Now that I have more "free" time - or at least time that I'm not tied to a desk owned by someone else, I'm reacquainting myself with the library.When I was working and wanted to read a book, I'd cart myself over to the nearest bookstore and pick it up or order it online. I always thought of books as an investment, or priceless treasures. And still do.
Now that there is no room for disposable income in my budget - mainly since there is NO income from my side of the marriage - I'm rediscovering the joys of going to the library. And, I get to share those moments of discovery with my children.
I think I've mentioned before that I was a bit of an awkward child. I didn't have a whole lot of friends and did have a whole lot of time on my hands in the summers. We lived about two blocks from the library, and I spent most of my summer days, along with my older brother, combing the stacks for adventure. All the librarians knew us by name.
By the time I was in fifth grade, I had read all of "Nancy Drew," a good portion of the "Hardy Boys" and numerous other classics like "Charlotte's Web" and "Tom Sawyer." Books were my best friends and my great escape.
In my room, there was this great bay window with a rose bush outside that was perfect for spending the day curled up and reading. I still remember looking out the window at the end of Charlotte's Web with tears rolling down my cheeks. Yeah, I was an ole softy then, too.
We didn't go on very many vacations as a child, but that didn't matter much as long as I was able to get my hands on a book to read. Books took me all over the world on adventures through time, space, faerie, etc.
Now, I get to watch Gabe's eyes light up as he tells me what's happening in the "Warriors" series or as he tells me how exciting the "Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators Series" is. That one I remember reading as a kid, only I was probably a little older than Gabe at the time.
Morgan is excited by Dave Pilkey's "Kat Kong" and "Dogzilla." It doesn't matter how many times I read them, they still tickle his funny bone. When it's time to get new books, he goes straight for them.
So, when we head for the library, I send the boys off to the children's section and I go roaming the stacks for my own treasures. We all convene in the children's area and compare adventures. And we usually leave with an armload of books, many more than if we had to buy them.
I personally think everyone should find at least an hour out of their day to check out the local libraries and see what they have to offer. They just might be surprised at how rewarding that experience can be.
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