Heaven is a Library | Newbie Blogger Spotlight
Don’t Underestimate Libraries
Hi friends, I honestly love having these newbie blogger spotlight posts on my blog. It makes me so happy to share with you bloggers that you may not have encountered otherwise! Today I have Roxanne from An Average Life talking about how her idea of heaven is a library and how we should value Libraries.
Life has been super busy lately, but I promise I’m working on some really fun content to share with you all!
As always, if you’re interested in taking part of the Newbie Blogger Spotlight, send me a message! I’m not strict on the requirements and would be happy to have you.
Heaven is a Library
Reading has been my favourite way to pass time ever since I learned how. Each birthday I begged for book vouchers (I still do) and was the only child I knew who was disappointed with toys.
My aunt constantly pestered my mother about it, saying it was unnatural for a child to behave like that- luckily for me she never listened.
On more than one occasion I can remember gazing around WHSmiths trying to choose my books in the January sale. Sometimes there were other children nearby doing the same, sulking at having had book vouchers as Christmas presents. We always traded any Woolworths ones I’d been given, grateful parents leading their children away to buy toys whilst I delighted at having more book funds.
It pains me to think how many books I’ve bought or been gifted over the years compared to how many I own today.
I’m an ardent declutter girl. Every year since I was a child I clear out anything unnecessary and throw it out or make donations.
If only I could tell my younger self to keep and treasure every single book.
All those Classic collections, Goosebumps and Point Horror series I’ve lost.. I’d fill my house with a life time of books and no regrets.
Money was scarce throughout my childhood and it never took long for me to race through my latest book purchase. So by age 9 my parents got me a library card.
Once a fortnight I would go down on a Saturday morning and take out 8 books. 8 was the limit for our town library.
Or.. as I found out the next summer, 8 was the limit for a child. 16 was the limit for an adult.
Why are Libraries important?
Libraries saved my sanity. They kept me busy and out of trouble, entertained me, broadened my imagination, extended my vocabulary, taught me patience and encouraged concentration.
Libraries gave me the escape I craved but couldn’t afford, the chance to further my reading skills and a sense of responsibility when borrowing others’ possessions.
Libraries were a reason to go out as a family, a chance to bond and a feeling of having been rewarded/treated without the need for money.
It didn’t matter that all of my school friends were away on holidays or taken on day trips I couldn’t afford to join, I had a huge back garden with a reading seat up high in a giant cherry tree. With my stack of books I could go anywhere.
Whether or not you use your local library never forget it’s importance for those who do, for some of us a library is our kind of heaven.
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16 Comments
I grew up with my parents not having much money either and libraries were such a safe haven–picking out any book I wanted to read, regardless of price. I have always been amazed at just how wonderful libraries are. This is a lovely post, thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post. Libraries are one of the best institutes we have. Reading should be available to anyone and everyone. I love this.
I love discovering new book bloggers and I really enjoyed reading Roxanne’s thoughts on libraries. They are special places and I visit them often.
Yay I’m glad 💜💜💜
I already did a blog on libraries and I love this blog!!
I didn’t use the library as much as a child because we could buy them cheap from Tesco but now as an adult and having money problems libraries are such a life saver and such an important thing that I feel needs more appreciation
Great post! I remember my small town library also having a book check out limit for kids. I never got an upgrade though, so I founds myself biking 2 miles several times a week.
I relate to this, Roxanne. I remember going to the library quite often as a child . . . teen . . . college student . . . and now on a semi-weekly basis as a mom with 2 kids. (The family joke is that I can’t leave without a bagful of books, even if I just wanted one.) I also remember my amazement when a former friend who was a huge reader asked me if she had to PAY to get a library card. Uh, not where we live. She didn’t have a library card and had never been to the local library, even though she’d lived in our area for years. I couldn’t believe it!
This is great!! I remember always going to the storytime readings as a little kid but didn’t really get into reading until 2nd grade!
My mother was a school librarian and she taught me to love books and reading. Libraries and librarians are the best!!
Lovely post! I didn’t have the financial means to constantly buy books growing up, so libraries were absolutely amazing! I still love using them today, though I tend to gravitate more towards OverDrive! Haha
Libraries are the best! I wish my parents brought me more when I was younger!
I have always loved the library and strongly agree with everything in this post!
Also, now that I have kids I am realizing that Libraries are more than just a place to borrow books. They also offer a ton of services like story and craft times, book clubs, etc etc etc.
Aw I love this post! I ADORE the library – I go every day! 🙂
Libraries truly are a type of heaven – one of the few places that still exist where you can visit and have a fantastic time without having to spend any money! Thank you for this post <3
[…] @ Jenniely // Heaven is a Library | Newbie Blogger Spotlight | As someone who gets all their books from the library, I can confirm that this title, and the post, […]