I have always loved to read. I remember the excitement from when I was younger of going to the library with my dad. I’d run to the children’s section just to sit in the aisle and flip through the chapter books, searching for a new adventure to read. I would proudly strut to the front of the library to check out my pile of books, and peek over my tower of knowledge as I balanced the comically large stack in my arms on the way back to the car.

I also remember when I got my first library card. It had my name on the back in official, typed-out letters, and was my own little key to a seemingly infinite supply of little treasures hidden in the volumes of Judy Blume and the “Magic Tree House.” Visiting the public library was one of the most exciting things in the world, from playing in the gardens outside the front, the smell of the shelves upon shelves of books, the excitement of finding a new story to indulge, the satisfaction of returning the stack of stories that I had surmounted, and hearing them tumble down the returned books slide. 

Why, as we grow older, do public libraries lose this appeal? I’ll admit I would rather own my own copy of books to amass my own personal library, and the thought of returning a book is slightly less exciting than it was when I was younger. My appreciation for public libraries was practically non-existent as a young adult, and my adventures at the library came to a halt around middle school. As college students, however, we encounter this funny problem of not having much money, especially to spend on luxuries like troves of books. This makes resources like public libraries invaluable to those who enjoy reading.

This semester, I have begun to write my first college research papers, and have spent a lot of time immersed in the aisles of Purgatory. I often sit on the floor surrounded by stacks of books. By using the library more, I  found there is a whole collection of books at my disposal, and part of my childhood excitement of exploring the library returned.

Though we are busy college students, and reading for leisure is probably less of a priority for Hillsdale students to spend their free time, public libraries are an invaluable resource not only to students but to society. Libraries help all corners of the community, and are not exclusively useful to children and broke college students. The joy of reading is one that is, unfortunately, slowly being forgotten by society. Through the use of public libraries, individuals of all backgrounds have access to any book imaginable, and with it the worlds, stories, knowledge, and history found within the pages.

We should let go of our pride and desire to amass a physical collection of books and return to the use of public libraries, whether for academics or simply to pursue the joys of reading that once brought so much excitement to us as children. In doing this, we not only benefit ourselves, but also the local community, and help ensure the public library will remain a staple in communities across America for many years to come.