My Library Story

Shaping My Youth

By Marissa O.  I was fortunate to grow up in Portland Oregon, with a very healthy public library system- The Multnomah County Library. There were branches in almost every community, including the two I grew up in. My parents took us there weekly, if not more often. For as far back as I can remember, … Read more

It’s In the Family

By Mark H. 

I grew up in a library, literally. Not long after I was born, my mother got her degree in library sciences along with a teaching credential for elementary school. From as early as I can remember, I was at my mom’s side as she filed the card catalog, re-shelved books, and managed the rudimentary computer lab in the library of the elementary school I attended. When my class visited the school library regularly throughout the week, I called the librarian “Mrs. Martin” instead of “mom” so that the other students wouldn’t find out about our relation. This was partly to deter favoritism, but it helped me feel like less of a square by all my classmates knowing my mom was our librarian.

Read moreIt’s In the Family

Special Space

By Ronald W. 

My very first trip to a public library was in my hometown of East Haven CT, the “Hagaman Memorial Library”. It was on a field trip in grade school, I was no older than 7. I still remember the experience, starting with the entrance to the building at the time; the steps leading up to the huge doors and once inside the marble floors, the huge staircase, oak furniture and the portraits on the walls. I knew I was inside a special space.
The class attended “story hour” that day in the Children’s section; we were told that “story hour” would occur every Wednesday after school for those who wished to sign up to attend. The whole class received library cards that day.

Read moreSpecial Space

Growing Up in a Library…

By Jill Q. 

My hometown was a small one, about 2000 people. Our town library was hence a small one, but it was always where kids went after school to do homework, get a book, or just hang around, maybe get some candy at the village store on the way.

I was no exception to this when I was younger. Our library was a short walk from our elementary and middle school, back when walking was no big deal. My parents both worked and since we got out earlier than my mom’s job was done, I walked to the library every day after school to wait for her to pick me up. It became a big part of my day…I would read, get as much HW done as possible, or have my after-school snack there. I even tried reading the newspapers there when I finished all my other work (granted, I was 8 or 9 at the time, so it would get boring. Other days, I would just explore. I found out I loved reading mysteries because I would just walk through the shelves and found books based on spines that looked interesting. I must have picked up dozens of books that way growing up.

Read moreGrowing Up in a Library…

Why Libraries Matter

By Frank Menchaca

Libraries, it seems, are under attack everywhere. Schools are eliminating librarians. College libraries receive less than three cents of every dollar spent on higher education. Marketing guru Seth Godin— and a chorus of others—has questioned the relevance of libraries in particularly stinging terms.

But there’s good news too. Ninety-five percent of Americans believe that public libraries play an important role in helping people live more successful lives. Students who visit their college libraries even once a semester are much more likely to return to school the following semester than those who do not. According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, “the vast majority of readers aged 16-29 have read a print book in the last year.” And 60 percent of Americans under the age of 30 have used a library within the last 12 months.

The message is clear. Libraries—whether academic, municipal, or special purpose—are essential to the health, wealth, and education of the communities they serve. There’s no doubt libraries are challenged by funding cuts and bad press or that they need to beef up their marketing efforts, but the rumors of their death have been greatly exaggerated.

Read moreWhy Libraries Matter

Finding Community and the World

By Linda H. Moving to Michigan in January made it pretty hard for a stay-at-home dad and a pre-schooler to meet new friends twenty years ago. My husband and son found that the children’s rooms in two different community libraries brightened that first lonely winter considerably. The librarians were so taken with my son’s enthusiasm … Read more

“Adventure is Out There!”

By Melissa U.  When I was little, going to the library was the greatest adventure. I could choose any book I wanted, and often chose so many that I couldn’t carry them all to the front desk. As the librarian stamped each little blue card, the books became “mine” for a while. The librarian knew … Read more