I visit the library every day. Of course, I work there, so it's expected. But even before I began working at my hometown library, I visited it on a weekly basis. (Hence...this week at the library.) It probably goes without saying, but I love libraries. "Love" is not hyperbole, because to me they're community centers as well as places wherein the culture of our societies is preserved --rather like medieval monasteries, but without waking up at three a.m. to pray. I like seeing people come together in the library, whether it's old friends chatting as they read newspapers together downstairs, or listening to a little girl read aloud to her sister. I still use the library heavily for my reading, and lately I've begun research in its microfilm room. Visitors frequently marvel at the library's size, relative to the town it serves, and the friendliness of the staff. Recently a retired couple touring the country in their RV paid us a visit, and shared several photos of the library's insides here. Because of its location at the heart of downtown, the library is imminently accessible to virtually everyone: children and teenagers often arrive on foot or by bike.
This is part of an aerial photo of downtown Selma taken sometime before 1969. The library occupies the site which is circled above; the white building is the Wilby Theater, which burned. Alas, the grand building behind the site, the Hotel Albert, was lost to 'progress' in 1969. That site is now occupied by City Hall and a convention center.
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You're so right! A library is really a community center. So many things go on there. I don't often run into someone I know in my library (our city is pretty big), but when it does happen it's quite fun. The other awesome thing is definitely the people who work there. Even if we don't know each other, we look at one another and both feel the connection of loving books and reading. What better thing to connect with someone over? :)
ReplyDeleteNot surprisingly I have a deep and abiding love for libraries. They are, in effect, my churches - without all of the baggage! I don't visit them often these days though. My local is very small and I have way more books on the subjects that interest me then it does! I guess that as I pretty much have my own library I don't need to visit others - I do miss the atmosphere though (and the cute librarians..... girls who love books, what better recommendation!)
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