Recently in the Children’s Room, a very young patron exclaimed to me, “The library… is…. GRRREAT!” He could hardly contain his excitement at the discovery of such a wonderful, magnificent place. His enthusiasm reminded me of when I was little and used to spend HOURS at the public library, quite content in a comfy corner with a pile of books. The library was truly the best place!
So, yes, dear one, the library IS great! It is a place where people of all ages can explore, interact, and imagine. Libraries help foster a lifelong love of reading. It’s a place where we can be inquisitive, where one inquiry spurs another. It’s a place where books can carry us away!
In the words of beloved author E.B White, “A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people—people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.”