It is time for another memory lane, this time let’s talk about libraries!
I remember my first trip to library, because it happened in the second grade. After we had all learned to read, our teacher organised a tour to the nearest library, where a librarian told us about what a library does, how to search books and how to take them out of the shelves. Of course, at that time it was highly educational, we actually would need to go to the library for school, because, you know, all those projects required information and we didn’t have computers or internet, so we had to use good old encyclopedias.
It was mostly children book library and it was pretty cool, it had a part, where you could choose books to take them home and a part where you could only read journals and books. And after that first trip I went to this library for years, came to know and love librarians and felt there like home.
But after this tour through the library we each got a small card, which was ‘application’ to get a small paper library card (I’m stressing this, because the last ‘card’ I had, was a code, which I showed to a librarian at a computer and that did everything). I was pretty excited to get a library card, I’m not entirely sure why though, I don’t seem to recall being really into reading books.
Nevertheless I went home, being really happy and, once my mom was home from work, I confronted her with the whole library tour and card, and sign up thing. The thing is – you needed your parents consent to have a membership at a library, so I needed my mother signature, and then my mom… didn’t give it.
You know how your parents don’t give you candy or the newest tech and you kind of get it? But here I was with ‘almost free’ library application and my mother refused it to me. Before you jump to conclusions, I have to explain that I think she refused, because she thought that I will not be interested in books, it will be a waste of time and money and then I will lose them or not get them back on time and will have to pay fines, but we didn’t have money, so that would be a waste of money. It makes sense and at the same time it doesn’t.
Anyways, being shattered by my mom meant that I couldn’t get the library card! What a shame! But my friend came up with the idea to sign on the card instead of my mother – no on would know, right? And that is what she did – she signed on the card, we payed the small fee from my ‘bus money’ I had been saving and voila! I had a library card.
Approximately next four or five years, I went on hiding library books and the fact that I had a library card from my mother. I don’t know, if she knew, if she cared, but she never said anything about it, so I went on falling in love with books and librarians falling in love with the little girl who came almost every day to exchange the old book to a new one. I was so careful – not to take more than one book at a time, to always have the possibility to lose or damage just one book at a time.
Some people are trying to get their parents consent for all kinds of things, you would never expect one to become a little ‘criminal’ just to get a library card, right?
That is the story of my first library card, let me know, your first visit to the library and your favourite parts of it. Were your parents happy with your reading habit?
bookowly 
September 10, 2016 at 23:49
I was a little surprised to read your mother refusing to give her permission for a library card, but it makes for a great story. It sounds like you had a very enterprising friend to sign for you! 😉
I don’t remember my first library card, but I do remember visiting the public library with my grandmother. The only library I visited as a child was in our small rural school. Now, this library had many wonderful books, but my grandmother lived in a city and her library seemed to stretch for miles. They had an incredible children’s literature section, and whenever we visited her on our summer holidays, the first place she would take us was to the library. I remember trying to be careful in my choices because the limit was 10 books per week.
This is a great topic – thank you. I hadn’t thought about that wonderful library in years.
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September 12, 2016 at 10:22
Awww, that is so lovely! And I guess it is true – people would remember their first card only if it was special. I kind of held on to that card for a really long time, not wanting to let it go and at the same time fearing that one day they will make me give mom another form and what if the signatures won’t match? 😀 Luckily my mother re-married, so she changed her signature and took my worries away. 😀
Sometimes kids just imagine that private detectives work in libraries. 😀
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September 12, 2016 at 19:37
Hahaha! That’s a great story. Yes, sometimes kids do wonder if private detectives work in libraries…but I wouldn’t be surprised if some librarians moonlight as detectives at night!
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September 11, 2016 at 14:15
Aw. This is such a cute and heart-breaking story. I can’t imagine parents denying children a library card what with the current dilemma of children not wanting to read. Though, everyone has their reasons.
I, however, only got my first library card last year… at 23 years of age. >.> I liked the school library when I was younger, like elementary school age, but I always lacked the most important part: reading. I always checked out the books and then I’d never touch them before I had to return them. So my parents never got me a library card. We never went to the library. It just kind of… slipped away. Not that either of my parents were necessarily voracious readers.
So, that probably had something to do with it, and I’m not sure it matters since I love reading now. Maybe it’s because I didn’t read when I was younger that I have such a desire to read now that I’m older and have the time (but not the money :p). Either way, I’m glad we both found a way to love reading! ^.^
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September 12, 2016 at 10:17
Awww, it is really lovely that you found reading the way you did, perhaps you were ready, after enjoying all the childhood fun! 🙂
It does seem illogical to say that a kid can’t have a card, but at the same time, I understand her as well. We couldn’t afford to live in general, so me losing books would be a disaster. I’m lucky that we came out of that pit and although it turned out that I loved reading (I think a bit also to spite my mom), I might as well have turned the other way – there was no way to tell. 🙂
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September 12, 2016 at 17:17
Mm. Very true. And the important thing is that experienced framed who you are today, whether it was good or bad. Sometimes that’s what’s important, yes?
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September 15, 2016 at 15:50
What an amazing post! Just my type… I am mad about books and when I was in school I used to be found in library only.. be it reading novels, magazines or preparing for tests.. It was the best phase of my life.. at that time, I was fascinated by Chicken Soup stories.. they were just fab.. now also in college, I read when I get a chance.. I have read 80 plus books in English Section from my college library.. and school library, there were 1000 books and I read them all.. 🙂
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October 11, 2016 at 21:47
By making books ‘forbidden fruit’ your mother probably made books more exciting. I loved this blog.
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November 13, 2017 at 06:28
I first got my library card when I was 5. I think my dad was the one who helped me get it. Oddly. Though, my parents did take turns making sure my sister and I had regular trips, starting with story hour when we were like 3. They kept a pretty tight lid on me those first few years, slowly letting me discover new things. Then I discovered the grown up mystery section and it was over.
These days, as an adult, I read pretty much whatever, and and my parents aren’t nearly as pleased with my choices in life.
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