4 ms·

I recently moved with my family to an appartment in the city. My wife and I have three children under the age of ten. One big benefit that we did not see in adv

I recently moved with my family to an appartment in the city. My wife and I have three children under the age of ten. One big benefit that we did not see in advance is that the public library is now in walking distance to our new home. It already has become a habit to go there with the kids and join the regular reading time. The reading time is performed by a volunteer who usually reads out one book to the attending children. Often this is even done in two languages. The kids meet their friends there and enjoy the stories read. We parents enjoy the silence and opportunity to stroll through all the bookshelves. A public library really is a special place. Its atmosphere is hard to describe.

WillAdams 3y ago
When my children were much younger, we went quite regularly to the local library, and our schedule coincided with that of another family, to the point where their youngest, when told that they were going to the library stated that he was looking forward to seeing my daughter --- when cautioned that she might not be there he declared, "We will see her, Jessica _lives_ at the library." I miss going so regularly, and keep meaning to build it into my schedule --- apparently there are some libraries which have apartments: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-new-york-public-librarys-last-secret-apartments https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-new-york-pu... (which is about the one thing which would make me consider being in NYC for an extended period of time) >Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries. --- Anne Herbert
amatecha 3y ago
Yeah, I've always loved libraries. The amount of stuff you can learn is mind-boggling, and the environment/atmosphere encourages delving right in. I still distinctly remember when my local library started carrying CD-ROMs... I mean, I had the internet, but it was very slow, and suddenly I could borrow these games/"edutainment"/educational software... So awesome. For some time my friend had no internet connection and we'd go to the library together and browse stuff, discuss what we found, etc. .. Such a great place for people to grow their knowledge and understanding of the world (and whatever they are interested in). <3
wrp 3y ago
What you describe is wonderful. The problem is that in some places, social conditions degrade the library experience. I was an ardent user of local public libraries from childhood until about a decade ago, when the libraries had taken on the role of homeless shelters and going there felt unhealthy.

WillAdams 3y ago

When my children were much younger, we went quite regularly to the local library, and our schedule coincided with that of another family, to the point where their youngest, when told that they were going to the library stated that he was looking forward to seeing my daughter --- when cautioned that she might not be there he declared, "We will see her, Jessica _lives_ at the library." I miss going so regularly, and keep meaning to build it into my schedule --- apparently there are some libraries which have apartments: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-new-york-public-librarys-last-secret-apartments https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/inside-the-new-york-pu... (which is about the one thing which would make me consider being in NYC for an extended period of time) >Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries. --- Anne Herbert

amatecha 3y ago

Yeah, I've always loved libraries. The amount of stuff you can learn is mind-boggling, and the environment/atmosphere encourages delving right in. I still distinctly remember when my local library started carrying CD-ROMs... I mean, I had the internet, but it was very slow, and suddenly I could borrow these games/"edutainment"/educational software... So awesome. For some time my friend had no internet connection and we'd go to the library together and browse stuff, discuss what we found, etc. .. Such a great place for people to grow their knowledge and understanding of the world (and whatever they are interested in). <3

wrp 3y ago

What you describe is wonderful. The problem is that in some places, social conditions degrade the library experience. I was an ardent user of local public libraries from childhood until about a decade ago, when the libraries had taken on the role of homeless shelters and going there felt unhealthy.