Our ode to libraries: Celebrating Library Lovers Day
A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.
– Henry Ward Beecher
A place where children fall in love with reading. A community gathering point. A quiet spot to study. The chance to seek guidance from a knowledgeable and helpful librarian. A place to freely access information and ideas.
Libraries can mean many different things to people – and Library Lovers Day is an opportunity to celebrate all the value that libraries bring to our society!
We asked some of our Deakin Library staff to share their reasons why they love libraries, and their memories of the role libraries have played in their lives.
‘Libraries are free spaces where people can come together and be safe and explore a universe of stories! You don’t have to pay to get in, you don’t have to pay for the books. There aren’t many free communal spaces left free of advertising and the pressure to spend money.
Libraries are not competitive, instead we share our great ideas and support each other around the world to ensure people get the best service and resources to help them thrive in the world!’
– Louisa, Liaison Librarian
Photo by Jonathan Singer on Unsplash
‘My primary school librarian introduced me to some amazing authors and sparked a lifelong love of reading. I still get excited to visit my local library – you never know what treasures you might find on the shelves!’
– Angela, Library Advisor
‘I still remember the excitement of having my very own library bag and our weekly trip to the Diamond Valley library on a Friday afternoon, the chance to pick out my own books. Later on, we moved to the country and would walk down from school to use the mobile library parked in the main street on a Tuesday morning. We climbed up the wobbly steps and ducked around each other in the tiny space.
Libraries are spaces and places (virtual and physical) like no other, where people can go to follow their dreams, find pieces of puzzles and escape reality.’
– Fiona, Manager Faculty Of Health Library Services
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
‘When I was young my mum would take me to the local library and we would pick out 30 books (that was the limit) and then read a bunch every night in bed with a bowl of strawberries. I used to pretend I was a librarian by sticking pieces of paper in the backs of books, sitting at a table and waiting for my parents to come in and borrow something and then I would stamp the paper in the back and write in a due date for them to return it.’
– Lizzy, Learning and Teaching Librarian
‘I remember standing in the Austrian National Library a few years ago, marvelling at all the beauty, knowledge and history in one place. And while the public library near my childhood home was much more humble, for me as a kid it held just as much promise – so many books to read and so many adventures to go on through their pages. I think especially since starting to work at Deakin Library I’ve gained a new appreciation for the incredibly important role of libraries. Not just as hosts of information, but for developing skills, and accessing technology to turn that information into knowledge.’
– Laura, Engagement and Events Coordinator
What do you love about libraries? Tell us in the comments!