My library story began when I was a little girl in Wilmington, Delaware, with my mom and a pile of books. Every week, she would take me to the local library, where I would pick out my favorite titles from the children’s section. My stack of books was almost as tall as me yet each week we would come back for more. As I grew older, my love of reading continued to grow but sadly, I didn’t use the library as often. I still read all the time but found my books elsewhere.
But then in 2007, my husband, daughter and I moved to Ardmore and I soon discovered the Lower Merion Library system. This renewed my love affair with the library and I honestly can’t imagine how I ever survived without it. The library is so many things to me: a place to sit and read a magazine, a morning out with my two young children for story time and the place where I pick up new books for my family. It’s also about convenience; I reserve my books online and get a call when they’re ready for check-out. And most important, it’s a place where I can relax; any time that I walk into the library, I immediately feel a sense of calm.
My mom is no longer here but I know that she would be proud to know that I’m still reading – and her grandchildren are too.
Monday, November 30, 2009
R.S., Ardmore
How appropriate to have a statue of Christoper Columbus grace the grounds of Ludington Library. As a recently revitalized songwriter I find it's at the Lower Merion libraries that I, too, am exploring new vistas, discovering new horizons. Only, I do it at the Ludington library through books, DVD's and the computer.
Lately, I've discovered a new talent. I write songs on the library's computers. It was here I composed "We Are Moving," one of the winners of the prestigious Philadelphia Songwriters Project contest. I owe a boatload of gratitude to the reference-desk women for aiding me in my search for reference books designed to help songwriters.
My fondest library memory was a recent song I composed at Ludington for my wife as a surprise birthday gift, called "No Room For Words." The song expresses my intense love feelings for her after 30-plus exciting years of marriage. She was very touched by this song and its sentiment.
I am thankful the library affords me the creative space to write these songs. I find that creativity literally sparkles in the silent air of the library--I visit the library, and soon it's "Snap, Crackle, Pop!"--I've another writing idea. The library has helped me to restore my creative soul.
I've discovered a new interest in libraries and life. My current motto is:
"There's no shelf-life on creativity. No expiration date on dreams."
Lately, I've discovered a new talent. I write songs on the library's computers. It was here I composed "We Are Moving," one of the winners of the prestigious Philadelphia Songwriters Project contest. I owe a boatload of gratitude to the reference-desk women for aiding me in my search for reference books designed to help songwriters.
My fondest library memory was a recent song I composed at Ludington for my wife as a surprise birthday gift, called "No Room For Words." The song expresses my intense love feelings for her after 30-plus exciting years of marriage. She was very touched by this song and its sentiment.
I am thankful the library affords me the creative space to write these songs. I find that creativity literally sparkles in the silent air of the library--I visit the library, and soon it's "Snap, Crackle, Pop!"--I've another writing idea. The library has helped me to restore my creative soul.
I've discovered a new interest in libraries and life. My current motto is:
"There's no shelf-life on creativity. No expiration date on dreams."
S.L.J., Brooklyn
At three-and-a-half years old, my mother took me to Story Hour at the then-newly-refurbished Ardmore Library. I was one of the "enchanted faces" that participated in the pre-school storytime, although I was also "one listener at story hour [who] would rather read to herself," as the Main Line Times noticed, in their June 17, 1971 photo essay. Now at 42, I have a 6-year daughter and a two-and-a-half year old son who also delight in storytime at our local library. Their grandmother, my mother, also serves as a librarian in Merion and together we share a love of reading...and libraries.
A.A., Haverford
Many years ago before the war, when I was nine, my family moved to Wynnewood. My mother took me to Ludington – a small square, stone building, managed alone as best as I could tell, by a formidable well-built woman with her straight grey hair pulled back in a bun. She perched on a stool. She never smiled yet she didn’t really frown, she just looked implacable and aloof.
I would push my books up on the counter and she would remove the card from the backs, pick up another dog-eared card loaded with old dates, bang a metal rotating date stamp into a purple ink pad and stamp the cards for my books. She helped located books, she answered the phone and answered questions but she never looked hurried.
Through the years I have watched Ludington expand but it didn’t destroy that first building, it just wrapped around it and encased it like a Mayan pyramid. And Ludington worked harder – added books on tape and masses of DVDs. Tutors appeared helping wiggly students at small tables.
Now I can reserve my books by phone or on my computer and I can check if a DVD is available before I leave my home. The librarians are younger. Once I counted four at a time checking out books electronically. They smile too.
Books have moved about; fiction has seemed particularly restless. Nonfiction out ran it. Not fiction fits into that original stone building. If you look closely, you will see an original stone wall there where my first librarian presided.
