Every Story Counts

CLOSED: More to say? Tell us about why the library matters to you. Share your library story here.

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  Library saves people!

  by Cheryl, 3 months ago
  I have an eye disease that can lead to blindness. I have a iPad and use it to borrow books. I like it because as my vision worsens, I can change the font size. I also if my eyesight fails to the point that I can physically read, I will be able to rent the same books in an audio format! Saving our libraries and their services in important and absolutely necessary.

  Cheryl Tomac

  I have an eye disease that can lead to blindness. I have a iPad and use it to borrow books. I like it because as my vision worsens, I can change the font size. I also if my eyesight fails to the point that I can physically read, I will be able to rent the same books in an audio format! Saving our libraries and their services in important and absolutely necessary.

  Cheryl Tomac
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  Ramona library is well loved!

  by Readscookbooks, 3 months ago

  Today was my second visit to the branch this week, and there is always much going on!

  I needed to pick up a couple of reserved books and renew my library card. There was a storytime ending with excited preschoolers and their caregivers selecting books to check out. Others fill up the computer center, using the public computers free of charge, study rooms are busy with people too.

  I know I will be back at the branch tomorrow to attend a class about composting at your home. I've been a life-long library user and avid reader.

  I sincerely appreciate all... Continue reading

  Today was my second visit to the branch this week, and there is always much going on!

  I needed to pick up a couple of reserved books and renew my library card. There was a storytime ending with excited preschoolers and their caregivers selecting books to check out. Others fill up the computer center, using the public computers free of charge, study rooms are busy with people too.

  I know I will be back at the branch tomorrow to attend a class about composting at your home. I've been a life-long library user and avid reader.

  I sincerely appreciate all that is offered and the many ways ALL people can use library services.
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  “More Than Books: A Lifelong Conversation with My Library”

  by Gerald Charles Boursiquot, 3 months ago

  I was born in New York State to Haitian immigrants who fled a dictatorship and came to this country seeking opportunity and a better life. For them, education and access to knowledge were sacred, tools for freedom and advancement. That belief shaped my earliest memories, and no place captured that spirit more than the first library I ever visited: the Finkelstein Memorial Library in Spring Valley, New York.

  Growing up in a predominantly Jewish but beautifully diverse community, I was surrounded by neighbors from every part of the world, including Haitian, Hasidim (Jews), Iranian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Indian, Albanian, and... Continue reading

  I was born in New York State to Haitian immigrants who fled a dictatorship and came to this country seeking opportunity and a better life. For them, education and access to knowledge were sacred, tools for freedom and advancement. That belief shaped my earliest memories, and no place captured that spirit more than the first library I ever visited: the Finkelstein Memorial Library in Spring Valley, New York.

  Growing up in a predominantly Jewish but beautifully diverse community, I was surrounded by neighbors from every part of the world, including Haitian, Hasidim (Jews), Iranian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Indian, Albanian, and Korean families. Inside that library, you could hear fifteen languages spoken on any given day. It was vibrant, alive, and full of possibility. As a young boy wandering those aisles, the library became my first window into a larger world. It was never just about the books; it was about discovery. I can still remember the smell of the paperbacks, The card catalog, the sound of the old checkout scanner, and how safe I felt being surrounded by stories that carried me far beyond my small neighborhood.

  I also remember the very first presentation I ever attended there. I was about eight years old when a Jewish woman came to speak about her experience during World War II and Nazi Germany. She placed a lamp and a photo album on the table beside her and talked softly about her sister and how much she loved her. Then she said something I have never forgotten: “I take her with me everywhere I go.” As a child, I didn’t yet understand what she meant. But as she went on, she explained, through tears, that the lampshade and the cover of the photo album were made from her sister’s skin. I remember the room going completely silent. In that moment, I learned the terrible cost of hatred and the sacred importance of memory. That day at the library, I began to understand that the stories we keep, as painful as they may be, are what keep us human.

  That experience left an impression that shaped how I view knowledge and responsibility. Over the years, libraries have evolved, but their purpose has not changed. Now, living in North County San Diego, I see that same spirit of discovery and humanity alive in every branch I visit. Whether it is a child curled up in the reading corner, a senior learning to use a tablet, or a family quietly studying together, it is all community in action. Libraries remain one of the few truly public spaces left where everyone belongs and knowledge is still free.

