At the Library

Every week for a while now, I have taken the kids to the library. We leave with a huge bag full of books every week. It's so exciting for me, to see my babies want to get so many books that we have to make a list for the next week of the books they want. I love showing Madeline all the books I read as a child that she can read or work up to reading. There is something magical about a library. To those who aren't readers, they think of the library as a torture chamber perhaps, but to me, the library is where dreams and imaginations are. The library holds all books on all topics. It's all there. If I want to read about pirates sailing the tragic seas, I can. If I want to read about a jilted love affair from the World War II era, I can. If I want (want being the key word) to read all about the art of farming, it's there too! That's not the only reason I love the library. I love the quietness of the library. I bring three normally loud children to the library every week, but they know once they walk in the doors that they must whisper, and even Mollie Jo remembers. She always tells the sweet librarians in a sweet whispered voice, that "we mus whisprr in the libary". The librarians are always so kind to my children. We never leave without a bathroom visit of course, a trip or three to the water fountain, and stickers on every surface of their little arms. My children love being able to look and take their time picking out their three books each week. They have to sit and look at a hundred books a piece before choosing, and Mollie Jo has to have me read at least ten books before she can choose three. I never go when I can't dedicate an hour, usually more to the library. It is NEVER a quick trip and I wouldn't want it to be. In order for children to love reading and become good at it, parents must make it a priority and show their children how important reading is. It's true with anything we want to show our children, but reading is my niche and I want my children to love it like I do. There's something timeless and classic about the library. Don't get me wrong, I love my technology and I would LOVE an iPad to put all my books and music on, but you can not beat a good book. There's something special about the smell of a library. The smell of old volumes stacked on metal shelves. That acrid paper smell mixed with age and dust. It's delicious to me. I love the sound of turning pages and quiet whispers in the library. Now I hear computers typing and copy machines whirling. When I go with my children, we retreat to a back corner and ooh and ahh over our book choices. I usually just get to peruse the newest books by the check-out counter. But, that's alright. My time is better spent nurturing the love of reading in my children. I can always re-read my books for the thousandth time. Yes, they are that good! I get just as excited about going to the library as the kids. There's just something about being, At the Library! Happy Thursday folks! Come often! Sorry I haven't written much this week. It's just one of those weeks.