- Showing stories from:
- Athens
- Chauncey
- Coolville
- Glouster
- Nelsonville
- The Plains
- Wells (Albany)
From Allison
PhysicianDear Library,
In 2010, my son, Jonathan, helped the library through his Eagle Scout Service Project: a successful drive resulting in donations of 485 DVDs to the Athens County Libraries. The donation boxes are still available for use in the branch libraries, SO MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW! Everytime I see those donation boxes, I think of how his Eagle Project is still helping the library years later. It is a legacy that continues due to our community's continued contributions and sharing for the good of all. So many times people buy a DVD, watch it once, and put it on a shelf. Here is a chance to put that DVD into the hands of many others via donation. We encourage everyone to make further donations of DVDs and video games to help grow the library collection.
Shared September 16th, 2012
From Allison
PhysicianDear Library,
The Athens Public Library has been a huge part of my family's life since we moved here 13 years ago. My two sons grew up going to the library weekly for "fresh books". We always have a "book on tape" going in the car for local as well as out of town trips. Now I download audiobooks for listening as well. Library book sales have provided all of us with great reading books which we treasure. We are proud of our library and it's dedicated staff! Thank you all for everything you do to keep our library a dynamic place for learning and growing for everyone in Athens County. Thank you to all, Allison
Shared September 16th, 2012
From Ashley
7 gradeDear Library,
When the Albany Library caught fire and had to be repaired, it was moved to the old Albany school building. My family and I went there several times. When we were there, we saw that the walls were plain and white without posters, drawings, etc. We then went home and made all sorts of drawings and then gave them to the library. The librarians were grateful and it made us feel wonderful that we had been able to help make the makeshift library look much better.
Shared September 12th, 2012
From Sherri
LibrarianDear Library,
What's funny here is that I work in a library, then I go to the library again for fun on the weekend. Public Libraries have a whole different vibe than academic libraries, and Athens has that good vibe in spades. I'm one of those readers with 3 or 4 books going at any one time: one in the car, one
Shared September 11th, 2012
From Leona
Prevention specialistDear Library,
My love of books started when I was 12 years old. I know that seems like a little late to find a love for books, but I grew up with a reading disability. The saying "practice makes perfect" is certainly true. I got my first library card at the Nelsonville library during the summer of 1984. Mom signed me up for it in hopes that I would find some books that I may enjoy reading. To her horror, I found those books in the romance area rather then the children's/teen area.
Shared September 11th, 2012
From Dave
Procurement/materialsDear Library,
Instead of writing a story for you (since you already hold so many wonderful tales), I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your many gifts. From the small, somewhat shy boy I once was, I would like to thank Frodo and Samwise for showing me that bravery has no size requirement. The adolescent I once was sends thanks to the likes of Arthur and his noble knights for showing that there are many adventures to be had.
Shared September 10th, 2012
From Laura
TeacherDear Library,
I remember the first library I went to was in Berea, Ohio. In second grade, I had to have my sister accompany me when we rode the 3 miles to it. By third grade, I was allowed to ride alone. I was a voracious reader, but some of my favorite books were The Borrowers, a series by Mary Norton, which are still in print. When we moved to Lake County, Ohio, we quickly found the Morley Library. It had a small, but mighty reference section that helped with the approximately 100 obscure questions
Shared September 8th, 2012
From Corinne
EditorDear Library,
In my memory, I still can see the interior of the St. Clairsville Public Library. I can smell it, too: that indefinable, musty-sweet scent of paper and bindings arising from thousands of books. Walking through the huge main room with its soaring ceiling, through the hallway past the circulation desk, and down the steps to the children's room below.... I would browse the shelves, letting serendipity lead me to new discoveries. I have been a dedicated library patron ever since. The libraries in the places I've lived -- St. Clairsville, Ohio University, Upper Arlington, Akron, and now Athens again -- have provided
Shared September 7th, 2012
From Susan
HousewifeDear Library,
There is an old saying, "It's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there." I love to visit the library and in the past, I have fantasized about living there. I'd be surrounded by books with nothing to do all day but read. The books would let me meet interesting people, explore wonderful places and have excellent adventures without leaving the comfort of my chair. What a life! I felt that way until the day I literally got stuck at the library and was unable to leave.
