The Library a lovely summer thing.

I had a sweet nostalgic feeling today as I took my four youngest children to the library. We have been there a number of times this summer mostly on rainy days. I remember going to the library as a little girl. Along with taking out books to read and looking forward to that new adventure, there were always little activities, and reading groups to take part in.

Today my children asked me to go to the library. I remember the first couple of times that I took them.They were complaining about it, saying it was boring, and why couldn't we go to the mall for date night. Now they view it like I do. It is an adventure.

Sure we could go to the book store and purchase books, which we do about 4 times a year. It is just not the same experience. The book store trips have a build up of excitement like Christmas, you know you are going soon, and you think long and hard about what you want to buy, and how to get the best bang for your buck.

The library has all kinds of excitement. The last time we went, the girls learned how to put a book on hold if it was not in at the time. They get excited when they finish a book before the due date, and if they don't finish it they get excited to go online and renew it. They love looking up a book to see if it is in. It is the whole experience that makes this simple trip so grand. The joy of finishing a book and knowing that you can go and take the next one in the series out is great. The anticipation of starting a book once you get home is like a mini gift.

Then there is that sense of community that you get from seeing the librarians over and over again, and seeing other people from your community that you may bump into at the grocery store, or at the bank. Children's reading groups are great, they see the same children week after week and enjoy sharing stories and learning life lessons. The kids do crafts together usually based on a theme of a popular book.

How lovely it is to enjoy a summers day reading. Enjoying a cool glass of lemonade under your favorite shade tree, snuggling with the kiddies to read a lazy afternoon story. The library encourages one of the great summer activities that can be done again and again with your kiddies.