“Libraries are some of my favorite places. They’re filled with books and information and give you the good feeling that no matter how much you’ve read there’s an endless amount of reading material still ahead of you, so you never have to worry about running out. It’s a nice certainty in an uncertain world.”
Cliff Hanger, Philip R. Craig
Libraries are one of our nation’s richest treasures, places where anyone can go and learn almost anything. You may use a computer there if you don’t own one. You may borrow an e-reader or check out a virtual book. You may read magazines, find movies, check out music. No matter the method, you can discover the world. Library levies are the only tax increases I vote for these days. I can’t imagine my life without libraries and books and if I had to buy all the books I read, my husband and I would both have to work two jobs each. The discussion of books vs. Kindles or other e-readers isn’t a discussion that interests me. I love real books and I love being able to take thousands of books with me in my purse. I love to read and I love whatever facilitates reading.
That so many children get passed through grade after grade without ever learning to read is one of our greatest shames.
This, that and the other thing 
I totally agree. Our local library recently reduced its opening hours – I wondered whether it was due to lack of support. I wandered around for half an hour, lugging a rucksack containing eight books on my back, and when I turned up 45 minutes later there must have been 15-20 people waiting to enter, many of them mothers with children. So reassuring. 🙂
Reading to our girls was one of our great joys. We were still reading aloud together when they were in high school.
janet
The library was one of my favorite places as I was a child. I always looked around and enjoyed all those wisdom and knowledge around me for some minutes , before I went to the childrens department. btw: why we always start to whisper when we are in a library?
So we don’t bother people who are reading or working. At least that’s my guess.
Over the summer, during the heatwaves to find respite I visited the library. As a cooling center I froze. Our library was renovated and it is a great place to hang out. I pack my laptop, water and a lite snack and enjoy my afternoons. I started a poem but it needs some work.
Libraries are good for everything. 🙂 I knew all the librarians at our former library but now that we’re in a new place, I have to forge relationships again. Oh, well, they’ll see me enough to get to know me at least by sight. Good luck with your poem!
I love, love, love our library system! I think it is wonderful that they have adapted to technology and can offer great stories and services in multiple formats. We check out books, music and movies 24 hours a day. 🙂
We love our library and usually have over 200 items checked out at once. Everyone at our local library knows us. 🙂
I’ve always been the same way. When our girls were old enough to get a card, I got them each one, as the limit was 50/card. Our librarians never enforced that with me, though. 🙂
janet