Shared September 6th, 2012
From Jessica
College freshmanDear Library,
My sisters and I, as well as my mom, love to go to the library. It has something for everyone who goes there: movies, games, books filled with adventure (as if you didn't know that already) and a very comfy bean bag chair. One day, we went to the library to use one of the computers for homework. My youngest sister was so tired from school that day that she pulled the bean bag chair into the toy house, grabbed a book, and sat down. But before she could even open the book she fell asleep. Karen got out her camera and took a picture of her. And later, when we woke her up to go home, we showed her the picture and she said, "Who is that?", not realizing it was her who had fallen asleep.
Shared September 6th, 2012
From Chad
EducationDear Library,
I have always said that I can live anywhere provided that the place has a great library, a bike path, and has high-speed Internet. When we moved to Athens five years ago, I was so delighted to find the Athens Library, and not just because I can find all three things in one place! I have always been impressed by the passion and dedication of the staff
Shared September 5th, 2012
From Andrew
Dear Library,
Why I love the library is that I like Amy. I like going to all the book camps in the summer. I've liked going to all the other book clubs since I was a baby. I learned about nature, that one type of bug eats other insects. I also learned to read better from listening to the librarians. I had loads and loads of fun there, the librarians are so nice. I love painting things there and doing all their crafts.
Shared September 4th, 2012
From Lee
LibrarianDear Library,
The geography of the library figures into my earliest memories. When I was very young, I remember descending down the parking lot and through an unassuming side door that opened into a dark, quiet cavelike space that I mined for stacks of picture books. As I grew older, when the library was still uptown, it was the sanctuary and treasure at the end of my mother’s hand-drawn map that I clutched on my long, solitary walk from West Elementary.
When the library moved into the bright, beautiful space
Shared August 31st, 2012
From Marilyn
LibrarianDear Library,
When I was ready to switch careers, I thought about what I would like to do. Suddenly it came to me - I loved libraries and that was where I wanted to work. I was fortunate enough to land such a job, with the Athens County library system.
One of my favorite moments was after being the one and only librarian at Coolville, I found myself face to face with a young patron at the grocery store. He said excitedly “You’re the library!” And I realized
Shared August 31st, 2012
From Phyllis
BofaDear Library,
My mother was illiterate. Therefore, I was not read bedtime stories; and there were no books in my home. But we lived in a big house with several families. My cousin, who was much older than me, started taking me to the local branch of the Enoch Pratt public library in Baltimore, Maryland where I grew up. A whole new world opened up to me. I would come home with an armload of books and have them read by that evening.
Shared August 31st, 2012
From Katherine
Public school counselorDear Library,
A young child in one of my schools is from a family caring for many children, and the family has very limited means. The child "wrote" a song for another adult in our school about "where could she and her family go?" The child sang that maybe they could go to the grocery, the store, or maye the library. How wonderful that even:
1) in the midst of need and care-giving the family visits the library and
2) the child sees our public libraries as places of abundance, safety and care!
Shared August 31st, 2012
From Betty
Children's librarianDear Library,
My childhood began living outside of a small rural township, which is now a large sprawling suburb of Columbus. There were two special destinations for me within the village. One was Patrick's general store where I could choose the candy for him to scoop up and bag for me. The other was the library. It was an ornate brick building and I loved walking up the stairs to the two large doors. Waiting for me inside the foyer was a large moose mounted upon the wall. I often wondered how he ended up in Pickerington, OH. More steps led
Shared August 30th, 2012
From Amber
LibrarianDear Library,
True life: I’m a librarian. My memories of the library go back as far as my mind's eye can see. As a child, I grew up using the Patterson Library located in upper state New York. This particular library mimics a museum, fully complete with mysterious rooms full of secret archival information -- all at my disposal. Me, my dirty scrapped up knees and frizzy little head, would bob around the stacks. I could be found under any pile of world maps, Shel Silverstein books, and old issues
Shared August 29th, 2012
From Barbie
Hospital aideDear Library,
Books are my BEST friends! They are there for me when everyone else is asleep at night, or when Nascar is on TV! Ha! But true! They are there for me when I am waiting for that doctors appointment and taking my mind off of that doctors appointment (thank you). They are at the beach with me, and how much better does it get than a good book and the beach! They comfort me when
Shared August 25th, 2012
From Wendy
Warrior poetDear Library,
Even before I pushed open your double doors, I was in love. I had already been seduced by the perfume of your inky paper, the gleam of freshly printed spines, the elegance of leather covers and gold–deckled pages. All these years later, I still feel as if I am coming home when I walk into your airy spaces lined with books.
Shared August 24th, 2012
