My love for libraries blossomed when I joined the public library. From the age of 8, I was allowed to walk from my home to the downtown library, housed above the police station. Once the librarian gave me my first membership card, I could enjoy a range of books, which started with Little House in the Big Woods. I was addicted instantly, and this love of libraries and reading would change my life, allowing me to one day create a safe space for high-school kids, too.
By the time I was in high school, I could read the authors that we were studying in class, including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Emily Bronte. During the summer months, I got caught up in Gone with the Wind.
When I studied English literature at university, I thought it was time to build my own library. For the next 40 years, I continued to collect books. Until one day, I realized that all my books had become a part of the house, like wallpaper.
Toward the end of my teaching career, I became a teacher-librarian at my old high school, where I had first learned English literature. This position restored my love and appreciation for libraries. I never forgot how wonderful it was to be surrounded by books. I had a generous budget for my classes, so I searched for novels that would interest my teenage audience and hopefully spark a love for books. Fantasy, science-fiction, graphic novels — I bought almost any type of book that my students wanted to read. I bought sofas and comfortable chairs, turning the library into an inclusive (包容的) public space, safe for everyone.
In doing so, I realized that the library isn’t just a place to do research. They are, in fact, places that offer an opportunity to engage with the past, present and future. All that is required is a tiny bit of curiosity. Libraries are places that should be full of life. They help us fit into the world, and their doors must be kept open to everyone — for free!
【小题1】What inspired the author to set up a library for students?| A．Some well-known classics. |
| B．The suggestion of a librarian. |
| C．His affection for libraries and reading. |
| D．The book: Little House in the Big Woods. |
| A．In primary school. | B．In high school. |
| C．During university years. | D．After becoming a librarian. |
| A．What his career was like. | B．Where he stored his books. |
| C．Why school kids loved reading. | D．How he improved the school library. |
| A．More than just Books | B．Read with Curiosity |
| C．A Librarian’s Life | D．Build a Private Library |
