Inspiring Library Stories: a nostalgic journey into the importance of libraries in my life
I've just finished reading a beautiful collection of essays and stories about libraries, Oleg Kagan's Inspiring Library Stories. Tales of Kindness, Connection, and Community Impact. I've always enjoyed libraries, but now I see them in a whole new light: as repositories of the best of humanity. And I’m not talking about books here. Rather, I'm referring to the wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to serving others with kindness and compassion. Reading all of these stories made me realize something very important, which is why libraries hold such a special place in my heart today.
Siedlecin Public Library, source: Ksiaznica Karkonoska
I've been a frequent visitor to libraries since I was a child. It wasn't particularly hard as my family's home in Siedlecin, Poland is located above the public library. I remember how difficult it was for me to learn to read at first. As a lefty, I would cover the text I was reading with my finger. Frustrated by the lack of progress and seeing my twin sister excel at reading, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I spent many hours reading all of the children's books available in that very library, and I owe a great deal of my ability to read to that experience.
When I was in college, I would frequently spend entire Saturdays in the modern and elegant library of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, armed with a day's worth of water and snacks. There, I observed foreign students from the United States, Norway, and China who seemed to spend all of their free time in the library, treating it not only as a place where you get information but also as a place to socialize. We didn't yet have such a culture of library use in Poland, and libraries were still considered as places that you want to rush out of once you'd found what you're were looking for.
I noticed similar patterns while studying in the Netherlands. The library of Maastricht University served as a place for students to study and write papers, as well as a meeting place. I often participated in sessions in which we would meet with my colleagues for quiet work alone during stressful exam periods, and then go out for lunch or breaks to share our frustrations, challenges, or plans for the upcoming vacations. As I lived close to the Health Sciences campus, I often went to the library before classes, stayed there afterward, and returned home very late to repeat the process the next day.
Main Library, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, source: the library’s Facebook page
Library of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Netherlands
I spent a lot less time in libraries once I graduated. Whenever I traveled abroad, though, I made an effort to visit the local library to see what it looked like and watch the locals. Whenever I moved, and I moved a lot back in the days, the first thing I researched was how far from the public library my new place was.
However, it wasn't until I moved to the United States three years ago that libraries began to be magical places for me once again. I began visiting the library on a regular basis after resuming my reading habits, first in Silver Spring, MD, and later in Naperville, IL. Reading books helped me in coping with the feelings of homesickness, loneliness, and isolation that many immigrants experience. Visiting the library quickly became the highlight of each week. The chapter Connections made me very aware of why this is the case. At the beginning of the chapter, Oleg wrote something that deeply resonated with me:
I understood that the reason I spend so much time in my local library is that it is probably the one place where I feel comfortable away from home. I feel that I'm welcome, that I belong, and that I’m a part of a community. It doesn't matter what accent or background I have. Such feelings must be true for a large number of immigrants, as well as those who share less fortunate life circumstances. In this regard, reading the book increased my awareness of the various official and informal services provided by public libraries in the United States. Issues such as helping the homeless and providing general social assistance were certainly not addressed by the libraries where I grew up.
Last weekend, I went to a different branch of the Naperville public library. My hesitant steps must have signaled that I was new, and I was greeted with a big smile. I didn't expect anything less after reading the book. Even if you aren't a patron, this lovely book will restore your faith in fellow humans. It's well worth your time to read about a librarian who compiled a dissertation reference list so that a late student could obtain her degree postmortem. Or about another librarian who helped a woman navigating the difficult hours following her release from jail, all while volunteering her own time. Because, as written in the book:
