Little Free Library, Rose Gardens, Palmerston North, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Libraries raised me. — Ray Bradbury
And me.
And I’d be prepared to bet that many of the people reading this post would probably say the same.
Every town I visit, I want to see the library. And while I’ve loved experiencing the grandeur of great institutions like the British Library, and the State Libraries of Victoria and New South Wales, I also adore the tiny community libraries at Puhoi, north of Auckland and Herald Island, a few minutes drive from home.
Best of all, I love the Little Free Library movement which has sprung up all around the world. What better expression of all that libraries stand for than open access, unregulated book boxes sited where anyone can find them; borrow from them and donate books back.
What is more important in a library than anything else – than everything else – is the fact that it exists. -– Archibald MacLeish
Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest. — Lady Bird Johnson
Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future. — Ray Bradbury
Mitchell Library Reading Room, State Library New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Image; Su Leslie 2018
Zimmerbitch 
I breathe in the scent of a library and smile every time . . .
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😀
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Our older daughter is a librarian and works in IT at U. of T. Libraries are a priceless resource.
Leslie
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I trained as an archivist, and —not surprisingly — totally agree.
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🙂
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Me, too. I know that is how reading was instilled in me, and in turn, my children. I don’t get people who have no interest in reading.
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I grew up with a mother who read avidly, and a father who sort of boasted that he’d only ever read one novel. My brothers aren’t really readers, but I have always found happiness and solace in books. My son is incredibly lucky to have not only two readers as parents but three grandparents who read to him and bought him books. He is, unsurprisingly, a reader too.
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I’m totally with you, Lois…. I am appalled when I go into people’s homes and there are NO books…….
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T and I bought our first house partly based on the books the the -owners had on their shelves. We had many of the same and we figured if it been the right house for them, we’d be happy there too. We were.
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Oh, what a great story! Love it
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And they’re OK with it, too!! So strange….
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Well, we’re all different …
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Yes! Libraries are life, sustenance-and I couldn’t do without them and reading.
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Sustenance— that’s exactly it!!
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My mother is always very proud to tell people that when she got her driver’s license, the first thing she did was take her three children to the local library! So yes, I also grew up in the library. I can still remember the excitement of picking out books to check out each week.
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Me too, Amy….I can still see my little self searching out books
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I remember the smell of my childhood library. The building still exists, but has a new use, and I swear I can still smell old books when I go into it.
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Ah, the scent of the past…
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I remember that feeling. When my son was young and we were new to the community, the local library’s toddler story sessions were where I first met other mothers. They were wonderful.
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Couldn’t agree more with all the quotes and what you wrote about libraries – I love them all and they’re one of our society’s most important aspect: knowledge, history and so much more free for all. 😄
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😀 and I think they are more important now than ever.
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They absolutely are and although I do see the advantages of virtual librabries as well I just hope that there won’t come the day when physical books are banned from them.
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So do I!
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The quotations, your photosyour celebration of a haven tov
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The quotations, the images & your thoughts are a celebration of a haven when we are impoverished, a playground for our imaginations!
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I also love the little free libraries we encounter – and Starbucks (some) have book baskets to give and take….
I enjoyed your quotes – photos and the opening lines really drew me in….
📕📖📘📖📚📚
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Books open a new portal of the world to me and libraries are the links to access that portal. I remember spending time in a local library near my house for hours on an end, before I moved out for college. Ahh I miss that now! Which is the largest library that you have visited till date?
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I really discovered the breadth of knowledge available in books when I went to university. Once I got past being overwhelmed by the size of the place, I discovered whole sections (like literature from different nations) that I just read for pleasure when the textbooks were getting boring.
I think the British Library is probably the largest I’ve ever been to, but far from my favourite. I love the new libraries that are being built in Auckland which have great natural light and really comfortable seating.
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Love libraries too!
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