I loved reading when I was a child. My parents were poor and we didn't always have the money to do things, but I could go to the library and check out books to read. I could read fiction books and imagine myself in the story. I could learn about other countries and other time periods. I could check out books that taught me how to do different things. I could use the reference books to do reports or learn about things. Books were my friends when no one else would be.
I still love to read and I still love the library. And I love the written word (but not more than the Word). Today, the library is more than just books. The library has magazines and newspapers. It has microfiche machines where you can look at old newspapers and see what life was like in earlier times. The library has movies and computer software that can be checked out. Our library has a genealogy reference section. There is a section of computers with Internet access for card holders to use. Our library also has audio books you can check out.
Even in this day of Internet access and computer use, books are still the best way to find out information. A love of reading does not come naturally, however. It has to be modeled. My son loves to read, and it's because he sees me reading. We also make weekly library trips. My husband is not a big reader, and I believe it's because it was not modeled to him when he was growing up.
This year is the 175th anniversary of the Belleville Public Library, which is the library we visit every week (and is pictured above). This post is dedicated to the librarians there, who help us find the books we want to read, buy Boy Scout popcorn from my son and helped him with his Reading merit badge. Your local librarians are great resources for information. They're there to help. So go to your local library and see what's there. You never know what you might find.
See you next time!
Diane
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