Libraries held a significant place in my younger years. First was the library at my elementary school, with a librarian who recommended books that nurtured my reading and sparked my love of story. Then was the branch public library near my suburban home, where we would venture every week of summer, browse for a good hour before bringing home a stack of books checked out on my own library card.
My first post-college job was in a university library. I worked in the basement, in the order department, checking in new books and readying them for the librarians to catalogue. I considered getting my degree in library science after that, but ended up having babies instead.
As books became more accessible, more affordable, I began to be obsessed with possessing the ones I loved. Besides, in the busy life of a mother of three—all of whom refused to sit still for story time—the library fell out of my usual routine. It seemed much more difficult to pack up the kids and go, then remember to return the books on time. I still loved to go, but it didn’t happen very often.
When we moved to Austin in 2016, their new central library was under construction not far from our apartment. It finally opened in the fall of 2017, just a few months before we moved to our condo, which sits just a few hundred feet behind the library. Suddenly the library—and not just any library, but a large, central library—was literally in my front yard! And so began my new season of friendship with the library.
artwork in the 6 story atrium 
staircases zig-zagging up 6 floors 
Rooftop deck 
View from the deck
Besides the fact that this particular place has won awards for its architecture, I have enjoyed making it my writing space. Big windows let in the sunshine. Comfy chairs as well as chairs at tables offer many different writing environments. The rooftop deck gives the opportunity for a breath of fresh air along with its breathtaking view of the Colorado River (or Lady Bird Lake, as we call this section). And the coffee shop/restaurant—called Cookbook Cafe—provides needed jolts of caffeine. All of this and a gift shop, too! (Hello, book-themed gifts!)
Besides the building itself, the walk there is lovely, with stone walls and colorful flowers, a bridge with large arches, and the bookworm sculptures sitting across the street. (Apparently they aren’t technically bookworms. They can represent whatever you think they are. But look at the picture. It’s a bookworm, right?
In the months I’ve been frequenting the library, I’ve been reminded again of the joy of browsing the stacks as well as the convenience of checking out a book instead of buying it. (In our tiny condo, we only have so much room for books!) In fact, not long ago I checked out my first ebook! That was amazing!
A few weeks ago I finished Susan Orelan’s The Library Book, a fascinating non-fiction book about the Los Angeles central library—its history, the mystery of the devastating fire of 1986, and the current day issues facing urban libraries as a whole and the LA library specifically. I found myself turning the pages as quickly as in any novel! Perhaps I connected with that book so deeply because of my current reacquaintance with my own city’s library.
But no matter all the reasons, my love of libraries has been reignited. Which makes perfect sense. I’m used to having my books surround me in my home. Now that I can’t do that in quite the same way, I’ve found another such space which feels familiar. With which I have history. It makes this urban living thing feel more like home.
Do you have a history with libraries? Do you still go to the library? What is your most significant memory of a library?
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That library is amazing! I’m quite jealous! Growing up, I didn’t live near a library but have a very vivid memory of my dad having stopped at a library book sale while he was out driving his concrete truck for work and bringing home several books for me. I still have those books! I frequent the library in my town quite regularly these days. Although I tend to check out more of the ebooks and audiobooks since I can do that from anywhere at any time. But I do enjoy stopping in to browse.
Libraries are becoming one of the few book browsing places again with so many bookstores going out of business. I like buying online, but I don’t browse online. I buy books I’ve heard of, not ones I discovered because of their eye-catching covers or intriguing back cover blurb. And I so love that you still have the books your dad bought you! Library sales are awesome!
I have enjoyed visiting libraries since I was a young girl. My parents took me to the local library and the bookmobile. My husband and I carried on the tradition and love for reading by taking our son to the library. We are all avid readers. 🙂 From story time to book clubs to informative classes, the library is filled with greatness.
Yes it is, Melissa! I love that you’ve been a continual fan. 🙂
What a wonderful library! No wonder you’ve made it your home away from home. I think I’d be very happy writing there. 🙂
It’s a pretty awesome office. So nice of the city to build it for me. 😉
The other day, I read “The Library Book” will be adapted for TV, and Susan Orlean is involved with the production. That should keep the interest for her book going!
Interesting! Not sure how they would do it for TV, but I guess it would be along the lines of a documentary? I heard her speak last fall at the Texas Book Festival, otherwise I might not have picked the book up! But I’m so glad I did.
I gained a lifetime love of reading by being lucky enough to have a library I could walk to on my own in my neighborhood when I was a kid. It was in a small house in a residential neighborhood. Of course, today it has moved and is much larger, but that was all it took for me. I went on to work in the library in high school and was offered a job at the Main library later, which sadly, I could not afford to take, but wished I could.
I missed it when my son got too old to read to anymore, but we had so much fun visiting the library and bringing home that stack of new treasures! He is an avid reader to this day!
I love your history with libraries! So fun! But yes, not often great pay. 🙁
Anne, thanks for sharing your lifelong relationship with libraries. I think libraries are magical places, offering nearly infinite resources to many at no cost to most. I have fond memories of visiting the old historic building that housed my childhood public library. The children’s books were in the basement, and the stairs creaked and groaned whenever anyone tread on them. Now when visiting other cities, I love to visit the library if time permits; I’ve been to some truly beautiful Carnegie libraries in smaller communities.
I love those Carnegie libraries, too! Historical libraries are awesome. Sounds like you had a good one. New library buildings are cool but they don’t have all the quirks and personality of old ones.
I have always loved libraries. When I was young, Mrs. Strange (a tiny, plumb, gray haired librarian) read us great books like Millions of Cats every week, and rationed out the new Dr. Suess books to only two at a time. All the books – kept in order on the shelves – a wealth of stories and facts, and soft chairs to read them in. Even a librarian to help me find my heart’s desire. Whenever our family moves, my first task is to get a local library card. Often this is even before we close on our house! Hopefully it is yellow, so I can have a Golden Ticket. Whenever I have needed to run away from home, the local libray is a lovely place to hang out and hide away until I feel ready to be Mom again.
Yes! A great place to escape to in and of itself, but with all sorts of wonderful escapes between the covers of the books. 🙂
Yes, I go to my library in Largo, Fl. at least once a week. I am 75 years young and read fiction, non fiction and yes YA. When I first moved to Fl., 30 years ago, we were in an area that I could NOT used St. Petersburg library, moved to Largo after a year. Also Largo library was named Fl. library of the year in 2018. Six floors of books what a joy.
Sounds like a great library, Robertine! I love that you still read YA, too!