I have loved books for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories was feeling incredibly sad after listening to The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I empathized with Peter over the loss of his blue jacket and being worried about getting into trouble with his mother. Analyze that!
Growing up, my family didn't have that many children's books.
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We did have this set of Dr. Seuss books, minus Thomas. They looked exactly like that.
We would occasionally go to the library in the summer to get books. What a thrill it was to get my first library card. It was plastic, with rounded edges and raised letters/numbers, similar to credit cards of that time period. I remember feeling so grown up, having my own card. The librarian would keep the card imprint and use a rubber stamp with a due date on an index card that was placed in a pocket in the back of the book. I even loved looking at that card, seeing how often the book was borrowed.
I was able to find some old photos online of the county libraries I visited. This is the first library I remember going to at around age 5.
We also visited this one, but only a handful of times. It was like exploring an old mansion. Today, it is an art gallery.
One of my favorite parts of summer was the Bookmobile. It looked similar to this, but was brown. We lived on the corner, so it stopped right outside our house every other Wednesday. I've never met anyone else who has been on a Bookmobile. Later in life, I learned that the county only sent them to 'at risk' neighborhoods. A lucky reason to live in the poor section of town, I guess!
This is exactly how I remember the inside. You were allowed to check out four books. The man at the desk in the back was also the driver and the person who checked out the books for you. Ours was an older African American man. You handed him your stack of books and he played a little game of 'throwing' each book back at you as he checked them out. You knew to take that first book and then use it as a shield on the desktop as he vigorously slid each book towards you. Being a shy kid, it scared me a little. As an adult, I fondly compared him to the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. Stand in line and be ready!
I loved book series because it meant the story didn't end. My favorite around age 9 was Nancy Drew. I'd ask for one book every birthday and Christmas. This was my collection, which I still have. I also liked a series about two best friends named Genevieve and Jennifer and I remember thinking that if I ever had a daughter, her name would be Jenny. Didn't happen, but a good memory. As I grew older, I loved all of the Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume books and read them multiple times. I also distinctly remember reading Gone With the Wind and The Thorn Birds on lazy summer afternoons. I was the kid who won the 'Who Read the Most Books' contest in school every year.
This book, which I also still own, was probably one of my favorite childhood books. The girl in the story hated gym class as much as I did. Though my girls were never interested in Nancy Drew, they both LOVED this book as much as I did, which was so gratifying.
In college, I didn't have time for pleasure reading, but I did hang out at the library quite a bit. So many alcoves for studying and hanging out with friends. Definitely one of my favorite buildings on campus and lots of good memories there.
On to the present! The day before our state basically shut down, I had this feeling that I should go to the library and check out some books. I grabbed these five and I only wish I had grabbed more. I made them last way longer than the 5 weeks they would have normally taken me to read. I'm not a fan of reading on my ipad or listening to books on tape, so when I was done with these, I was sad. Finally, the library announced that they would open up the drive thru windows at branches that had them. Books that had been placed on hold online would be sent to the branch of your choice. It took a few weeks, but I finally got the call that my books were available for pick up.
Apparently, I wasn't the only one desperate for books. This is the line waiting to pull up to the drive thru window. Thankfully, the library opens to the public again next week. My daughter, who has been off work since March 13, is also very happy to be returning to her job as a page at the library. I can't wait to go inside and touch all the books . . . LOL, I'm kidding! Just by looking at all the procedures she's received by email, the library is not going to be the same for a while, but it will still be good to be back 'home.'
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OH...MY...GOD, I LOVED reading all the Dr. Seuss books when I was a kid. I remember "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back." Oh, what fun! I also used to read all the "Dick and Jane" books.
ReplyDelete"What a thrill it was to get my first library card. It was plastic, with rounded edges and raised letters/numbers, similar to credit cards of that time period. I remember feeling so grown up, having my own card."
Meeeeeeeeee too! And I also remember when I worked at a library in the microfilm department. Remember microfilm?!?
Loved seeing the old photos. And the Bookmobile! Yes!!!!!! I always thought that was so cool to have a library on wheels.
It's so funny because I was more interested in reading all the Nancy Dew books instead of The Hardy Boys. HA!
