THE THIRD DEGREE
LIBRARIES
I love the library. I don’t remember it, but my mom used to take us there all the time when we were little. She says that we would go every week and bring home a big stack of books. There were lots of picture books and great read-out-loud stories.
When I started school, the school library became one of my favorite places to go. I liked that I was allowed to go up and down the aisles by myself. Once I made my selections, I got to take my treasure up to the checkout desk as if I were at a store making a purchase. I felt so grown up. The school librarian and her helpers got to know me, and they would even recommend books from time-to-time.
My third grade teacher had a wonderful library in her classroom. Her choices were always better than the school’s main library. I loved to bring home books from her shelves, and I also donated my own gently-used books so she would have more girlie selections for next year’s class.
I am just getting acquainted with my middle school library. Chances are that they will have some of the books I want to read, but not others. I am sure they have rules about which books they can have and which ones they can’t. For those, I will have to look somewhere else.
Last year was HUGE for my relationship with libraries. Our public library was in the quaint old downtown area. We live about 20 minutes away in the new part of town. Well, they opened a new branch last year that is only about 5 minutes from my house. Can I have a round of applause!?!? We were there for opening day and the librarians there have gotten to know me now too. Since they are so much closer, we can go more often. They are wonderful and have ordered every single book I have requested. SWEETNESS!
Someone was asking about opinions of school libraries on Twitter this week. There must have been some interesting responses, because she said something about a good deal of “librarian aversion.” What’s that? Does that mean people avoid the librarians? I wonder why.
What about you? Do you love the library? Do you think the librarians are creepy or weird?
Melina, where I live, college students get a major tuition discount for working at the school, college or university (like 75 to 85%), so there are MANY students wanting to work there and one of the positions is librarian. Not really librarian, they just sit there and check things out, they don't know where each kind of books is, they don't read, they don't know the titles, they just sit there on facebook or whatever and check out your books when you get there (or try to help you with the worst mood possible), so I do hate librarians here, since they're not the real deal.
ReplyDeleteI love the library, but my college has a "school books only" library so I don't go there much. My city's library is awesome, but has awful hours - it only works while I work, so I can't get books there -.-
Anyways, no libraries for me nowadays, and I miss it.
So glad to hear you love libraries. Of course, it isn't a surprise. I did not grow up loving libraries, they just existed for me. But, I became and teacher and then a real reader. Now I am a high school teacher librarian so spend my days in a library! And, I love an interesting library: quaint and small town; huge and modern; etc. One of my favorites is the one at Mount Holleyoke College, which has stained glass windows and dark wood.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Now I love libraires. They are a great area for studing and reading. The only reason I don't go is because we only have one library and it is all the way on the other side of town. Plus its hard to go in with a toddler. So I just don't go.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm working to get my degree to become a librarian and we were just talking about this issue in class - why do some people not feel comfortable approaching librarians. We get into this vocation because we want to help people so it's important to us to know the reasons why people do not ask for help when they want it.
ReplyDeleteI just read a book on the history of the library. It's amazing how many stereotypes there are about libraries and librarians. Many of people's ideas of librarians are way out of date or they don't understand what exactly we do. We aren't just keepers of books! But it seems like you've got the right idea! Visiting often ensure the library is busy enough to continue offering service to its community.
May - I'm shocked to hear such a discount is offered to student workers. No such thing at my school! It's been a long tradition that those checking you out (circulation) are not usually trained librarians.
Hi, Melina. I love librarys and bookstores! I like them both. I love to go around and look all kind of books while I make mental notes about the ones I really want to read. I don't like to get books from the library, I often prefer to buy my owns. Why? Becouse here, in my city, the libraries are not so good. They don't have other books than the classics, and these ones looks like they have been into a monster mouth... They're all horible... And it makes me so sad... I don't like to see books been treated that way... So, I don't like to borrow then. And I really love my books. That's why, I think, I prefer the bookstores, the books there are so great - and new *-* Of course, I cannot borrow them, but I can look ^^ And I love looking books and take them into my hands!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! In school I loved the library and practically visited every day :) As an adult I don't use my library much, but I do love it and can't wait for my toddlers to start experience it.
ReplyDeleteI am on my way to the local library right now with my good reads wish list.
ReplyDeleteLoving all your comments.
This is a GREAT post! I looove libraries... I'm in school studying to be a librarian! :) Posts like this make me smile.
ReplyDeleteI love libraries and librarians. While you had a great experience with your grade 3 teacher, I remember a terrible one with my grade 1 teacher. I was a reader like you. I loved books and was devouring chapter books by 6 years old. My teacher would let me take ONLY picture books from our school library. Our librarian saw what was happening and would ask for my "help" during recess when she would allow me to browse the shelves at my leisure and take as many books as I wanted! School librarians hold a very special place in my heart. I now teach grade 3. Unfortunately our school division doesn't seem to value that librarian position and has stopped funding them. Our "librarian" has very little time to be in the library, and what little she has is used for shelving books. I take my students to the library and try to recreate that feeling that I got from my librarian for them. I wish there was a way to show those making the funding decisions the impact that a librarian can have on kids' lives. Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, Melina, and I'm really interested to read all the reasons people DON'T use their libraries in the comments. It's up to us librarians to improve our libraries and make them into places that people (and kids!!!) want to be!
ReplyDeleteOh Melina!
ReplyDeleteI love the library to the point where I am a librarian.
I just want you to know that the readers who come to the librarians and ask us for help and recommendations and get to know us so we know them? Totally our favorites. Often when I put down a book after finishing it, I think X, Y, and Z would love this! I must remember to tell them about it when they come in next!
Thank you for sharing your stories.
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