I would push my books up on the counter and she would remove the card from the backs, pick up another dog-eared card loaded with old dates, bang a metal rotating date stamp into a purple ink pad and stamp the cards for my books. She helped located books, she answered the phone and answered questions but she never looked hurried.
Through the years I have watched Ludington expand but it didn’t destroy that first building, it just wrapped around it and encased it like a Mayan pyramid. And Ludington worked harder – added books on tape and masses of DVDs. Tutors appeared helping wiggly students at small tables.
Now I can reserve my books by phone or on my computer and I can check if a DVD is available before I leave my home. The librarians are younger. Once I counted four at a time checking out books electronically. They smile too.
Books have moved about; fiction has seemed particularly restless. Nonfiction out ran it. Not fiction fits into that original stone building. If you look closely, you will see an original stone wall there where my first librarian presided.
D.A., Bala Cynwyd
I moved to Bala Cynwyd from West Philadelphia three years ago. One of the first things our family did was visit the Bala Cynwyd Library. I remember thinking that this library was the largest that I had ever seen. I especially remember my encounter with the librarian on that first day.
Back then, I was at the stage where I could never find an interesting book to read. I would walk down the aisles of books with a lost expression on my face. The librarian saw me wandering in the library. She asked me, “Do you need help?”
“Yes,” I replied shyly, “I can’t seem to find a book that I want to read.”
“What kinds of book do you like to read?” she asked.
“I like historical fiction, like Little Women.” I replied rather proudly.
She laughed and said, “Oh, then I have the perfect books for you.” She led me towards the back of the library, a place I had not noticed before. She showed me two series of books called My Dear America and The Princess Diaries. I thanked the librarian and checked out one book from each series.
I read these books and really enjoyed them. Now reading has become a favorite hobby of mine. I have moved on to read many other kinds of books. But I have never forgotten my first day in the library when the librarian was so kind to me.
Back then, I was at the stage where I could never find an interesting book to read. I would walk down the aisles of books with a lost expression on my face. The librarian saw me wandering in the library. She asked me, “Do you need help?”
“Yes,” I replied shyly, “I can’t seem to find a book that I want to read.”
“What kinds of book do you like to read?” she asked.
“I like historical fiction, like Little Women.” I replied rather proudly.
She laughed and said, “Oh, then I have the perfect books for you.” She led me towards the back of the library, a place I had not noticed before. She showed me two series of books called My Dear America and The Princess Diaries. I thanked the librarian and checked out one book from each series.
I read these books and really enjoyed them. Now reading has become a favorite hobby of mine. I have moved on to read many other kinds of books. But I have never forgotten my first day in the library when the librarian was so kind to me.
N.A., Bala Cynwyd
Once upon a time, there lived a little girl, her big sister and their grandmother. Grandma was visiting from India. Every few days, the little girl, the big sister and Grandma walked to the Bala Cynwyd Library. When they reached the library, Grandma would find Spanish picture books (because she wanted to learn Spanish) and the little girl and her big sister would lie down on the windowsill bench and read. They loved the library was because it was cool and comfortable in the summer and full of all kinds of exciting books.
Grandma was very chatty. She made friends with the librarians. The librarians would help her find Spanish picture books. The librarians also recommended books to the girls. The little girl and the big sister kept a reading log. When they turned in their reading logs, they would each get a prize from the prize box. The box was filled with erasers, pencils, coloring books, crayons, markers, and more. The girls took awhile to choose their prizes. First the big sister shoved the little girl, and then the little girl pushed back. The librarian found that very funny.
Later the little girl, the big sister and Grandma happily walked home. As soon as the girls skipped through the door of their house, they ran up to their rooms at top speed, knocking each other into the wall. That's how much they wanted to read the books they had brought from the library.
Grandma was very chatty. She made friends with the librarians. The librarians would help her find Spanish picture books. The librarians also recommended books to the girls. The little girl and the big sister kept a reading log. When they turned in their reading logs, they would each get a prize from the prize box. The box was filled with erasers, pencils, coloring books, crayons, markers, and more. The girls took awhile to choose their prizes. First the big sister shoved the little girl, and then the little girl pushed back. The librarian found that very funny.
Later the little girl, the big sister and Grandma happily walked home. As soon as the girls skipped through the door of their house, they ran up to their rooms at top speed, knocking each other into the wall. That's how much they wanted to read the books they had brought from the library.
