See my icon by sageness?

[roxy]

I love this icon. It makes me feel warm and happy. I remember when I was a little Roxy, coming home from the library with a ton of books and feeling rich! When we could go to a bookstore, it was like hitting the lottery, and whenever I could buy more than one book, I felt like a rich person.

I remember the library on the base we lived, how it smelled, and how dark it was all the time--the lights were always on, winter and summer. I loved that. The librarian, poor thing, put her foot in it more than once dealing with me. One time, she wouldn't let me check out the books I'd chosen because she said they were above my age. I'm sure she thought she was doing a good thing and my folks would be glad for it. heh. My mother had a fit when I told her. She made my dad drive her to the library with me in tow, and told the woman she had a nerve deciding what was right for her kid. My mom never checked to see what we were reading. (the whole stack was SF, by the way). Another time, the poor librarian tried to tell me I couldn't check out as many books as I'd chosen because I'd never read them all in a week. I think I had ten. Mom didn't like that either. Back to the library we went and little Miss Thing had no limit to the books she could check out.

You see why I'm like this? Spoiled rotten.

You'd think the poor woman would hate me after my mom telling her off, but no, she was nice to me, and when we moved, told me that she'd miss me.

We moved a bit being in the service, and the one thing you could count on was the library. There were always friends there, old friends and new ones. Good times, those, good times.

Comments

[danceswithgary]

I remember having the same problem with the librarian in my hometown. My sister and I would go to the library twice a week and check out 10-12 books apiece. I think my arms are at least three inches longer than they should be because they were damn heavy to carry over a mile to and from there.

It got a little better when we could ride our bikes, but then we had to balance them in the front baskets and not get run over by cars because we were too busy trying to catch the books that were falling out.

The arguments I had over the SF books until I was able to convince her that I wasn't tooyoung to appreciate them. Just think, I wasn't even trying to check out Harlan Ellison, just Isaac Asimov and Fritz Leiber and a few others that weren't scandalous at all. Really. Ursula LeGuin wasn't even under consideration those days. :-D

[myownghost.livejournal.com]

great post! you bring back memories of the dusty old library in the small town i grew up in. like you, i read everything i could get my hands on. wasn't it nice to be a bookworm? :)

[sage]

Oh, what an awesome story! Yay!

*loves libraries*

And I'm so glad a little box of color could bring back happy memories for you. :)

[rednihilist.livejournal.com]

To this day, a library is still my favorite place. I love the smell of books, the atmosphere of learning, and of course! all my fellow nerds are there with me! Fortunately, my mother has an enormous library in her house, so I got to read not only books from the city but also the ones (once I was old enough, and deemed careful enough) from her private collection.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

What wonderful memories! You're mom sounds like a great mom. :)

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

What a sweet story. I had a few run ins with librarians growing up.

When I was the librarian at the School from Hell, the district got obsessed with testing the students' reading levels and posting their levels beside their names in the database. We were actually told that we couldn't allow students to check out books above or below their supposed reading level. I didn't follow the mandate because I thought it was ridiculous. I don't think the score someone got on some stupid state-mandated test should decide what books they can read!

Have you read Eudora Welty's short story about a librarian? It's so sweet.

[rosy5000.livejournal.com]

I used to love going to the library when I was younger. I don't get there too often anymore, even though my brother works there (network admin). I still love reading though. :)

Love the stories about your mom. She sounds so cool.

[tabaqui]

*happy sigh*

Yes. I love that my mother never, ever said 'no' to me when i asked if i could buy a book.

[ender24]

you have strange librarians.
mine never bothered, whether i carried 10 or 20 books, when i was kid.
when i was twelve , the local library, run by catholic nuns, who also did run the kindergarden, where i went, offered me a job there *g*.
i declined, said, i loved the books, but not necessarily the job.

ahhh, good old times, from Isaac A. to E.E. Smith, to the star trek novels, to star wars.....not to mentioned any ??? by hitchcock, or TKKG (its kind of the german version of ???)

[nomango.livejournal.com]

Lovely story:)

Library was a haven for me too, growing up, and I have great memories of long summers reading endlessly under the cherry tree. And family and friends used to grab hold of me as we passed bookshops as my feet seemed to naturally just want to go in.

Ain't like that now. I should try and change that. Thanks for reminding me :)

Libraries

[smilingirlblue.livejournal.com]

I too had problems with checking out books "too old" for me. When the librarian, Miss Pearl Tanner, wouldn't let me check out Edgar Rice Burroughs Princess of Mars (not to mention the scandalous Tarzan), my father had a talkl with Miss T. My folk made sure we had plenty of food and books. I so loved the Weekly Reader and Scholastic Book Club. Consequently, I'm now fat and happy with overflowing bookshelves. Have you tried out www.Shelfari.com? I LOVE it. It's the best virtual library with thousands of book addicts of various flavors. Check it out!

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

Libraries are the most awesome places! *happy sigh* Though I did misplace a borrowed book once, many centuries back, and was so horribly ashamed. By the time I finally found and returned it, the kindly librarian refused to take my money, commenting that what I technically owed was more than the book was worth. *hugs the woman*