This semester I am stepping out of my comfort zone and I am doing an internship with Dr. Chow on Library Advocacy. I am introverted and speaking/ reaching out to people is a daunting thought. But when I stop to think about libraries closing or shortening their hours due to lack of state or local government funding, that thought is more daunting than speaking out. For this first week, I am taking a pause to think about WHY libraries matter and what libraries mean to me.
From what I can remember of my childhood, I had acquaintances and very few friends. I was the quiet kid in the back. I remember first grade and taking a trip to the school library. I remember two of the first books I checked out by myself. I was so proud that I got to CHOOSE what books to read. Rainbow Fish and Stella Luna. Little did I know I would find solace in a corner, on the floor in the library reading books. I would frequent the library to hide the fact that I didn’t have a lot friends. I found a way to escape the instability at home. Books allowed me to imagine worlds outside my own.
I remember in 2nd grade my only friend at the time was at a much higher reading level than I was and my teacher told me I was really behind. That moment ignited a fire in me to go back to the library and check out more books. I remember speaking to the school librarian and asked for help with reading. She told me a secret. Some people read out loud to their pets because speaking out loud is scary. So I brought more books home and stayed outside with my dogs and began reading out loud. As I spoke the words came out with dissonance like a child learning to play an instrument. It was raw. It was shaky. My dog Simba laid by my feet and welcomed every word with love and support. He had no judgement. He enjoyed the company and pets. I started to advance in reading.
My dog Simba
My mom did not speak English well, but the librarians at the public library knew how to speak Spanish. When my mom needed help looking for jobs or books or Christian cassette tapes, we went to the library.
In High School, I did not have regular access to a computer or the internet like much of my friends did. I went to the school library and public library to work on assignments and readings.
Without access to either the school or public libraries I would have not succeeded academically.
Why Libraries Matter:
Libraries have resources available to everyone. They have something for every interest.
Libraries house knowledge, and they encourage curiosity and learning.
What Libraries Mean to me:
Libraries are like beacons of light that are made accessible to everyone. Libraries mean hope.
Kings County Public Library- the one we would frequent (Kings County Public Library, n.d.)
References:
Kings County Public Library. (n.d.) Hanford Branch [Photograph].
https://www.kingscountylibrary.org/branches/hanford-branch
@catladylilia
Hi @catladylilia. I loved this- I was a child who had a special relationship with my libraries, too. And I’m super inspired by you pushing your boundaries to do this internship! I need to do more of this.
Hi Terri,
Thank you for reading and your kind words!
-Lilia
Hi @catladylilia – I, too, have been feeling very nostalgic and grateful for the library I grew up with in my hometown. I love that you are moving into a more public-facing and engaging space with your advocacy work – you seem very grounded in your purpose from your personal experience. Central Valley communities like Hanford often get left out of statewide conversations about access to services and representation. I love your closer: “Libraries mean hope” – don’t we need all the hope we can get these days?
Beautiful post – thank you for sharing with us all.
Hi Emily,
Thank you!
Absolutely, we can use all the hope we can get.
-Lilia
I’m so very proud of you for stepping outside of your comfort zone, and taking on this internship! I also was introverted as a child, and we didn’t have much money or stability at home, either; books were my best friends and my escape. I remember the first word I had to look up from a book was “irked”. I loved it! I don’t remember my first library book, but I loved going to the library, especially in high school where I could disappear into the books I loved. Libraries are essential and a resource we can’t afford to lose.
Hello @catladylilia ,
It’s so funny because most of us in this field are introverts, yet most of our positions require us to face and interact with the public regularly. But like you, I do it because of how important libraries and librarians have been to me throughout my life. I was actually watching the Matilda movie the other day and I started to literally bawl. I saw how hard her life was at home and how she felt so alone, and when she discovered the magic of the library it completely changed her life and made her feel less alone. That is exactly how I felt when I first discovered the library. Libraries not only give us the chance to succeed academically, but also mentally by helping us escape and feel like a part of something bigger than ourselves.