By: Dana Procter, Librarian
Let me be completely honest with you. I have always loved to read. I remember the experience of going to the library as a young child. I was able to check out as many books as I could safely carry. The excitement of taking them home to read was like a trip to Disney World. Books introduced me to people I would not get to meet and took me places I would never get to see. Books piqued my curiosity and just made me want to read and learn more.
When I had children of my own, I had the opportunity to share my love of reading with them. We visited to the library, checked out books, and read them at home. As a classroom teacher I loved sharing my classroom library with my students. Watching the students select books and read them was pure joy to me. I have had the most wonderful opportunity for several years of being our school’s librarian. I am surrounded by books and can share all of them with students. It is a delight to help a student find “just the right book” or a book about a particular topic.
Even though I have a passion for reading and books, I think some students have forgotten about the library. Our library is the hub of our school and has so much to offer students. There are choices of books such as early readers for beginning readers, picture books, young adult novels, graphic novels, biographies, and nonfiction books, to name a few. When you walk into the library, there are so many resources at your fingertips.
I want to help you find the book that will take you to a new place or a book that can teach you a new skill. So come with me to the library instead of googling your subject or reading a book on your Kindle. Let’s start as you enter the library, orient yourself. Look around at what is in the library. Most libraries are arranged in a similar pattern. But all can hold a special place for you, if you let it. Browse the various books available, take time to sit and read in a comfortable spot, or study and research at a table. Take time to stop in and quietly discuss a topic, subject or school project with a friend or group. The library is a welcoming place for all our students to come to.
If you haven’t been to the library in a while, you will notice that our library has changed. Libraries all over the world are changing and are embracing the changes as well. Many new things are going to be happening in our library. Even if you don’t love to read as much as I do, come visit our library or a library near you. You may be surprised at what the library has to offer and you may want to take a book or two home with you.