My Two Libraries

I'm lucky enough to have two libraries in my life: the Valley Center branch where I live, and the Poway branch, where my husband and I take our grandchildren.

When I park my car at the Valley Center library and walk toward the building, I immediately start feeling calm and happy. It's not just the beautiful landscaping and inviting building, it's knowing what's waiting for me inside.

The stone fireplace with its comfy reading chairs, the tall windows looking out to the shaded patio and views of the countryside, and of course, the displays of new releases and shelves of books.

I've always been a fan of used bookstores, so having one right inside my library is an extra treat. I volunteered at the Friends of the Library bookstore for a while and enjoyed meeting like-minded browsers of all ages. I'd recommend it if you love books and people and have a few free hours a week.

It never ceases to amaze me how much there is to do at our library. Maybe I'll take a yoga class again, or join the knitting group. The Soundbath Workshop sounds wonderfully relaxing and although I don't play the fiddle, it makes me smile to think that our library has a Fiddle Club.

The Valley Center Library is a true community hub and support. When we were last evacuated because of fires, the librarians were there for us with juice and cookies. It's hard to describe how comforting they were to all of us who took respite there. During the pandemic we could pick up masks and Covid tests when we couldn't find them anywhere else. And I've noticed the line for free fresh produce on Wednesdays grows longer every week, as families and seniors struggle more to make ends meet.

And then there's the Poway Library. I've always thought of it as my grandchildren's library, as my husband and I have been taking them there at least every two weeks since they were tiny, and they are now six and three years old. You could say they're growing up there.

Like many kids, they're creatures of habit. First they go help their grandpa to return their books -- ten books each, as you have to check out ten books to claim your prize from the treasure chest before you leave.

Then we go around choosing books for each of them. There are games to play -- on the floor and on the computer, and coloring if they're in the mood. If it's a Friday, they love it when the two service dogs come by with their humans, to be read to or just stroked and admired. One dog is big and fluffy and one is small and fluffy.

Sometimes we take our three year old grandson to story hour. At first he'd watch cautiously from the safety of my lap, but now he's down on the mat with the other little others, singing and clapping and listening to stories.

Both my kids grew up in libraries too. When my daughter (their mom) was a pre-teen she loved volunteering and her favorite memory is decorating the library for Halloween. I'm in no rush for them to grow up, but I can almost picture my grandchildren doing that too one day.