ability proved a necessity. Thanks for the great posts... you're something else!
    The Bach

    ReplyDelete
  92. Yes, that's definitely a sign!

    I read to both of my children to wean them off the bottle. If they became niggly and wanted a bottle, I would get them a drink with a sippy lid and a book and then I would gently read to them, lulling them into calmness with my voice. I adored helping them in this way. And to this day, they love books.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Willow, I love libraries. I worked in our public library when I was in high school. As a child I always found the libray a super comforting place. I loved going through all the biographies. I should have known I would grow up with such a love for books. You always have the best facts about everything. I still love my little bottle and always think of you!!

    ReplyDelete
  94. Magnificent post, Willow. I am a library person too, and I adored reading to my children. I found myself saying "Me too!" after every paragraph.
    Your blog is such a perfect combination of class, whimsy and passion. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  95. ha - what a very good sign.

    I stopped going to the library when my pile of charity shop books waiting to be read grew too tall.....

    I need to stop looking at books in charity shops, and get back to the library

    ReplyDelete
  96. WILLOW! You must tell us more about how you and WT met! Go on! Continue....it started at the libary? We're waiting... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  97. I too am infatuated with libraries (I was actually thinking recently of doing a library post!), and I still kind of want to be a librarian (when I grow up...). I love children's books as well- I recently reread some of my favorites, such as From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, and they are definitely still just as good! Lovely post... clearly there are a lot of bibliophiles out there in the blog world (96 comments worth!).

    ReplyDelete
  98. Willow, it's always good to pay attention to signs from above. You did the right thing with your husband.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Especially today (in these Internet-Times) a child's first visit to a Library must be an eye-popper for him/her!Soo Many books .Maybe your average 21st century Kid never realises so many books exist!!???? Our Paper Friends are almost an endangered species these days.+ the Library The Zoo that houses them!
    By the way,I notice you like Ted Hughes! You know, i live 2 miles from his birthplace in Mytholmroyd? AND! i live a mile (in the other direction) from Sylvia Plath's Grave.

    ReplyDelete
  100. oooo i LOVE the library and we go to different ones each summer....beautiful historic ones in our St. Paul, and a little tiny one in small town WI....

    i used to be a book buyer and hoarder....i started using the library (and feel in love) when i quit my job to stay home with our child...what a wonderful respite for a mommy with no money...our favorite library is nearby and has a coffee/tea shop attached with couches and a fireplace and giant windows to watch the snow....hmmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  101. i just knew you were a library person! my little home town in indiana has a delightful little library and i miss it so much. lots of dreams, hours of lazing in the sun and inspiration came from the books in that library!

    another delightful post, willow!

    ReplyDelete
  102. You know something? Nathan and I were just talking about this yesterday---the library, that is. I love the smell of it. When you walk in, you can smell the years and years of dust, mixed perfumes and colognes, and floor cleaner. I love that smell! Since we bought a historic house (circa 1914) two weeks ago, we're looking forward to walking to our new public library which is only two blocks away. :)

    Sarah

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)