My Local Library (Wherever It May Be)

by Shelley McNeil
 
Although I am still fairly new to the Davenport area, and I haven’t been around forty years like the Downtown Branch, libraries have always been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I lived in a family that was often in turmoil, and we spent a great deal of time moving from place to place. By the time I graduated, I had gone to a total of thirteen different schools.  Needless to say this can be pretty stressful on a kid.
 
A lot of times, being the “new kid” I didn’t have many friends, so I often turned to a book. In books, I could always be transported into whatever story I was reading. It was a way to escape. I remember that no matter what town I live in, I could always go to the local library and there would always be the friendly face of a librarian, ready to help me find my books.  I remember being a lonely young girl who would walk down the alley with an armful of books, tripping over untied shoes, trying not to drop my books.  I was anxious to get home so I could read every last one, just so I could get back to the library quicker. 

One of my fondest memories as a young girl would be attending the children’s story times at the library. It didn’t matter who you were, you were always welcomed to hear a great story, enjoy hot chocolate, and maybe complete a craft or two.
 
We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, so it was great to get “new” items on a regular basis.  I remember the time I was flipping through the new releases, and I found Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album.  I felt like I won the lottery.  I must have listened to that album at least 100 times!
 
As I grew older we continued to move, I continued to read.  I began to make friends, but sometimes I felt that some of my best friends were one I could find in books.
 
My mom wasn’t around a lot during those days, and as a preteen girl, books answered the many questions I had.  Judy Blume was sort of a surrogate mother to me!
 
Now that I am a mother myself, I try to let my daughter know the importance of our local library and that of reading. I am finally done moving and settled down in one place. I am very fortunate to have found a wonderful city with such a great library system.
 
Whether it is seeing my daughter’s pride when she completes a reading program, renting a favorite DVD for my family to watch, taking my daughter to see Santa, or our family just curling up on the couch taking turns reading a story out loud, I thank the Davenport Public Library for the opportunities they bring to our family.