  After more than two decades of military service, I turned my attention to civic life and public policy. During that transition, the library became a place of grounding for me once again. It reminded me that good leadership starts with listening, learning, and staying curious, the very principles I first learned as a young reader. I used its resources to study housing policy, legislative history, and community development. But what meant the most was not just the information I found; it was the feeling of connection I experienced every time I walked through the doors. I still feel like that little boy who felt that sense of awe, wonder and amazement of what an interesting and so very large place our world, and our universe really is.

  I have watched library staff greet every person with the same warmth and patience, no matter who they are or what they are facing. In a world that can often feel divided and digital, that human connection matters more than ever. The library remains one of the few spaces where the playing field is truly leveled. It is where a young student, a retiree, or someone facing hard times can sit side by side and find what they need to move forward.

  The library has also nurtured my creative and spiritual side. While I attended Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary, I learned the Greek, Hebrew and Latin. I studies Josephus, Tertullian, and Martin Luther's 95 Thesis. I have spent quiet mornings reading biographies, historical texts, and books on philosophy and faith, often finding unexpected lessons that guided my path in life and on to leadership. It is where I recharged mentally and could reconnect with what truly matters: knowledge, kindness, and service.

  For me, the San Diego County Library is not simply a public institution. It is a living symbol of hope, equality, and lifelong learning. Every time I see someone walk through those doors, I am reminded that this place belongs to all of us. It is built from our stories, our curiosity, and our shared belief that community thrives when knowledge is open to everyone. That is why the library matters to me, and why I will always be grateful for the role it has played in my journey and in the life of this San Diego county I now proudly call home.
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  Why the Library Matters to Me

  by Denise, 3 months ago

  My name is Denise and i have been a regular user of the San Marcos County Library for over 23 years. I'm 71 years of age now. So, San Marcos Library is not my first libary. It is however an excellent library. Through the years I've been in dozens and cultivated a love of libraries in my youth. As a young girl I was fortunate to have a mother who loved going to the local library. Her appreciation for reading and books was contagious. For years now I visit a local library, whereever I am living. And the San Marcos... Continue reading

  My name is Denise and i have been a regular user of the San Marcos County Library for over 23 years. I'm 71 years of age now. So, San Marcos Library is not my first libary. It is however an excellent library. Through the years I've been in dozens and cultivated a love of libraries in my youth. As a young girl I was fortunate to have a mother who loved going to the local library. Her appreciation for reading and books was contagious. For years now I visit a local library, whereever I am living. And the San Marcos library and County Library system is a gem....lots of books, movies and CD's. Without the library I would not be as well educated and knowledgable as I am professionally. I read fiction, non fiction, listen to CD's, get books transported from other libraries, and have spent many hours having a fuller quality of life because I am reading books that tell stories, share information, bring vivid characters to life and represent how creative we human beings are... authors, writers, who write books that can expand our minds and imagination.
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  Growing with the Encinitas Library

  by ss122348, 3 months ago
  We moved near the Encinitas library when it was smaller than some of the houses in the area. Even still, part of the draw of the location was being able to walk to the library, and to have access to all it offered. Two kids later, and then the library remodel. Best decision ever to enlarge and rebuild this jewel here, next to public transit, near the small park and downtown, and for everyone to be able to enjoy its coastal location. My kids grew. The library grew. It was fun to watch the huge concrete walls being poured into... Continue reading

  We moved near the Encinitas library when it was smaller than some of the houses in the area. Even still, part of the draw of the location was being able to walk to the library, and to have access to all it offered. Two kids later, and then the library remodel. Best decision ever to enlarge and rebuild this jewel here, next to public transit, near the small park and downtown, and for everyone to be able to enjoy its coastal location. My kids grew. The library grew. It was fun to watch the huge concrete walls being poured into forms, and multi-story cranes putting them in place. Today the kids are gone, but I still go. It is enjoyed by so many people: for books, concerts, computer access, meeting places. No obligations, people can just go freely. What a wonderful community resource!
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  We Love Relaxing and Reading at the Poway Library

  by Friends of Poway Library , 3 months ago
  
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  Library Love

  by Marissaw, 3 months ago
  I LOVE the library and have since I was young. When I was a child, it was a way for me to have access to all the books and knowledge my parents couldn’t afford. In my 20s, it was a place for books, internet access and a general good place to spend time. In my 30s, it was where I tutored youth with special needs, a safe place for them to learn. In my busy 40s, it has given me access to Libby which allows me to listen to novels voraciously and for free. I LOVE the library.

