I’ve loved books and reading all my life. As a kid, I frequented my local library. As a parent, it became the place to go for story time, crafts, meetups, and a refuge when I needed to kill an hour or two. As a stay-at-home mom whose youngest was approaching kindergarten, I thought about getting a part-time job when he went to school. And the number one job on my list was working at a library.So when I discovered that April 21 is known as Thank You for Libraries Day, I had to share my love for the library and tell you that if you’re not currently utilizing your local library, you should start.
Public libraries are important because they provide a wide array of resources to their communities and help shape young lives.
I remember visiting my local library as a child and the favorite books I would check out each time. I also have fond memories of my grandparents taking me to their public library and reading books by Dr. Seuss.
As a young adult living in NYC, I used the library system to help me find jobs. I still proudly carry my NYPL card—and in case you didn’t know, any NYS resident can apply for and use one!
As a new mom, the library became a safe space to take my newborn out for a few hours in the winter. Story time became a weekly ritual, and meeting and sharing stories with other new parents was a wonderful thing.
My kids still love going to the library, and there are always programs available for every age – you just need to check resources, such as the library website or with a librarian. Even if you’re not big into reading, the library offers DVDs (remember those?), audiobooks, and more. You can also take out museum passes. My family recently visited MoMA with free passes from our local library.
