Growing up, I loved to read. I read all the time. My favorite books to read were The Baby-Sitters Club series, Sweet Valley Twins series, R.L. Stine books, and Christopher Pike books. I know, not the most high quality literature out there, but it didn't matter. I was reading multiple books a week.
I had my library bar code memorized so when I put books on hold, I could type it out super duper fast. I remember feeling very special about that!
Since I was very particular about the books I read and only liked certain authors, I never liked it when the librarian suggested other books for me. I would get really mad about it. I'd go home and tell my mom, "The librarian was trying to get me to try different books again!" (Insert big dramatic preteen eye roll.)
When I was in middle school, the librarian posted a job for a library assistant. It would be a job for a student. Me and my friend Sherrie wanted the job really bad! We both applied and she ended up getting. I think it was because she was almost two years older than me.
One of the most exciting things ever was when my mom would take me to the Elizabethville Library! It was in the same county but about 20 minutes away. It was exciting to see what new books they had. A day I got to go to the Elizabethville Library was a magical day!
Funny Story: While I used the library a lot, as I got older (middle school) I started buying a lot of books and collecting them. I still have hundreds of Baby-Sitter's Club books in my basement. I was very picky about my books and didn't want them wrinkled or ripped. I wanted them looking completely new, which obviously meant I had to be careful when reading them. One night while I was reading Ann M. Martin's biography, I fell asleep on it. When I woke up, the book cover was completely bent backwards!
I BAWLED!!!!
Why did I bawl!?
The book was probably about $4. Why was I so anal about my books!?
Funny Story: While I used the library a lot, as I got older (middle school) I started buying a lot of books and collecting them. I still have hundreds of Baby-Sitter's Club books in my basement. I was very picky about my books and didn't want them wrinkled or ripped. I wanted them looking completely new, which obviously meant I had to be careful when reading them. One night while I was reading Ann M. Martin's biography, I fell asleep on it. When I woke up, the book cover was completely bent backwards!
I BAWLED!!!!
Why did I bawl!?
The book was probably about $4. Why was I so anal about my books!?
Did you like going to the library?
Do you go to the library a lot as and adult? I do in the summertime!
Do you go to the library a lot as and adult? I do in the summertime!
As a kid, my dad used to take my sisters and I to the library every Tuesday night. We would spend an hour or two there and all of us would bring home books. I actually think it was my mom's idea to (1) get us into reading and (2) have a quiet night to herself! I still go to the library a lot! In fact, I need to go and pick up a book today that is on hold. Sometimes I go as a quiet place to hang out and read magazines. Our library has this great area with a fireplace and comfy chairs. It's really relaxing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great break for your mom and bonding experience with your dad. It was always my mom who took us to the library when we were little, but I am sure that is because my dad was at work. Of course libraries in CO have fireplaces and comfy chairs... that has to be a requirement, right!? :)
DeleteYes, it is a requirement. Actually the library from my childhood was a cold, dingy 2 floor bldg downtown. Not super inviting but we didn't know any better. A few years back they moved and created a beautiful library next to the rec center. I am super glad my city decided to use tax money for such a wonderful space. It gets used A LOT.
DeleteYES! I almost feel like I could've written this post (except I could never ride my bike to the library). We went to the library all the time. Honestly I mostly went to the school library in the school year though and public library in the summer. I mostly read Babysitters Club books but also a few other series. I liked the Judy Blume books as well and American Girl. My favorite thing before we went on road trips was to go to the library and pick a few books out for the road, back because ipads and laptops :).
ReplyDeleteOh yeah I read in the car all the time. My brothers were involved in sports so when we would go to games, I would stay in the car (back when you could do that!) and just read, read, read. I liked Judy Blume too. I remember reading Forever and I was like OH MY GOSH THIS IS SO NAUGHTY!
DeleteThis is so awesome !! I love the library too! I used to walk to our library in Oxford. My sister and I both got jobs there. She worked there for 5 years, I worked there for 2.
ReplyDeleteI have my library card number memorized too!
Oh cool that you got to work at the library! I wish I lived close enough to walk to our library. It is a little annoying to drive over to Lemoyne from my house.
DeleteYes, I loved going to the Library and I still do! Thank goodness the Library is located along the rail trail I run on. I don't get a lot of books out during the school year but I hope to read more over the Summer. Did you ever read The little gymnast books? I don't remember anything about them but I do remember I liked them. I think I read the babysitters club too!
ReplyDeleteI definitely read more during the summer too. During the school year, I wrack up fines because I have good intentions to read the books I check out, but then I get busy with other things and don't make the time to read. I never read the Little Gymnast books but they sound familiar.
DeleteI hate when people recommend books to me, too! I hated it more back then, but I still kind of hate it now if I haven't asked for suggestions. I think it's because as a kid, I HATED reading until I discover Babysitter's Club (I always got them at book fairs and liked to own them, too. I had hundreds in my closet, but sold them when we moved away from Ohio) and Stephen King. I know that reluctant readers are picky readers, and while we may be trying to help by recommending books, often we're just making them feel defensive!
ReplyDeleteI take pride in the banged up copies of my books. It shows I read them thoroughly. I sometimes read with a pencil in hadn't to underline and make notes in the margins even when I'm just reading for fun!
I didn't know you were a fellow BSC lover! :) Book fairs were so fun... and BOOK ORDERS! Troll, Scholastic... I am thankful my mom always let me buy books from the book order.
DeleteI still try to take care of my books but I am not as anal as before.
I LOVE the library!! But, I am really bad about returning and renewing books on time.
ReplyDeleteEvery summer when I was a kid, my mom would take us at least once a week and get an armful of books.
When I was in college, I worked at the PSU library and still couldn't return books on time.
I've racked up easily over $200 or more in fines betweem the Centre County, York County and Juniata County libraries....
D and I went yesterday and checked out 6 books between the two of us. I got a book on Norse Mythology, meditation, Steven Hawking, and Beekeeping. My concerts are over tomorrow and I can't wait to read!!
I too rack up fines! But I don't mind paying them because it goes to a good cause, right? BUT $200??? OMG, GIRL!!!! I think the most I owed at one time was like $7!!! Probably due to DVDs...
DeleteAwwww the school year is ALMOST OVER. I really hope I can come up and visit you this summer. Can we make that happen? WHen are you done?
This post describes my childhood to a T. I loved everything about the library and reading. I especially loved that I could go in and "buy" book with a card that had my name on it like an adult! I was obsessed with Sweet Valley and was part of their book club so I got those in the mail, but I loved getting Christopher Pike and Babysitter's Club books from the library.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when I realized that a ton of Harry Potter was based in real stuff/existing lore I would go to the library to research EVERYTHING. I pulled maps of england so I could understand where the cities mentioned were. I researched alchemy and all kinds of things mentioned in the HP books. I could spend all day in the library and often did! What a nerd! haha
Harry Potter is something I really wish I was into because there is just SO MUCH to it, like you said, and I would have a lot of fun learning and going down rabbit holes.
DeleteI'm at the library every single day. Well, I mean, I work at a library so they pay me to be here...but still, if I didn't love my job I wouldn't be paying thousands of dollars to go to graduate school so I can be a librarian. Libraries are the best!
ReplyDeleteI would have cried too. A bent cover
Aw wow! I wanted to be a librarian when I grew up OR own a book store. I think if I had to teach something other than music I would definitely try my hand at being a librarian!
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