We Miss Libraries!

Doha does not have any public libraries. If there are any, we haven't found them yet. The only library we have access to is the ASD school library. It is okay, but last week Abbey had a bad experience with an impatient librarian there, so she hasn't wanted to go back or even read the book she checked out. So, on Thursday after school, I took the time to take her back and help her find a book in the reading level the Reading Nazis demand she choose from. It helped her overall attitude, but when we got home that day Abbey said, "I miss our home library."

She's right, there is a big hole in our lives without our weekly trip to the public library where we can check out ANYTHING we want to, even a book that might be out of someone's reading level. I think libraries are about CHOICE and OPTIONS. I also think they are about tangible items that can be held, carressed, leafed through, dog-eared, misplaced, found again with joy, or abandoned out of sheer boredom. The internet or digital books just don't offer all those tactile opportunitites for interaction. Reading is about an experience and connection to a book, and libraries offer an infinite number of amazing book relationships.

I came across this quote and thought it was worth sharing. Here is your smile for the day: Daniel Handler said, "A library is like an island in the middle of a vast sea of ignorance, particulary if the library is very tall and the surrounding area has been flooded."