I grew up in Rhode Island and the library branch I visited as a child
was in Mount Pleasant. Every Saturday at 2:00 was Story Hour. The
librarian would wait until all the children were gathered, then usher us
downstairs to a little room where the chairs were already placed in a
circle. Then, she would make a ceremony of lighting a large pillar
candle in the dimly lit room, and then by candle light, she would read
the story -- the effect was mesmerizing, especially on a rainy day! I
can still picture her reading Stone Soup in the flickering shadowy light
and to this day, I am never without a book!
Paula Lynch
Museum of the City of New York
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Lois Brynes
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 3:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Request for Help - Library Tales
I grew up in a fairly small town--Schenectady, New York (upstate). I
loved
going to the library as a small child. What I remember most, however,
was
perhaps in 8th or 9th grade being able to wander the "stacks."
I would just look at titles under something "popped out." This practice
continued through college; sadly by the time I reached graduate school,
the
"stacks" were closed.
This early experience of experiencing every field--in addition to
fiction--from Plato to polygons, from natural history to
psycholinguistics,
set my life course. At 56, I take deep pleasure very day in learning new
and
learning deep.
So THNAK YOU Schenectady Public Library.
Lois
Lois Brynes, Principal
DeepTime Associates
P.O. Box 58
Rockport, MA 01966 USA
[log in to unmask]
voice (978) 546-8574
fax (978) 546-6611
> From: Maggie Harrer <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2004 13:10:00 EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Request for Help - Library Tales
>
> Dear Friends,
> This is a bit unorthodox perhaps, but for a fund raiser for a library,
I am
> collecting what we are calling "Library Tales." These are short
reminiscences
> of your personal memories, perhaps earliest personal memories, of a
specific
> library and its impact on you. We are planning to collect the stories
and
> publish them as a fund raiser and education piece on the importance of
> libraries.
>
> I would be so grateful if you would take a minute to write a short
> recollection, if you have one you would like to share, sign it, give
me your
> current
> residence (town and state is enough), possibly your age range (not
required)
> and
> send it to me. We are finding that these stories are wonderful and as
the two
> I've included below are from folks who are long past childhood, it
proves the
> lasting impact of libraries.
>
> I would also appreciate your sharing this e-mail with anyone who might
find
> this rewarding and be willing to support a library with a memory.
I've
> included a short sample at the end, to give you an idea.
>
> I would also be happy to share the results with anyone interested.
>
> Thank you in advance for your help with this worthy project.
>
> Sincerely,
> Maggie L. Harrer
> Oradell, NJ
>
> LIBRARY TALES
> Sample One: When I grew up in a small town in Iowa, the most
important
> influence on my life was our Carnegie Library where stories were read
to me
> by
> the sweetest of librarians until I could read myself. And then, oh
wondrous
> day, when I could finally sign my own name - I got my VERY OWN library
card!!!
> I
> still remember that moment...it was as if all the wonders of the world
had
> been handed to me in that little card!! I remember walking home,
clutching
> it,
> and showing it to my parents with great pride. More importantly, I
used it
> frequently and well. I have never forgotten that library, its
children's
> reading room, and that lovely librarian. I've even taken my own
daughter to
> see it
> and shared with her the wonder I felt there.
>
> SAMPLE TWO:
> I, too, remember my first library. It was a tiny place, a corner
storefront
> actually, and located in the next neighborhood so it was a long walk
for a
> little kid. My mom would take me there. She loved to read. From the
time
> she
> was a little girl to the end of her life she consumed books.
>
> I remember the little stools that were just the right height for a
tike to
> sit on. Most of all I remember the smell of the place. There was
something
> special and inviting about the odor of a library: the paper, the ink,
the book
> bindings, the wooden cabinets. I love to visit old libraries and
hope that
> they still have that particular aroma. The
> librarians had pencils with a metal attachment at the eraser end that
held
> a little date stamp which they'd mark the due date in the book..
>
> I remember getting my first card, too. I had to print my name and
then I
> could take out two books at a time. I felt pretty important as it
gave me
> the
> same rights as a grown-up.
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/
> . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by
sending a
> one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of
the
> message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message
to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
"Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should
read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
"Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
