Librarian by Day

I don’t write about books here. Not really. I write about ebooks and technology and the future of libraries (which may or may not involve books depending who you ask) and sometimes I write about what I’m reading, but I don’t really write about books. This is about books.

I have a confession to make, like many people I got my library science degree because I love books. I love the idea of them, what they are capable of, the power within them (even if it is just a good index). I love what I do, I love where my career path has taken me and the focus of this blog and I still love books. I read. A lot.

I thought I’d try to share that with you.

I think it was after I finished my undergraduate degree that I realized that other people don’t really read as much as I do, I just assumed everyone did and they didn’t talk about it, it turns out I was wrong. It was a startling revelation. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think how much you read has a bearing on how much you love books. I’m just thinking out loud and rambling as love letters are wont to do. 

Like many people my memories of books and libraries are intermingled. The public library in my hometown was small and I can remember spending hours scouring the shelves for something I hadn’t read that I was interested in reading. Most of my life the majority of books I read come from the public library, if it weren’t for libraries I wouldn’t have bought more books, I would have read less.

I have a very distinct memory of faking illness when I was in grade school so that I could stay home and read, unfortunately I can’t remember which book tempted me so. I remember books I read, and loved in grade school, books I still own and love. I remember books I read for reports and credit and extra credit. But most of all I remember books.

Books have transported me to new and different worlds, or just made me reexamine the one I live in. Books have helped me take a break when time were hard or escape when times were just down right awful. I’ve learned new lessons and re-learned old ones, some good, some bad: good doesn’t always triumph over evil, the good guy doesn’t always win, the bad guy doesn’t always lose, true love conquers all, there is no right or wrong path just the path we take and its up to us to make the best of it.

Books have been my comfort at the end of a long day, my reason for waking up in the morning, they have filled long weekends and late nights. They are my constant companions and oldest friends. They have introduced me to old friends and new loves and deep fears and brave hopes. I can’t imagine my life without the magic they bring with them. I am deeply grateful for the role they have played, and continue to play, in my life. 

Well, that’s it, I did do my best, but like so many love stories, its complicated and complex and I think, in the end, you have to be there to truly understand it.

http://www.demotivation.us/books-1247061.html