Writing Childhood Memories of Books
I stumbled on this little magazine tidbit about a year ago (from Reader’s Digest, I think) and tucked it into the pocket of my journal.
It reads: When our school librarian announced she was changing schools, my fellow teacher asked a student, “Why do you think Ms. R– is leaving?”
The third grader opined, “Because she’s read all our books?”
Does that story carry you right back to your elementary school library? It did for me!
Quite regularly, I drive a neighbor into town, so I had some time to kill at a local coffee shop the other day. I stumbled on this magazine clipping and reached for one of the library cards in my journal. I just started writing a few memories about my childhood love of books.
Each little memory begins: I remember…
I couldn’t believe how many I remembers poured into my mind as I kept writing.
My memories all revolved around my own Mrs. R–. She was the one who introduced me to books. She was my mom, and she just so happens to now be a elementary school librarian. Just as I stumbled on that clipping, she was switching schools for a shorter commute.
Mom, is it really true? Did you finish reading all of the books in the old school’s library?
Try this exercise from something in your childhood – maybe about your relationship with learning to read, too. I think you’ll be in love with some of the memories that will come. You ready? Here you go:
I remember…
February 17th, 2011 at 10:20 am
I remember visiting the public library as a child and the joy I felt when I chose a book to bring home. We did not have a lot of extra money, and picking a book to borrow was a real treat for me. Still is.
I’m studying for my Masters in Library and Information Science right now because I hope to work as a school librarian one day. I’m 40 years old so this is an adventure, but I’ve always wanted to do this ever since my love of libraries was nurtured as a child.
February 17th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I have excellent memories from all of the libraries of my childhood: public, school & church.
In our school library a teacher used to meet with me in 6th grade to go over my short stories. She saw writing talent in me and took time to cultivate it.
Our public library held many many happy & educational hours for me. That is where I learned research and reference skills, and fell in love with so many books. I was an avid reader, taught myself to read at age 5, and every time my family went on a trip we would stop at the library before leaving town and I would check out as many books as I could. One summer vacation we went on a road trip halfway across the country. I filed my books in a plastic basket and stowed it under my half of the minivan seat. I would read until the sun set, and keep reading by the light of the highway lights, memorizing my place on the page between bits of light.
February 17th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
As a librarian, this makes me smile so wide! :)
I have such fond memories of libraries as a child – obviously, since I know spend a lot of time in one! I particularly remember my mom telling me that I was checking out too many books at once (yes, I was that child), and that from now on I could only take as many books as I could fit into this one tote bag. Of course, I somehow managed to fill that bag up to the brim and often had to literally drag it out to the car.
I love your use of library cards in your journals. Have you thought of creating a book journal?
February 17th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
I remember … getting in trouble for reading (hidden away somewhere) when I was supposed to be doing something else not fun like chores.
I remember … falling asleep reading and waking in the morning with the light still on and my book lying across my stomach.
February 17th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
I remember struggling to read. Unfortunately, I struggled reading until I was diagnosed with inattentive A.D.D. Thanks to modern medicine, I can read and comprehend! It is a huge blessing to ENJOY reading now! Not sure that was the warm and fuzzy memory you were hoping for. ;)
Love this! Shannon
February 17th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Shannon, I think that parts of our memories are good, some are hard, and some are sad. Some start one way and turn into another. The key, I think, is to write about the good ones and reflect and decide if the bad/hard are ones we want to tap into and how we want to do that.
Katie
February 17th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Oh and YEAH for librarians chiming in!
February 18th, 2011 at 6:29 am
I so enjoyed reading as a child that I still struggle to kick the habit… in other words, Kate, what you said, but saying “I remember” doesn’t reach so far back… I’ve done both things you’ve mentioned in the past two weeks. Sigh.
February 18th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
I remember my little public library and the year they added a children’s room on the back. Then the library had three rooms! I remember the new orange carpet and blue bean bag chairs in the children’s room and the summer my friend Christy and I read through the entire Happy Hollisters series. I remember the smooth wood of the table and chairs in the middle “study” room. And I remember feeling so special when I sat on the leather couches in front of the big stone fireplace in the front room where they kept the grown up books.
February 18th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
This is so sweet. i went to a tiny private school, so I didn’t have a school library until high school, and at that point I was more into the public library (they had Dave Barry books!). My mother-in-law is a school librarian, though, and she loves telling me stories about ‘the kids.’ She’ll also recommend books for me to read – it’s fun to swap opinions with her. I have a thing for old library cards… maybe I should source some to put in my own books.