The first full week of April was National Library Week and in celebration of our beloved libraries, we asked the staff to journey back to their first experiences at their local library.
Do you remember a library that you loved going to as a kid or a teen? What and where was that library? What were some of your favorite books to check out from the library as a kid or a teen?
Hannah, Assistant Director: When I was a kid, we always went to the downtown Wichita Library. I loved that old building…walking up the stairs to the third-floor children’s room. I checked out every single Johnny Dixon book by John Bellairs.
Kristy H., Public Support Services: Emporia Library, I remember riding bikes just to get to the library and the 2-story building that had an elevator. They had little kid’s chairs shaped like the white Mork and Mindy egg chairs that just cradle you like a glove. I would check out the Cam Jansen books. They were the best mystery books ever! I still have my library card from my youth!
Shane, Public Support Services: I always read a lot growing up. My relationship with libraries started when I took a “Library Aide” class in middle school where I would shelve/straighten books and check books in/out for other students for one period a day. I also made a large display on a book of choice as part of the “class.” This was during my middle school years, so I remember checking out every “Hank the Cowdog” book that we had there before moving on to Christopher Pike novels. I grew up in the country so I didn’t really have access to a public library while growing up.
Eric, Director: I can remember frequently visiting the McPherson Public Library when I was growing up. At one point, I was trying to read every sports and mystery book in the juvenile section. My brother and I often rode our bikes to the library, filled our backpacks with books and then stopped by the baseball card shop on the way home.
Dawn S., Youth Services Coordinator: I grew up going to the Westlink Branch Library in Wichita. I would check out Amelia Bedelia and I loved reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I told the children’s librarian I would someday work there, and I did.
Shelia, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: One of my favorite libraries was my high school library. I was able to work there as a student librarian. Some of my favorite reads was “The Black Stallion”, “Man O’War” and “Where the Red Fern Grows.”
Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services: I grew up in Houston, Texas, and I loved taking the city bus with my mom to the huge Houston Public Library downtown. It had a giant escalator in the middle of the lobby and four different levels including an academic level for university students. I would hang out in the teen section on the bean bag chairs and read Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ books or the paperback spin-offs of the TV Show, Charmed.
Emily B., Public Support Services: When I was still in middle school, after school got out, me and my close friend would walk to the Rose Hill Public Library and we would spend hours together just talking and reading. I remember feeling very welcomed and it became such a comfort place for me. My favorite books to check out were any of Maggie Stiefvater’s books, but specifically the Shiver series!
Tabbitha, Youth Services: My childhood involved frequent moves, helping me explore many diverse libraries in Illinois, Arkansas, California, and Kansas. However, Kansas libraries always held a special place in my heart. My all-time favorite library growing up was the Newton Public Library in Newton, KS. It’s large children’s area filled with wonderful books and literacy resources, was a weekly haven for me. It was actually at this library that I read my first book, ‘Hop on Pop’, independently. I loved checking out Arthur books, School House Rock DVD’s, and an abundance of non-fiction books on the solar system.
As a teenager, the Derby Public Library was a valuable asset. It was here that I found a love for the tranquility of a quiet library and having a place to read on the weekends, somewhere other than home. During the week, it was also a great place to come finish homework or just catch up with friends.
Ashley, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: Growing up, the library in Hesston was just down the street from our house. During the summer we would be in and out of the library constantly getting books, hanging out in the bean bag chairs and completing the summer reading challenge. I don’t remember any big prizes. It may have just been pieces of candy for reading so many books. My aunt would also take my sister and cousins to the library when she was taking care of us in the summer. We would usually spend the days playing together, going to the pool a LOT and having dedicated reading time. The librarians knew us by name and we rarely needed to take our library cards with us. It was and still is a fairly small library but it was a place I loved visiting often as a kid.
Now it’s your turn! What was your favorite library to visit as a kid and what were some of your favorite books to check out?
I have a miniature dachshund named Winston. He HATES fireworks. In the last few years, I have learned some tricks to help him deal with the holiday. One of my favorite traditions now is a movie marathon with lots of action to drown out the booms. This year we watched The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogies. Watching these movies took me back to childhood.
commute every day to and from work with a 4 a.m. alarm. I loved the story of Bilbo Baggins and the company of Thorin Oakenshield. My favorite scene is and always will be the chapter, Riddles in the Dark, where Bilbo meets and outwits Gollum. I was always a little worried for Bilbo. Answer the riddle or be eaten?! How scary. Followed by giant spiders in the forest of Mirkwood. (Why is there always giant spiders?) Then when they reach the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo has to face the dragon, Smaug. This book gets better and better. But I still remember being saddened at the end with the death of Thorin. I still am sad about it actually.