Growing up, I remember always having a good book to read. Books were more than just an item that my mother brought home and made me read. They were companions and journeys that developed and progressed in my imagination and on paper. As a librarian’s daughter, my mother would bring home stacks (yes, stacks) and stacks of books to feed my ever-growing passion and curiosity for literature. To this day, even as a college student my mom will load me down with books to read over the summer. This is the life of a librarian’s daughter. These are the lessons I have learned.

If there is one thing I learned, it’s that we can and should find companionship with others beyond today’s methods. I am a huge proponent of technology and the benefits of social media. However, I think it is also important that we also use other ways to socialize and be together in the moment. It’s healthy for everyone to take time away from the technology and focus on what is around us. Mindfulness is essential to mental well-being.

My mother taught me that reading isn’t just a solitary activity, but also a social one. My whole family reads, both together and separate. It lets us pursue our own passions on paper but also be able to sit next to each other and have a sense of companionship.

I have learned that it is so important that children are exposed to books from literally birth. Obviously they aren’t going to be reading Harry Potter when they are three, but exposing children to literature at a young age is extremely beneficial. It helps children develop psychologically, neurologically, socially, and linguistically. If you ever sit in on story time at the library, you will be awed by how advanced some of the children are for their age.

Reading for fun these days is considered taboo in a world where everything can be accessed on your phone. Regardless, somehow the library is still a critical part of any town or city. They are more than just shelves of books but also places where organizations meet, students go to study, and children join in story time. For some reason, they still struggle. My hometown library has taught me how vital it is to give back to institutions that give so much to the community. They lack volunteers, materials, and funding to keep running.

I’m not saying you have to go get your senior pictures taken at the library (yes, I really did that), or to go check out 15 books; But definitely go get a library card, and maybe sign up to volunteer once in a while. So, please pick up a book and start reading!