First Trip to the Library

Yesterday, Norah and I made our first (and long, overdue) trip to our local public library. My mom took us on countless trips to this very same library when I was a little girl, so it was a little nostalgic for me. (I hate to admit it, but it's probably be 6 or more years since I've darkened their door...I've become a bit of a "book ownership junkie")

The whole way there (all 5 minutes it took), I drilled Norah on library etiquette, reminding her that we had to be quiet. When I'd ask if she understood, she'd respond with, "Shhhh...quiet".

Once we arrived, the first sight we took in, of course, had to be to see the big bell. I can't tell you how many times I rang that bell as a child. It was one of my favorite things about our library. Apparently, someone got a little tired of hearing kids ring the bell though, because the clanger was tied to the side of the stand, so we just settled for pictures.

Next we headed inside and up the stairs to the children's library. (Norah loved the climb!) The first thing she noticed upon our arrival? The puzzle table! She raced over and plopped down in front of a dinosaur puzzle. She's been into dinosaurs (or "Dinos", as she refers to them) lately.

Even though I really wanted the focus of our trip to be books, I decided it was more important for her to have a good first library experience, so I let her enjoy the puzzles, while I picked out a few books. (She didn't stay with the puzzles for long when she realized I was walking away--she quickly trailed behind me) She was ecstatic when we found a treasure trove of "Clifford" books (what kid doesn't love a big, red dog?), so we sat down and read a few.

I have to admit, this was the most awkward part of our trip. I had envisioned our reading together, but didn't take into account how quiet the library is. There were several home school students working on nearby computers, and the librarian, quietly working away at her desk. I felt compelled to whisper-read the books to her, and Norah wasn't too keen on this method. (She's used to sound effects and voices...all the bells and whistles) So, after choosing 4 books, we headed back downstairs to check out and head home.

She couldn't wait til we got home to look at her new books, and since she's usually very good about being gentle, I let her look at one. (Apparently she's discovered that reading books upside down in the car counteracts nausea)

We've already read all four of our selections several times, so I'm sure another trip to the library will be in order soon. But first, I think I may see about making a library book bag (Go ahead, Amanda, tell me what a big nerd I am). I'd like to have a "special place" to keep our books when we aren't reading them, that they'll all stay together and not be lost...not to mention, if we get very many books, it'll make toting them home much easier! I look forward to many more trips to the library, and I hope both our children grow up loving that "musty book smell" that greets you as you walk through the doors as much as I do!

Oh...and I guess the library etiquette lesson stuck, because she did very well at being quiet, and on the way to church last night, Jason and I overheard Norah in the backseat saying, "Shh!" "Hush!" "Quiet!" over and over again.