I still remember the smells of the first library I ever visited: the pulpy scent of paper, the tang of dried ink, and the dustiness of ancient carpet. 

But mostly, I remember the colors and shapes. The reds, the blues, the yellows and greens. Tall books. Short books. Books thin and books fat.

And that was just in one room!

I knew there were lots of stories in the world, but before I went to the library I didn’t know there were so many books!

The day I first visited the library was the day I found what makes my dragon heart sing: Reading and sharing stories with others.

That’s why I’m so excited to celebrate National Library Lovers Month!

Last Saturday was “Take Your Child to the Library Day.” It was the perfect way to start of National Library Lovers Month.

You heard that right, February is all about loving on the library! Raise your claws if you already knew that. 

I’m happy to report that my library was filled with bookwyrms of all ages last weekend. Some had already found a book and were reading at the tables. Others were walking along the shelves trying to find something to capture their attention. It was fun talking to a couple of them to find out what kind of stories they like. Two of the boys I talked to said they wanted books with action. They settled on a graphic novel.

That’s one of the things I love the most about libraries. They’re a safe place to learn what you like by trying out books that you might not like. 

Because of my library I’ve found books that I love and stories that I don’t. I’ve also discovered writers that I would never have noticed at a bookstore. Some of those tales have been the best ones I’ve read yet.

On top of that, libraries don’t just have new books. They have old ones, too! 

It could be a book that was written a hundred years ago or one that was written ten years ago. Eventually books stop being printed. You might be able to find them at a used bookstore, if you look hard enough, but it’s hard find something you don’t know exists. 

Thanks to my library I’ve also learned all sorts of things I never knew before.My library taught me all about Greek mythology (and I don’t mean as told by Percy Jackson, as awesome as he is)! My library has helped me discover the wild and endangered plant life that grows in my tiny little valley. And I once found a really cool book that talks about ancient superstitions. (Did you know that black cats weren’t always blamed for bringing bad luck?)

Because of my library, I’m also learning about some hard things, too.

Reading is fun, but it’s not always comfortable. And that’s ok. Because reading outside of my comfort zone helps me grow. Especially when what I’m reading is about what life is like for people who are different from me.

What do you like most about visiting the library? Share one or two of your favorite things in the comments below! Let’s show our libraries some love!