A fifth-grade mom stopped in the library this afternoon. Her last child will be done in a few days. She sighed as she looked out on the library. "I love this place," she told me. "It's so quiet right now though." A group of students listened to a story in the reading alcove, and another group worked on math problems at the computer lab. I asked if she felt sad about the upcoming move to the middle school. "A bit. But I will still be back for reading buddies every week." Her sentiments about our library are echoed daily. Children resonate a sense of calm when they come to the library space. They sigh contentedly when they sit on the story steps or in the alcove. Their teachers do as well. Some children come every day just to look for a new book or to greet us. Some teachers come to sit in our rocking chair and share concerns (and have a piece of chocolate from the nearby cup of Dove Dark Chocolates). It is a place for feeling still and tranquil.
All libraries have that potential; it takes librarians, though, to help the space rise to the promise. And patrons to complete the circle.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhh . . . just reading about it makes me want to be there again.
ReplyDeleteI second what brattcat said; all libraries have that potential, but it takes librarians to realize that potential. I've been to a lot of school libraries, and they don't all have the same welcoming warmth that radiates from yours.
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