'When I got to the library I came to a standstill, - ah, the dear room, what happy times I have spent rummaging amongst the books, making plans for my garden, building castles in the air, writing, dreaming, doing nothing.' Elizabeth von Arnim Elizabeth and her Enchanted Garden
I don't think it usually matters what our jobs are but my thoughts for this post came from my job. You may know that I am a teacher. One of things I love about my new job is the link we have with our local library. Every Tuesday at 9.15am 29 four and five year olds in E1 London walk crocodile style to our local library. Once there we browse the books and gradually more and more of the children hopefully have library cards to start a career of borrowing books from a library.
I don't think it usually matters what our jobs are but my thoughts for this post came from my job. You may know that I am a teacher. One of things I love about my new job is the link we have with our local library. Every Tuesday at 9.15am 29 four and five year olds in E1 London walk crocodile style to our local library. Once there we browse the books and gradually more and more of the children hopefully have library cards to start a career of borrowing books from a library.
Their library is different to Elizabeth's personal one but I hope that they begin 'building castles in the air' there.
A very timely post for me as our library is currently closed while they move the children's section to make way for the registry office. I'm not sure where they're going to fit the children's books in. Libraries are so undervalued and shockingly under threat at the moment, but I don't know where I'd be without mine.
ReplyDeleteOh I didnt know you were a teacher, i bet you're brilliant, and how lovely to be able to share the joy of a library with all those little faces. Good luck to them in their book-borrowing careers!
ReplyDeleteAs a librarian, I completely agree with that sentimenet. I greatly miss working in a public library and encouraging people to read. I think it is so good that your school has links - hopefully that will create a whole generation of library lovers. (PS: Do the teachers get to go and pick their own books too?!)
ReplyDeleteVerity - good point we choose children's books that we'll also read with the children but no I don't use it myself for adult books - hmm one to think about.
ReplyDeleteI work in a library and see classes of little kids coming in for library books too, but what a delight it would be to see that in London. I love the photo too.
ReplyDeleteI love how you said crocodile style...I taught preschool years ago and just loved it when the kids got super excited to pick out books, they were so into it!
ReplyDeleteJuliexo
I can still picture the library I visited a child and I could take you to exactly where my favourite books were, even though the layout has changed several times since then. It's lovely that you are providing the foundation for another generation to have such happy memories. And to love books of course.
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