What a FUN post! You actually made me want to do to our local library and take out a book!
Have a superb week, my friend!
Dr. Seuss is such a classic. I do remember using microfilm/microfiche at my college library. I read Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins, as well, but Nancy Drew was the best. I hope you get to visit the library soon!
DeleteAs I'm older than you and also male, my childhood favourites were completely different. Enid Blyton (Noddy, the Famous Five, the Secret Seven), Sherlock Holmes, lots of detective novels, Alice in Wonderland, The Day of the Triffids.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was also in and out of the library as a child. Our local library hasn't yet reopened. I'll be in there as soon as it does. Strictly for books, because I'm not a fan of e-books or audiobooks either. I'm also a member of their monthly book group.
I’m sooo excited to return. I actually got emotional while waiting in the car line, just knowing I’d get some books. I’ve been in a few book clubs, but it was too much chit chat and not enough discussion. Maybe I need to try the library one.
DeleteI love this post and hearing about all the changes in the world. I've never seen or heard of a Bookmobile, but how cool is that?! Many kiddies would love that, especially in a pandemic. :) I remember the library cards in the back of the book with the rubber stamp dates! Recently my daughter took out a library book. I asked where the card was and she looked at me like I had ten heads!! I was an avid reader growing up.. more likely to find me with a book then watching TV. My favorites were Little House on the Prairie and Anne of the Green Gables.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I saved my favorite childhood books and passed them on to my children. My favorite was Strega Nona. Every time I'm the parent "mystery reader" at my daughter's school, this is my book of choice.
DeleteI'm surprised you remember the cards in the back! I thought they were gone by the early 90's. Those are some good faves. I remember reading Miss Spider's Tea Party when I was the parent reader.
DeleteI love this post, Bijoux!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I started my reading life with the Dr. Seuss books. I was a huge fan of The Hardy Boys for years and then I moved on to science fiction and fantasy before shifting over to crime.
The local library was a special place for me and I enjoyed going there after school. I just don't go as much now as I have a ton of used books I have to get through. And like you, I don't like to read books online or on tape.
We had a bookmobile come to my grammar school, but it was more of a book store that sold rather loaned books.
Glad your library is finally opening up, or as much as possible given the current situation.
Keep reading and thanks for the memories!
I'm glad you enjoyed the post, Rob. I think a lot of my readers can relate to it. That's interesting about your school's Bookmobile. I only remember kids buying books from the company that published the Weekly Reader. You ordered on a paper slip and the teacher mailed it in with your money. Have a great rest of your week!
DeleteWhat a great post, a lovely trip down memory lane. I think I inherited my love of reading from my mother, she even read in the bath!! Like Nick I’m older than you, and share a few of his favourites - The Famous Five and the Secret Seven, I thought Alice in Wonderland was magical, Wind in The Willows, Black Beauty, Rupert Bear, Bunty, School Friend, Girls Crystal and many more. I had a collection of books and created my own library with them. I made little pockets in each book and cards with my dolls’ names on and put the cards in the pockets when they borrowed them! happy days. I worked in a library years ago, when we stamped the return date in the front of the book, loved it. We had a mobile library visit the village but as less and less people used it the council stopped it. Your photos are great, I’ve just looked on google maps and the library we used is still there!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I would have had such fun creating my own library with my dolls as patrons. How creative! You used to work at a library? My daughter with autism, who lives with us, has been a library page for almost 4 years now. It's been the perfect job for her. And I love to look up places from the past on google maps.
DeleteMy childhood was too violent to enjoy books, so I read very few. Music was my outlet. I do read non fiction & biographies but never novels.
ReplyDeleteMy partner was saying that libraries may never open again here in the UK.
I'm so sorry you weren't able to enjoy books as a child. They were definitely an escape for me. But music is also a wonderful escape and outlet.
DeleteLibraries here are strongly supported by taxes and offer too many other services, such as tutoring and wifi, so I'm certain they won't go away here. That is some awful news for your country if true!
So many great memories of your love for books and your favorite books. Were you able to read the whole Nancy Drew series?? I liked Beverly Cleary and enjoyed reading her to my children.
ReplyDeleteDid your elementary school have a library? Ours did and I remember checking out a book weekly. That's all we could do.
