When I Couldn't Sleep I Learned To Write...
Few other activities give me as much joy as visiting a library and borrowing a book. Pretty nerdy right? Here's why:
My first ever job was as a "page" at Albion Library in Rexdale, Ontario. I was 14. What I knew about books and literature was basically nothing. My responsibilities were shelving books in alphabetical order or according to the Dewey decimal system, and checking people out with the now entirely antiquated "recordack" machine. I took those responsibilities not very seriously, lived for when my teenage crush, Mike Hammond, came into the library, and meanwhile wasted time variously flipping through and reading parts of books, and flirting in the fiction section with my work mate, who was also my neighbour and hiding out in the basement stacks reading ancient magazines. My mom got me the job by befriending the manager of the library and in doing so pretty much guaranteed I'd be there for my shifts, and on time. I made $2.15 an hour and surprisingly saved up enough money for a trip to London, England to visit my best friend who was staying with her grandmother for the summer. My favourite part of the job was reading to children when my shift took place in the kids section. Hell, I was still a kid myself!
I worked there for four years, and though my dreams sometimes still take place at ol' Albion Library, those are the few things I consciously remember about being there.
Subconsciously, being surrounded by books and so many words at such a young, impressionable age has obviously made an impact since reading and writing comprise the biggest, most valuable, coveted and treasured part of my life.
Today I ventured to the High Park branch of the Toronto Public Library (opened in 1916, see historical photo), which is maybe 4 blocks from my house. I had to do some research for a book project I am embarking upon. I haven't used TPL for a very long time, maybe 15 years or so, though when I lived in Vancouver going to the library was a regular trip - what better way to get to know a new city? What a thrill it was then to receive a brand new Toronto library card, and to take out my first two books!
The library in any community is a vital resource and should never be under funded. I can buy any book I like, and because I review books I often get them free - what a privilege. So many people aren't so lucky.
I'm definitely guilty of taking this particular service for granted but whenever I'm in a library it fills me a kind of comfort and excitement which is hard to describe and contain. I've done a few things today since my visit this afternoon to the library but when I rest my head tonight it will be the experience, the smells and silences of my local library that I'll remember.
And the joy of having a new card, which means I can go there anytime I like and take the books home for a couple of weeks!
CarlaMaria
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Reader Comments (2)
I loved the quiet serenity of the library, the secretive little spots, the random joys of finding neat facts, colourful photos, and beautiful language -all possibly within one day too! Even in university, I loved wandering the floors, ambling through tall shelves, hunkering down in a corner, and opening the cover to a whole other universe.
I still love the magic and silence of libraries, though I don't get to them as often as I'd like. I'm a spoiled freelance journo who gets review copies now -not that I'm complaining! Still, the world is pregnant with possibility and discovery within a library's walls. Thank you for the reminder, Carla.