The Library: A Lost Treasure

Aren’t libraries a lost treasure? For most people, they might be—but not for me. The thing about libraries is that they’re more than just books. They’re community spaces where we can gather, brainstorm, and collaborate.

My Weekly Ritual I try to go to the library once a week to pick up a new book—or sometimes a few. Sure, I could buy all the wonderful books I like to read, but there’s something special about reading something that someone else has already enjoyed. In fact, at home, I usually give my books away after reading them, but I always sign them. Why, you ask? For posterity. I love the idea of handing something off to someone else so they can pass it on again. Isn’t the gift of the written word something we should keep sharing? I think so.

Childhood Memories As a child, the library was my safe haven. I loved going there. Years later, I ran into the librarian from my small town, someone I hadn’t seen in over 20 years. She told me how my sister and I would walk in wearing our pink gingham dresses, mostly by ourselves, and sit for hours. We’d pour over picture books, attend story time, and lose ourselves in fairy tales.

When I was seven, my dad called that same librarian—Mrs. Worm, which was a hilariously fitting name—and asked her to stop sending me home with multiple joke books every day. She laughed as he explained that I had told so many “knock-knock” jokes over the past two weeks, he’d heard every single one a seven-year-old could tell. Her response? “Yes, but at least your daughter is reading.” Those were some of my happiest times: getting lost in tales of mystery, romance, and humor. It was the best escape I could have imagined.

Libraries Today Fast forward to today. I returned a book to the library last week and picked up a new one. The first thing that struck me was the smell—that nostalgic mix of paper and possibility. Four older gentlemen were gathered, reading the paper and discussing Lincoln’s history. The librarian, with her warm demeanor and magical eyes, made me feel like I’d walked into a portal to another world. High school students were studying in small rooms, and children were piling in for story hour.

I felt a deep sense of peace. I was surrounded by my community, by people gathering to explore their imaginations. To me, that’s downright inspiring.

Why Libraries Still Matter When I told a friend about my weekly library trips, he chuckled and said, “Do they even still have libraries?” The answer is an unequivocal yes. The thing about our society is that we’re stuck in the analytical side of our brains—always problem-solving, rushing, and moving so fast that we forget to make space for creativity and imagination. But to truly relieve stress and live fully, we must tap into the creative mind.

An Invitation So, go to your library today. I promise you won’t regret it.