Jill K WillisIt’s no secret that I love books. They surround me in my study. They call to me to take them home from local bookstores. They beg to be autographed when I meet my favorite authors.
My true happy place is a library. My earliest memories include visits for book readings, puppet shows and children’s crafts. I came to appreciate the unique scent of musty pages and the peaceful atmosphere. Best of all, I could order any book I wanted and it would eventually make it into my eager hands.
One day, I asked my elementary school librarian how books could be free. She patiently explained about taxpayer money and volunteer support. I lit up! I could be a volunteer. She grinned and recruited me on the spot.
I ended up shelving books before school started each day for three years. Since my bus always arrived super early, it was a perfect fit. I mastered the Dewey Decimal organizing system, figured out how to display books so others would be drawn to pick them up, and discovered that book covers shouldn’t be the first criteria for deciding whether to read what’s inside.
When I graduated to eighth grade (Georgia didn’t have middle schools back then), our no-nonsense high school librarian informed me that parent volunteers took care of the stacks. I was so bummed.
It wasn’t until later in life, when my kids were in grade school, that I sought out another library volunteer job. It was at our church. Again, I shelved books. Within a few years, the librarian retired and I accepted her position. With the help of the church’s technology staff, I replaced our manual card check-out system with a computer bar-code process. It was fun. When we moved to the lake, I joined the Friends of Hall County Libraries group and now help with fundraising and website maintenance.
I’m amazed at how much libraries have changed over the years. Thanks to my local library, I can download bestselling books onto my iPad, access book reviews online, and meet popular authors face-to-face. If you don’t take advantage of all your library has to offer, I encourage you to start now. After all, library cards are free.
What do you like most about libraries?
Carol Eaton
Julane Fisher
Kristen Gwen
What a neat backstory, Jill!
Even as a little girl, I loved the idea of foreign languages, especially French, and I would check out all the “Learn French” records my town library had. When I moved to the Panhandle of Nebraska and became a stay-home mom, my girls and I would walk to the library every week. It had an AMAZING selection of books, CDs and DVDs, even though the town was quite small. Imagine my shock when I moved to the capital of Montana a few years later, visited the library, and discovered their selection wasn’t half as good as that little town in NE. 🙁 I do love the ambiance of Helena’s library, however. Beautiful wood beams, a half-second story that makes a great place to study (or in my case, write), and people watch down below. 😉
Unfortunately, libraries are a dying breed in many towns–one that, IMO, most people won’t fully appreciate until they’re gone.
I love that insurance commercial where a sign over the library reads, “Open 24 Hours!”
There’s something about a library that satisfies my affinity for organization…especially when my home is disappointingly lacking!
LOL!!!
Just like you, the library was one of my fave places as a kid. I spent hours there and loved it. I guess that’s why we are writers. LOL
Yay! I wasn’t the only nerdy kid!