The wonders of the library

I know that in this day and age probably not that many people ever go to their local library. Nowadays it's all Kindles and online bookstores.  As much as this is fine, there is just something so very special about holding a 'real' book in your hands.

The library played a huge role during our upbringing. If we weren't in the school library or local library in our nearest town we would no doubt be in the mobile library van that visited our village. I remember how much I used to love clambering up the steps into the weird, dark vehicle to be surrounded by books - something that you just didn't expect to see.

I was quite slow at reading when I was small, and didn't like reading aloud because I was so shy. However, I perservered because I loved being swept away into another world when I picked up a book.

The Bodleian

My love for the library carried me all the way to one of Europe's oldest libraries - The Bodleian in Oxford. I studied at Oxford Brookes, not Oxford University, but was really keen to apply for a library card for the Bodleian. I clearly remember going to one of the Oxford Uni Colleges to be sworn in with my friend Rozie (funnily enough). There were about 20 of us around a huge mahogany table with a rather scary looking dean wearing a black gown. When it got to my turn he asked me whether I would like to be sworn in in the Cornish language or English! (We actually only went into the library once, it is an incredibly beautiful place, however quite scary for us non-academic art students). With this library card I was also able to enter The Radcliffe Camera which was rather exciting too.

The Radcliffe Camera

I visit the library regularly to borrow chunky books for Eve. It was with great amazement that I picked up 'Rosie's walk' (1968) by Pat Hutchins a couple of weeks ago. The illustrations are so eye catching I knew it instantly, even though I had not looked at it for many years. It celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2008, how time flies!  Our copy was a normal paperback book in those days, so it's really lovely that this is available as a chunky book for younger children now. If Eve gets her hands on a paperback book she just wants to scrunch it up or eat it...

Books are so important for children, I have so many cherished stories that I simply cannot wait to read with Eve as she develops.