Books became my friends when I was a child, sounds a little cliché I know, but it was true.  My family moved every year, sometimes more than once in a year.  I never went to the same school twice or lived in the same city or town, which made it hard to make and keep friends.  However, I always knew where the library was located.  Every time we moved, I didn’t want to unpack my boxes or play with my toys; I wanted to find the library.  I would bug my mom every day until she took me down to get my library card and books, lots of books.  The good ones where the ones that were in walking distance from the house, those I could go to all the time on my own.  The others I would have to wait for a ride.  It’s funny now, as I can drive myself, but I still like to live walking distance from the library, my current apartment is only ½ mile away.

Years ago my nephew used to go to the library in Centralia “regularly”. He was such a regular user in fact that I when I was the lead in the Circulation Dept. at the Washington State Library, I went to a meeting for Innovative users and the librarian from the Centralia Timberland Library introduced me as Paul’s Aunt. I got a big applause. It still brings a smile to my face when I think about it. My family has always been big library users, as you can tell.