Friday, November 13, 2009
C.S., Bryn Mawr
I love the library because we can get DVDs and there are so many books in the library. There are fat ones, skinny ones, big ones too. There are more books in the library than a book store or a book fair. Best of all, we get them free at the library. The more you get books at the library, the more you read library books you get to learn about better and better things. One time I read a book called Pencil and another book called Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime and I learned more about books. I love books because they take us more places about the book I am reading. I love the library because you can get the books that are nice for me and nice for you. I like chapter books and I don’t have any chapter books. They are the best. I love them. I read them once and I read them twice. I like any books not so easy and not so hard but there are great books for me. Just good books are best. I love them best. I love books because they make me smart. I love books. That is why I read them everyday. I love books because they are so nice forever. I love everything in the library.
Monday, November 9, 2009
S.R., Gladwyne
School was to begin in one week when a moving van rolled up our street. My boys and I made cookies and went to visit the following day. A big family had moved in, we took a moment to say hello to our new neighbors.
One quiet girl did not join in, instead she read. Harry, my son, a big reader, was the new kid only 5 months before. He carefully watched the shy reader. We said our goodbyes; Harry took a few steps and turned back.
“Rose,” Harry addressed the girl, “You like books?” Still not speaking, Rose nodded. Taking her book, Harry inspected it.
“I read that. Good series. You worried about Gladwyne?” He asked. Rose finally looked up at the prying boy.
“I was worried.” Harry continued, handing the book back, “Swarms of people. Kids asking you stuff. Rules you don’t know. Figuring out where to sit at lunch is bad, recess is worse.”
Rose spoke, “Recess is bad.”
Harry understood one shy reader to another. He explained; “You don’t have to worry about Gladwyne. Mrs. Gross is the librarian. She’ll just see you and know you’re a reader. Walk in and she’ll hand you the book you always wanted to read and didn’t know about. Being quiet is ok, you don’t have to ask, she knows. Plus, she’ll let you shelve books, for fun, even during recess, if you want. Or you can just read there. The library’s the best.”
Rose simply beamed.
One quiet girl did not join in, instead she read. Harry, my son, a big reader, was the new kid only 5 months before. He carefully watched the shy reader. We said our goodbyes; Harry took a few steps and turned back.
“Rose,” Harry addressed the girl, “You like books?” Still not speaking, Rose nodded. Taking her book, Harry inspected it.
“I read that. Good series. You worried about Gladwyne?” He asked. Rose finally looked up at the prying boy.
“I was worried.” Harry continued, handing the book back, “Swarms of people. Kids asking you stuff. Rules you don’t know. Figuring out where to sit at lunch is bad, recess is worse.”
Rose spoke, “Recess is bad.”
Harry understood one shy reader to another. He explained; “You don’t have to worry about Gladwyne. Mrs. Gross is the librarian. She’ll just see you and know you’re a reader. Walk in and she’ll hand you the book you always wanted to read and didn’t know about. Being quiet is ok, you don’t have to ask, she knows. Plus, she’ll let you shelve books, for fun, even during recess, if you want. Or you can just read there. The library’s the best.”
Rose simply beamed.
Monday, November 2, 2009
C.F., Bryn Mawr
The Ludington Library is one of my favorite places to hang out on the Main Line in Bryn Mawr. It's friendly atmosphere, convenience and extraordinary staff attracts visitors from all walks of life.
First of all:
I see the same friendly faces almost every time I visit, and believe it or not, I can be seen there, sometimes two times in one day. Most of the time I am using the computer, borrowing or reserving books and or borrowing new DVD releases (all free of charge).
Secondly:
I am an employee of Bryn Mawr Hospital and this is where all of my lunch time is spent. "There must be something going on at Ludington," a co-worker once said. Yes there is something going on!
Thirdly:
The staff at this library is extraordinary. They are knowledgeable, courteous and always wiling to assist patron whether its answering questions, giving directions, locating books or identifying relevant reference materials. They go beyond the call of duty and I am utterly impressed by their professionalism. I want to conclude this note by saying "Thank you" to the staff at Ludington Library and to let you know that your services are sincerely appreciated.
First of all:
I see the same friendly faces almost every time I visit, and believe it or not, I can be seen there, sometimes two times in one day. Most of the time I am using the computer, borrowing or reserving books and or borrowing new DVD releases (all free of charge).
Secondly:
I am an employee of Bryn Mawr Hospital and this is where all of my lunch time is spent. "There must be something going on at Ludington," a co-worker once said. Yes there is something going on!
Thirdly:
The staff at this library is extraordinary. They are knowledgeable, courteous and always wiling to assist patron whether its answering questions, giving directions, locating books or identifying relevant reference materials. They go beyond the call of duty and I am utterly impressed by their professionalism. I want to conclude this note by saying "Thank you" to the staff at Ludington Library and to let you know that your services are sincerely appreciated.
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