Public Archives | Page 136 of 149 | Gale Blog: Library & Educator News

Shh, No Talking in the Library!

September 19, 2016September 25, 2014

By Madeline H. Probably the only place my sister and I could be counted on to be quiet was in the public library. The librarians could hush us with a lift of an eyebrow. It was the 1960s and my sister and I walked the five blocks to the library frequently. I remember the lined … Read more

Helping Me Find My Passion

September 19, 2016September 25, 2014

By Mike S. As an adolescent, I sometimes found myself in the midst of mischief. My grades in school were suffering, I was acting out against my parents, I even visited the local police station once or twice. There was distinct a turning point in my life and that turning point began with me finding … Read more

Libraries Connect Families

September 19, 2016September 25, 2014

By Debra S. Some of my earliest memories with my grandma involve going to the library. She would go every week and pick out a stack of new books, often taking my brother and I with her. I don’t remember much about what was offered at the library or what we looked at or took … Read more

Growing Up in the Library

September 19, 2016September 25, 2014

By Julie H. We used to live right down the street from a library and would practice bike riding to the library on the sidewalk and visit there as our evening activity. This was long before soccer practices and hours of homework and other of our current life pressures. We used to LIVE for the … Read more

Impeccable Timing

September 19, 2016September 24, 2014

By Lynn M.

I just finished watching the library video story when my 7-year-old nephew knocked on my office window. Unbeknownst to me, he had been camped out under my window with his father’s watch to tell him when my work day had officially ended. The reason he was so excited? His favorite author we had been sharing together had released a new series he found at our local library. We began the original series together, first my reading to him, then progressing to sharing the reading together, and finally him reading the last three books to me. He was so excited he already read the entire book during recess, lunch, and the ride home from school. Neither his father nor his mother read for pleasure. While they are quick to pay for a new video game or toy, they do not buy him books. His love of reading is supported mainly by our local public library and his school library. Checking out my limit of books is how I devoured books when I first learned to read, and it’s so wonderful he has that resource available to him in this day and age of digital media. Without the resources a library provides, he would be limited to the books I buy for him as the only adult in his life that shares the love of reading. When he can devour a book in less than a day, it’s not a habit anyone less than a full library could sustain! It is so wonderful to see him just as excited by library day at school as he is by pizza day!

Libraries Provide Educational (and Creative) Resources for All

January 13, 2017September 24, 2014

By Farah F.

I was listening to an interview on NPR with Regina Spektor one summer, where she stated that libraries are sort of a level playing field for everyone. Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, to enjoy books and film, music, and research. Libraries help keep our communities educated, and allow these resources to ALL.

When I was a kid, we didn’t have a decent internet connection. Our house was on 5 acres of land. But we were required to use the internet for our projects in school. Needless to say, the library helped me with this. Even in college, I would look up my grades, pay my tuition, and more, at the library if I was back home for break.

A Space For Dad

September 19, 2016September 24, 2014

By Jill L.

Libraries influenced my life from a very young age. My parents, both teachers, were dedicated patrons of our local public library in Livonia, MI. I systematically worked my way through the fiction and non-fiction collection; the beginning of a life-long love of reading.

Libraries Create Communities

September 19, 2016September 24, 2014

By Shawn O. Libraries have been an important part of my life since I’ve been able to walk and talk. I remember story time as a child, checking records out of my home-town library collection, spending hundreds of hours completing research and writing papers in the library, and today checking out eBooks. My best friend … Read more

The Unforgettable Walk

September 19, 2016September 24, 2014

By Susan P. My 4th grade teacher walked our entire class to the local public library periodically. If we had a school library, I don’t remember it. This was a long time ago; I was in 4th grade during the Cuban missile crisis. Mrs. Petersen saw to it that we went to the REAL library. … Read more

Posting About More than Books on Social Media

February 26, 2018September 23, 2014

By Vanessa Craig

It’s pretty common for public library Facebook feeds to be heavy on book content. This is great, but when 30% of library users say they know little or nothing about the services their library provides, it’s important to promote digital resources on social media channels too.

Rosanna Johnson, marketing assistant at the Chandler Public Library, has done a stellar job sharing what her library has to offer. Not only has she posted web ads on the library’s Facebook page, but she has also linked eResources to other city events and clubs.