Why I love the library!

In celebration of the Ribbon Cutting for our new library addition at the Charles M. Bailey Public Library, I thought I'd explain why it is that this means so much to me.

I've always loved libraries. Growing up in Houlton, I had several libraries that I considered "my own", including our town library, and the libraries in our schools. When I was in grade school we moved to the "new school", which had classrooms around the outside, and a library filled the center space of the open building. I loved that vast expanse of books! I remember going to the library and reading books aloud into a cassette tape recorder, that the younger grades could then listen to while reading those books. I loved that the librarian recognized my love of reading, and chose me to do that. In middle school the library was also a place I frequented, a place I could go to and find friends in my favorite books.

In junior high & high school I spent any free time in the library, and was asked to be a library aide. That was a job I loved! Handling the brand new books for the very first time, putting the covers on them, stamping them "Property of Houlton High School Library" (front cover, back cover, and bottom of page 25!) was always a thrill to me.  The non-fiction books were kept in the back room - most students never entered that space. They were not allowed in the back room, they were to ask at the desk and we fetched the books for them. I loved that back room. It was FULL of knowledge - any subject you wanted. I used to love to do shelf-checks, where we simply went along the shelf, looking for mis-shelved books. It was so fascinating to see the progression of topics - the Dewey Decimal system was amazing! I would shelve the returned books, but it was a slow process, as I explored the topic of the book in hand and how it expanded within that shelf.

The town library in Houlton, the Cary Public Library, was a second home to me. I remember reading every single one of the children's biography series, and most of the fiction books in the children's section. There was a comfy reading area, with bean bags - green, orange, yellow... (yes, it was the '70s!). I then moved to the adult section, reading the entire shelf of mysteries, discovering science fiction, and finding information on myriad topics. After school, I'd go to the library, occasionally to do homework, but more often just to read. In the summer, I'd walk to the library and enjoy the cool space. Occasionally, our dog would follow me, and try to come in. I'd shoo her out - but then the librarians would tell me it was okay, that the library cat was not in that area, and she could come in. Yes, she was spoiled - and our librarians were awesome! It was at the Cary Library that my mother and I took our first class in Genealogy, when I was just a teenager - and what a treat it was to be able to read the microfiche, and be allowed access to all of the historical books.

My college library, at Wheaton College, was a central point of our campus. I loved the fact that the stacks were underground, and you could go through them and come up in the Science Center. I rarely studied in my room, I found that I could focus on my work much better at the library. When I found my first job, I got an apartment, and located the local library. When I got married, my husband and I went together to the RI Historical library to research our family tree.

Naturally, when we moved to Winthrop, I needed to find the local library - and what a treasure I found. The Charles M. Bailey Library has part of my life here in Winthrop from the very beginning. When we moved here, my daughter was an infant. I didn't go many places, I seem to recall the grocery store, church, and the library! I loved that there was Babytime, where my little one was welcome, and as she became a toddler, Storytime became the highlight of our week! When I had my son, he soon became a regular at the library, too. Every year we would do the Summer Reading Program, and my children would read, but also enjoyed all of the activities - the magicians, the singers, the animals from Chewonki! We loved the annual Halloween Party - living on a rural road, we didn't get trick or treaters, but we always could see our friends at the library in their costumes! There are many families in Winthrop that we met at the library.

Now, with our new addition opening the same week that my daughter is graduating from Winthrop High School, I am thankful that she has been able to grow up in this library. So many of our memories include the library! Even this school year, with the construction and temporary quarters, she has been able to fulfill her need for books, thanks to the librarians, their selection of available books in that temporary space, and the use of interlibrary loan.

The other thing that comes to mind as I write this, it the long line of librarians who have made a difference in my life. Mr. Gooding, our high school librarian. Mrs. Gooding, the elementary school librarian. I can still picture the librarians at the Cary Library, even though I cannot recall their names! I remember how they helped me find just the right book, for a book report, for research projects, or simply for summer reading. Miss Cindy, and Miss Anne, who have been so patient with my children, and helped me to find the right books for them and for myself! Shane, who swaps book suggestions with Teresa, encouraging her to try new books.

The library is so much more than just a building. It really is a community, with our librarians at the center of that community. The Charles M. Bailey Library really is a fundamental part of what makes Winthrop not just where I live, but "home".