Read original post of article here: https://millennialandassociates.com/2020/06/13/ode-to-the-library/
Can we please appreciate the fact that most communities have a place that houses thousands of books, usually free internet and stockpiles magazines and newspapers like the apocalypse is nigh? I feel like most young adults view the library as a place where people go to find old books from the 1920s or to try and solve a murder by checking out 10 books on how people used to clean chimneys, however, it’s actually one of the best free resources you can find.
With just a card and an interest, the entire world of the library’s knowledge is yours. And if you don’t like knowledge, they also have rows upon rows of DVDs, CDs and games. They are also very adept at keeping up with new releases to DVD and certain books that a lot of readers are waiting for.
In my area, if my library doesn’t have it, another library will loan it to them for me. There is a network of libraries out there that I can choose from to find what I want. Yes, the due dates and fines are not great, but at 10 cents a day over the due date, it doesn’t necessarily break the bank if you hold on to the book an extra week.
There are even free community events that take place here. Creative writing courses, artists in residence, fun kids’ programs, the list is endless. I love looking at the flyer that showcases the upcoming month’s events. They also have an adult reading program during the summer that offers prizes if you read – this program helps me prioritize my reading and gives me a reason to pick up that book I haven’t touched in 4 months.
Yes sometimes the library may look a little dark and scary and smell of old books but the people who work or volunteer there are usually friendly and willing to help you find the book you’re looking for or offer up a few suggestions to assist in your quest to find your next book. Librarians can even help navigate the Internet for older users who may not have grown up in the digital era.
Besides all the amazing physical resources, I also like how they help the community by providing a place for free internet. Students may not have internet at their house and they need a place to find online resources for a paper or research something for an upcoming project. Even now, while everyone is quarantined, my library is offering free wi-fi that extends into the parking lot. It’s not the greatest option to have, but if you are in need of internet and don’t have any, it’s a great free resource that anyone can use.
My love for the library spans decades, as does my passion for books, but the library has always held a special place in my heart. I walk the shelves looking at book titles and wonder what my next knowledge adventure is going to be. Or if I want to catch up on all the latest celebrity gossip – they have me covered with all the magazines from the newsstand. And if I just need a quiet space to clear my head and write out, say, a blog post, it’s always there, beckoning me to sit and write and enjoy the calm free space that is the public library.
