Learning a Love of Libraries

“Libraries don’t service only left-wingers or right. They don’t judge by class, race or religion. They service everyone in their community, no matter their circumstances. Rich or poor; no one is denied. Libraries are not simply part of our guarantee to the pursuit of happiness. They are a civil right. If we lose our libraries, we risk losing our communities, our families and ourselves.” – Karin Slaughter, Author.

You don’t need to look far to find someone who acknowledges the overwhelming benefit that a library offers to its community. A library offers a wealth of knowledge, a fount of inspiration, a doorway to imagination and an opportunity for connection and engagement. For many people, a library is an escape from a potentially painful reality and thus this public service proves to be an exceptionally valuable element for our society. Many famous authors will credit their pathway towards writing to their early years spent in local libraries. Countless respected figures of society attest to the importance and relevance of the library service. While other public services come and go according to the needs of the many, people fight with a passion to ensure that libraries are not only maintained but developed and improved so to keep them relevant to the ever changing world.

It is this magnificent industry that I am training to enter. My older sister, with whom I share very few features/interests/activities, made loud claims of how terribly boring such a career would be and how she could imagine nothing worse. I, however, looked at a career in libraries as a door to enrichment of the mind and engagement of the imagination. Already being qualified and working as a Primary Teacher I knew my existing passion for encouraging research and learning and when I realised that libraries are where my future lies, I felt a growing excitement which made boredom appear impossible. Well, I guess I always knew that my sister and I would continue to differ on the most pivotal of life issues.

When I look to the future of libraries, I am impassioned and inspired to get involved and make myself a part of that world. Libraries played a pivotal role in making me the person that I am and it is my hope that when I have children of my own, they can grow to appreciate libraries in the same way that I did. Where libraries flourish, imagination thrives. Where libraries are relevant and appreciated, communities prosper.