Our library shut down of course back in March. I had 2 library books I had checked out the week before. Our book drop was even closed for 2-1/2 months. I did read those books and returned them after the book drop reopened . The library said they were holding books in quarantine for 3 days before they reshelved them. The libraries aren't open except for curbside pick up. I guess they do virtual story times. Not sure how that is working.
I will read on my tablet when I'm exercising so I check out a lot of ebooks from the library. Thankfully those were still available during this time.
If you feel comfortable about it, once your daughter is back to work, I would love to know what the changes are at that library . I would imagine our library won't be opened for months based on our numbers and our mayords.
betty
I don't think I ever got my hands on every Nancy Drew book. Without online ordering, it was harder to request specific books. I honestly can't even remember how that was done!
DeleteYes, my elementary school had a tiny library. It was practically a closet. I think only 6 kids were allowed in at a time, and it was a 2 book limit.
The book drop here was also closed until June 1st and books are being quarantined for 72 hours. Maybe I'll do a post on the changes, but it's mostly cleaning and safety stuff for the employees.
I loved Dr. Seuss when I was a kid. My favorites were On Beyond Zebra, McElligot's Pool, If I Ran the Zoo and the Horton books. For my own kids, I've acquired close to a full set of everything Dr. Seuss ever published. I also love CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia; I didn't read them as a kid, but I love reading them to my kids and grandkids. . .
ReplyDeleteI loved going to the library as a kid. As an adult, I've mostly worked on building my own library. I have something like 2000 books catalogued. I shudder to think about how that translates into dollars. . .
DeleteAww, that's sweet that you are reading longer books to your grandkids. Believe it or not, I only own a few travel books and reference now (besides the children's books I've kept for my kids to give to theirs). I don't really like to re-read fiction and I also don't like clutter, so I just use the library and save money.
DeleteI've always had a love of books too. Dr. Seuss was my first love, then Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie, and eventually moved on to more adult stories in my teens from authors like Stephen King and V.C. Andrews. I remember that grown up feeling of getting my first library card too. I felt soooo cool! LOL. I do have an ereader that I use for in bed reading as to not disturb my husband with keeping the lights on or with page turning, but I also love the feel and smell of a real book in my hands. When I'm not using the ereader, I have utilized several Free Little Libraries in our town to grab reading material after our library closed down. My husband took note of how much I kept stopping to swap out books and offered to build a free little library to put on our court so I don't have to drive around town looking for new titles. Our library did open 2 week ago, but we aren't really allowed to browse. There are signs up more or less stating grab your crap and get the heck out LOL!
ReplyDeleteI think the Little House books became popular after my childhood and the TV show. You are probably 10 years younger than me? I remember watching the PBS version of Anne of Green Gables and loving it, but I'm not sure I ever read the book.
DeleteIt's dumb of me that I didn't think to check out the Little Free Library that's in town. Wish I would have thought of that, though I don't know if I have a book to offer. I had to LOL at your last line. I can't wait to see if that's what will happen here.
I'm 40 now, so if you're 50, then I'd be 10 years younger :)
DeleteI'll pick up inexpensive books from yard sales or thrift stores when I find good titles to help keep the little libraries stocked.
I'll be interested to hear what your library does. They even removed all of the tables and chairs because they don't want anyone sitting around. Returned books are quarantined for 3 days before they'll put them back on the shelf. A good thing for sure, but irritating when you're really looking forward to reading a specific book and have extra wait time on it.
We used to have a bookmobile come by our neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio (well...Fairborn, but close enough). I don't remember ever going inside, though.
ReplyDeleteI also loved Dr. Seuss's books growing up, but have never even heard of the Thomas one before. "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" was my fave.
Thomas is not a Dr. Seuss book. I don’t know why it’s in the picture. I just used it because the other 3 books are exactly like mine were as a kid.
DeleteWhen I was little the public library was just a few doors down from my house. I could get books in the morning, read them all by the afternoon and then go back for more. It was sad a day when they tore it down to build a new bigger building on the other side of town.
ReplyDeleteWelcome! How amazing to be able to walk to the library as a child and go back for more! It’s always sad when childhood places are torn down.
