first love is library

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 10:10

I work in publicity at the South Brunswick Public Library. On the wall of my office is a framed photograph of the library I grew up with - the Stratford Public Library in Camden County, So. Jersey. The photograph shows how it looked in about 1967 when it was in an old house. The books were on the first floor and story hour was in a room upstairs. I remember it was run by older women, volunteers, and I assume that there must have been a qualified librarian directing. My first memory here is of sitting upstairs on a fabric mat, eating pretzels, and just loving being in the story hour. I don't remember the story that was read, just how right it felt to be in this building with all these books and the nice people who took care of them. My sister Elaine and I walked the mile or so to the library one day when I was about six. I remember the warm feeling of being surrounded by the golden oak wood walls, shelves and floors and of course all the books ... books with fantastic stories and beautiful illustrations that could transport your imagination. My imagination mostly went to where ever the Ingalls family happened to be living at the time, Tarzan' s jungle, or the Virginia islands of wild ponies. My love of this library lead me to pursue a journalism career in newspapers and now finally back to the world of libraries. I am so happy and proud to be a library employee.

This is a comment on "The New Jersey public library — A lifetime experience that keeps growing"

Comments (3)

Rosemary- Wonderful to read your post. I am currently the director of the Stratford Library. We are now housed in a (much bigger) building across the street from the original house which was taken down years ago. Many things have changed but so much is the same. This is the month first graders come in for their library cards if they don't already have one. We have monthly story/craft hours for the little ones. We are still staffed primarily by volunteers. Come visit...you may still see a few familiar faces as some of our ladies have been with us for 30 years or more!!

Rosemary - Thanks for sharing your own remembrances. Your story is wonderful. It is remarkable how many of us recall our earliest visits to the local library. Maybe not so remarkable, because libraries are extra special! Thanks again. - John

By the way - if you read this Elaine - thanks for helping me get my first library card when I was six! :)

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