Library Visit
I love libraries. I got married in a library. I walked down the middle aisle between the stacks on either side.
I visit my library regularly. I go at least once a week to return or grab books, but I also go on bad days when I need to clear my head for a few minutes. I just like being near books, even if I don’t take any home with me.
So I wholeheartedly love this idea of being a library tourist and visiting libraries around the world. We like taking the kids to popular libraries — tourist destination libraries — but I also really love going into small, local libraries. I usually like the small, local libraries more because the librarians talk to you and you get a sense of the area. This would be your library if you lived there.
Do you visit libraries in places you visit?
14 comments
I used to always go to libraries when I was a teenager. In 20s I was in university so of course was always doing research. I seemed to always find the oldest, stinkiest books in our university: it became a point of pride. The internet ruined libraries for me because I could renew books online. I would then proceed to forget about them, run up fines and end up resenting the library even though it was totally my fault.
I didn’t go for years and years but have been going in the past year with my daughter. Our local library has a play area for kids so it’s an easy outing, play date etc. I haven’t taken out any books for myself though, only her.
I love that you were married in a library! That’s so perfect. Libraries are such special places. I do visit libraries, most often in Maine (the Camden library is lovely, and the Vinalhaven one was also beautiful). For as often as we’ve been to Grafton, VT, I haven’t gone in their library but now I have to make it a point to fix that! I’m tutoring this summer and spending a lot of time in the libraries, and it’s lovely to discover things there, just wandering through the stacks. I love your ode to libraries!
I have never visited a library while on vacation. I *have* visited book stores in other cities.
My local library is the unfriendliest I’ve ever been to. I thought so 10 years ago when I stood at the counter for 20 minutes trying to get someone’s attention so I could get a library card, and I still thought so last week when I went in to have a couple things printed. Sorry for the rant. I used to love going to the library, but as an introvert, I much prefer the privacy of my kindle.
I love this idea!!
In the airport waiting for our plane to Europe. The first thing I looked up in the city we’re staying in was the hours of the local library
We’ve been doing this!! New York public library has a great exhibit that we visited and I loved exploring the libraries in DC and Boston. Still need to do this in the Bay Area, but I really recommend the main library in Seattle for this.
On that note, Grinnel is famous for its library. And what was your favorite library at your alma mater (I lived in Steenbock)
I don’t make it a habit to visit libraries while on holiday but I did go to the Biblioteca Alexandrina when I was in Egypt and it was breathtaking. I literally gasped and got tears eyed when we walked into the main reading room. It is a magnificent building!
This is a great idea. I would like to begin doing this.
Love that you got married in a library <3.
I love this idea. I’ve visited small libraries previously to use the internet – I remember going to one in Bethesda on one of my trips to DC. But some of those old, magnificent libraries are stunning, and I’ve seen photos of new libraries that look amazing too.
omg, such a coincidence that i read this post now, after commenting on fb that i hate living in a place without public libraries, and then logging into goodreads, which is like a virtual library for me (with only book titles, not the actual books unfortunately!), and seeing your post blurb!
i love libraries, and i spent a whole lot of time in them growing up. unfortunately, bombay does not do libraries like hk, so i have had to make do with my kindle. sigh.
i would totally visit libraries while on vacation 🙂
I LOVE that you got married in a library…that’s so completely you, I can’t believe I didn’t know that about you until now.
Not that we travel to too many different places where we would have an extended stay, but we do visit local libraries when we are on vacation. The one where we stay at the beach we know by heart now. We found it needed something to do on a rainy day when our first kid was small, and usually make at least one trip there per vacation. Love it so much.
Hmm, I meant to take my kids to the local library in my hometown when we were there a couple of months ago, I just didn’t happen. Even though we walked by it several times (way too early in the morning for it to be open). Before kids, we would always visit bookstores when we went somewhere. One time we even took a trip to Dublin with (almost) the sole purpose of buying books. 😀
These days, we take the kids to the library bus weekly (except during the summer when the buses are on break). And the actual library less often. But our kids love the library adventure, no matter which form it is in.
Come to think of it, I don’t believe I have…! Although we are always looking for a bookstore whenever we visit a new place! 😉 Something to consider for future trips…