  I LOVE the library and have since I was young. When I was a child, it was a way for me to have access to all the books and knowledge my parents couldn’t afford. In my 20s, it was a place for books, internet access and a general good place to spend time. In my 30s, it was where I tutored youth with special needs, a safe place for them to learn. In my busy 40s, it has given me access to Libby which allows me to listen to novels voraciously and for free. I LOVE the library.
• Share You’re Never Too Young To Start Your Reading Journey on Facebook Share You’re Never Too Young To Start Your Reading Journey on Twitter Share You’re Never Too Young To Start Your Reading Journey on Linkedin Email You’re Never Too Young To Start Your Reading Journey link

  You’re Never Too Young To Start Your Reading Journey

  by Mama Lexy, 3 months ago
  

  You are never too young to start your reading journey. My boys (4 years old and 2 years old) have loved going to the library at the Bonita Sunnyside Location. On our way home from school, my 4 year old would beg me to go to the library! He enjoyed finding books about his favorite characters like Spider-Man, and Paw Patrol, or find a fun book about animals or dinosaurs. When my son finds a few books he likes, he will cuddle into a cozy corner to read through them and look at the pictures. My boys are still not... Continue reading

  You are never too young to start your reading journey. My boys (4 years old and 2 years old) have loved going to the library at the Bonita Sunnyside Location. On our way home from school, my 4 year old would beg me to go to the library! He enjoyed finding books about his favorite characters like Spider-Man, and Paw Patrol, or find a fun book about animals or dinosaurs. When my son finds a few books he likes, he will cuddle into a cozy corner to read through them and look at the pictures. My boys are still not old enough to read, but it’s never too early to become passionate readers. These are memories we will always cherish! One day they will grow up to read books and they will look back to those special times at the Library with their mom.
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  My commuting companion

  by AVSarte, 3 months ago
  Im so grateful for all the services my library offers. The service that I use most frequently is the Libby app. I use this to check out both audio and e books. In the last year, I was able to meet my goal for total number of books completed in a year thanks to app. My time spent commuting from home to work and back was filled with listening to audio books. It made me really enjoy and cherish that time.

  Im so grateful for all the services my library offers. The service that I use most frequently is the Libby app. I use this to check out both audio and e books. In the last year, I was able to meet my goal for total number of books completed in a year thanks to app. My time spent commuting from home to work and back was filled with listening to audio books. It made me really enjoy and cherish that time.
• Share I'm amazed and delighted at how many people have shared their stories on Facebook Share I'm amazed and delighted at how many people have shared their stories on Twitter Share I'm amazed and delighted at how many people have shared their stories on Linkedin Email I'm amazed and delighted at how many people have shared their stories link

  I'm amazed and delighted at how many people have shared their stories

  by Tim S., 3 months ago
  My SDCL branch (Fletcher Hills in El Cajon) has to be one of the smallest if not the smallest in the system. But the staff there has the biggest heart, and it warms my heart to see the community getting such great benefit from it. It's just a bit too far to walk to, but every time I go in the door it takes me back to what the Fletcher Hills neighborhood must have been like 60 years ago, when it opened (a tip of the hat to the Gemini AI agent for that info (6/1/1968 was the opening date... Continue reading

  My SDCL branch (Fletcher Hills in El Cajon) has to be one of the smallest if not the smallest in the system. But the staff there has the biggest heart, and it warms my heart to see the community getting such great benefit from it. It's just a bit too far to walk to, but every time I go in the door it takes me back to what the Fletcher Hills neighborhood must have been like 60 years ago, when it opened (a tip of the hat to the Gemini AI agent for that info (6/1/1968 was the opening date it gave.))