What Does My Public Library Mean To Me?
by Tasha Parks
age 29, Smyrna

With great joy, I am thankful to call the public library my own. It is amazing and ironic of how a place that is offered to the public can in turn become so personal. There are three reasons why I feel great ownership and pride in my public library. First, my public library is a second home. Second, my public library is my source of education. Finally, it is my resource for a successful new beginning.

My local library is definitely home away from home. A source of sanity (peace and relaxation) away from life’s hustle and bustle of everyday living. I am a stay at home mom with a beautiful and energetic 16-month old son named Xavier. I am sure all moms can relate with the need of getting away. It is a blessing to have a husband that makes it mandatory that I have ME time. The library is a dream for me because I able to get lost in books and not worry about anything at that moment in time, and I return home refreshed and renewed. It is also a time that I take to get books and videos for my husband and son and not return home with a bill (where else can you bless the whole entire family for free).

Second, my library is my source of education. Like most individuals, my interest change as my world changes and my library is there with all the resources I need. I believe knowledge is Power and I love learning and increasing my knowledge daily. My library gives me Power to decorate and organize my home, increase love in my marriage, raise my child successfully, maintain a healthy lifestyle, manage and invest my money, and most of all Power to be myself. I always wanted to go back to school and learn sign language, but time did not afford me the opportunity. Through learning sign language from dvds and books I have received from the library, my son is able to communicate with me and others without being frustrated.

Finally, my library is my resource for a successful new beginning. A while back, after I quit my corporate job to become a full-time minister, my husband lost his job. It has taken some time, but we are now back on our feet, and the library has a lot to do with our successful new beginning. The library was everything to us at that point. If we needed to fax resumes, use the computer for the Internet, of just get some peace, the library was a reliable resource. Whatever I need and when I need it, my library is there for me.

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