Public Library

I had wanted all summer to take the boys to the library. For some reason or another, it just never happened ... seriously ridiculous, I know ... really why couldn't we find even 20 minutes for the library?!?!

I think I was probably just dragging my feet a little ... the closest library to us is tiny and the children's section consists of roughly 1 shelf of books - ok, really not that bad, but you would be surprised that this description isn't far off ... obviously, it just wasn't a big enough priority for me this summer.

But I really love to read and want my boys to discover that passion, too ... so, we went today. I decided to take them to another library, that is a little further and newly refurbished. It was beautiful ... but again, it was tiny and a bigger selection than my first local experience, but not what I was hoping for. We found a couple of books and went to check out - I needed to get a library card, but alas, I didn't have anything "official" with my current address on it. (i am pretty tired of the nomadic life I lead - but that is a topic for another post) ... so, we slid the books neatly back to their alpha-numeric homes and retreated, somewhat reluctantly. As, we walked out, I told the boys of the new shift in our plan ... go home, eat dinner, get what I needed to receive a library card, and go downtown to the "MAIN" library.

This appeased them for the moment and secretly, I was elated, thinking the downtown library HAD to be the experience I was looking for! I wanted the boys to feel an actual wave of excitement course through their little bodies as they enter the library, to see with wide-eyes the thousands of books and "possibilities" that reside in the hundreds of shelves. To feel the awe and wonderment of the thought "that you really can learn just about anything in a library".

Well, after dinner, we finally made it down. We all got out and put the youngest two in the double stroller and waltzed inside. I was a little worried about the noise the babies would make - remembering as a child that it was almost worse talking in the library than talking in sacrament meeting ... but we went straight to the kids section and had a ball.

The children's section consisted of two rooms ... one for reading books, as big as a class room, with narrow isles - like a library should be - and several, but not too many, chairs. Then, there was another room for 'picture' books with smaller sized chairs, blocks, puzzles and a few chairs ... I seriously think I found library paradise. The little kids could play and keep themselves busy as I helped the bigger two find what we were looking for.

Well, long story short, we had so much fun, found some great books and are planning to go back in two weeks!!! Can't wait! (hopefully, next time I will get to pick out a book for myself!)