Library Love

Although I was an avid reader as a child, and remember spending many summer hours at our local library, that all seemed to disappear before high school. Between homework, sports, work and friends, it was hard enough to finish reading the books that were assigned for my classes, much less reading books for pure pleasure. By the time I got to college, I was surrounded by books, but most were ones I would not have selected on my own. I spent many long hours in the libraries on campus, but that time was spent studying, researching, and writing papers. Libraries, to me, weren't exactly places full of fun.. they were more a symbol of work and expectations. And graduate school only emphasized that.
So, when my school days came to an end, and I found the time again to read for pleasure, going to the public library didn't really cross my mind. I would buy books, borrow them from friends, and receive them as gifts. But I never went to the library.
When I moved to Portland, pregnant, I often passed by our local library branch which is only a 15 minute walk away. The Portland public library system is amazing, offering storytimes for babies and children, and so it only made sense that, once I had Finn, I would take him to the library. We went to storytime regularly. We signed up for the summer reading programs. We borrowed books. We read. And today, we go to the library at least once a week, to browse books, and of course, to choose some to borrow and bring home. I rarely buy books anymore and always seem to have a stack of library books at my house, just waiting to be read.
The kids and I will head there on a rainy day: the walk brings fresh air and the reward is new books to occupy an afternoon spent indoors. I am so thankful that we have such a wonderful library so close to our home, and so thankful for the relationship that my children have with books. So today I am sharing my library love. Do you love a library?