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A Lifelong Library Love Affair
A personal story about the author's deep connection to libraries over the years.
Feb. 19, 2026 at 6:31am
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The author shares how libraries have been a constant and meaningful part of their life, from discovering the bookmobile as a child to working at a public library system as an adult. They describe the joy of browsing library stacks, the solace found in quiet reading rooms, and the value of libraries as unbiased, reliable sources of information. The author's love for libraries has come full circle as they now work to share the incredible impact of libraries with others.
Why it matters
This personal story highlights the lasting impact that libraries can have on individuals throughout their lives. It underscores the important role libraries play as community hubs, sources of knowledge, and places of refuge. The author's journey illustrates how libraries can shape one's worldview, foster a love of learning, and provide meaningful experiences that stay with a person for decades.
The details
The author recounts vivid memories from their childhood, including the excitement of visiting the bookmobile and the quiet solace found in their high school library. They describe the beauty of the library spaces they've encountered, from the Gothic-influenced architecture of their high school library to the massive Perry-Castañeda Library at the University of Texas. The author also shares how their professional experiences, including working at the Jacksonville Public Library, reignited their deep appreciation for the value libraries provide to communities.
- As a young child, the author saw the bookmobile traveling through their neighborhood in Pompano Beach, Florida.
- The author attended Lourdes High School in Rochester, Minnesota, where the library was housed in a former chapel.
- After their freshman year of college, the author's family moved to Austin, Texas, where the author enrolled at the University of Texas.
- The author worked at the Jacksonville Public Library system in Florida, where they headed up Community Relations and Marketing.
- The author now works at NoveList, where they help share the incredible impact of libraries with people around the world.
The players
Sr. Leocadia
One of the two Franciscan nuns who served as librarians at the author's high school library in Rochester, Minnesota.
Sr. Lorenza
The other Franciscan nun who served as a librarian at the author's high school library in Rochester, Minnesota.
Itzhak Perlman
A famed virtuoso violinist whom the author interviewed for the campus radio station while a student at the University of Texas.
The takeaway
This story underscores the profound and lasting impact that libraries can have on individuals throughout their lives. From providing a sense of wonder and discovery in childhood to serving as hubs of knowledge and community in adulthood, libraries have the power to shape worldviews, foster a love of learning, and offer meaningful experiences that stay with a person for decades. The author's journey illustrates the enduring value of libraries as vital community resources.