DeleteI always liked series more too as you could get more. Dr. Seuss was a winner here, but that I bet you could guess. The book mobile came around here too. Enjoyed going to that.
ReplyDeleteOh, that’s great that you were able to use the bookmobile. Not many even know what it is.
DeleteWe never went to the library as that was way downtown, but the Bookmobile came by every other week and we did get books there.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Our counties tend to have many, many library branches, so most communities have access to one. I’m glad you had the Bookmobile.
DeleteI relate to everything you have shared in this post. I received the next Nancy Drew for birthdays and Christmas, and loved the library so much I went on to get my Masters Degree in Library Science. I would check out big stacks of books as a child and go home with my treasures.
ReplyDeleteWow! That’s awesome that you decided to major in what you were so passionate about. Books are truly treasures.
DeleteI grew up on Dr. Seuss books, too. And bought them for my kids. The ABC one was one of my absolute favorites. I still have several of them. But not Thomas the Tank Engine, I never could develop any affection for that series. As a girl, I read the Bobwhite series, with a young heroine (Trixie Belden) was similar to Nancy Drew. And in middle school I started getting into fantasy and science fiction for a while. Now I read a wide range of things. I grabbed a bunch of books the day before the library closed and I'm glad I did. I just returned the last of them last weekend.
ReplyDeleteAlso - I have been on a mobile library bus! Not regularly, but I was enchanted by it.
Our libraries open this Monday and I cannot wait to get inside!!! My daughter works at opening, but they are only allowing senior citizens the first hour of the day, so I’ll have to wait until I pick her up to go in.
DeleteGood post! I fell in love with books and libraries as a child. Even today, I feel most comfortable in library settings. There's nothing quite like finding the perfect little nook and chair to browse through books that you've picked up to examine closer. Peace and blessings.
ReplyDeleteI love that, too. Our local library building is shaped so that there are little alcoves to sit and relax.
DeleteMy parents never took us to the library when i was a kid. The only library I visited was at school. I didn't go to a public library until I was in my 20's and then I was there a couple times a month.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you finally got to take advantage of the library.
DeleteI used to be familiar with the library since I was young. We were educated by our parents to be diligent in reading. Your review inspires the next generation to like reading too. Greetings Sunday from Indonesia
ReplyDeleteGreetings and thank you!
DeleteGreat post Bijou! My first chapter books, as a child, were the three Katy books and another favorite was 'Heidi.' Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers were wonderful as were herI used to ride my bike to the other side of town to the library. It was like a crypt inside, so dark and quiet, but I loved it. Libraries were always the first place I checked out whenever we moved (and we moved often in the AF!) I also love how libraries have evolved over the years. Our library here is like a community center. I miss the book discussion groups but they have started up again on zoom. But that would be like reading a book on a tablet - nothing like the feel and weight of an old fashioned book in your hand - so I have not zoomed yet!
ReplyDeleteI read Gone With the Wind sitting in a 'nest' I had in a tree at the bottom of our garden one summer in my teens. And I always remember Thorn Birds because half way through it I realized I needed glasses. Because of my addiction to buying books at thrift shops I was all set and not too deprived when libraries closed but ours is about so much more, I can't wait for it to be open normally(???) again.
Thanks so much for your comment, Molly. I enjoyed hearing your library and book memories as well. Isn’t it nice to be able to recall your life at the time you read a certain book? I love that. Our libraries opened this week. My daughter says it’s been crazy, so I’m waiting until it dies down. I still have half of The Ship of Brides (Jojo Moyer) to read that I was able to obtain through the drive thru two weeks ago.
Delete"I'm not a fan of reading on my ipad ..." Well, that makes two of us. I love the smell of real books, love the sound of turning a page an what they look like, plain and simple. I love this post. Old pics.... memories... they are so important. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteBlue
Thanks, Blue. Another thing I like about books. . . peeking under the book jacket to see the original hardback cover.
DeleteOh yes, I remember the book The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous that your library has a drive-thru! Ours doesn't, but that would be awesome. I loved Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and the Nancy Drew books, too. And Curious George. I always liked those better than Dr. Seuss.
ReplyDeleteOur library doesn’t have a drive thru so I was able to have my order transferred to a neighboring community.
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