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Tuesday 28 October 2014

Shhh - did someone close the library?

 



 
 
 
Shhh - don't tell anyone.... I've just written a short story to celebrate my granddaughter's fifth birthday next week.

We were doing role play at the top of the stairs the other day  in a specially constructed den  made of cushions, towels and various pieces of furniture from her bedroom. As we stacked up a pile of her favourite books, the talk soon turned to libraries.

What is a lady who works in the library called?' I asked.

'A librarian,' she replied, after a little prompting.

And what does the librarian say when you go in the library?

' Shh...' came the reply.

Shh?' I said. 'What does that mean?'

'It means please keep quiet, Grandma. You have to keep quiet in libraries.'

And so the idea for the 'birthday present' was born. But that's, well, another story...

Meanwhile, I'm  thrilled that  a trip to the library still means as much to my granddaughter as it did to me when I was a young child. Every week my two sisters and I would visit our local library where I first discovered  one of my all-time favourite books 'A Peep Behind the Scenes' a 'turn-of-the-century' story by Mrs O.F. Walton.

 Isn't it  worrying, then, that libraries in the UK are closing every week as local authorities are forced to make 'necessary' cuts.  Free access to books should surely be something for us to pass on to a future generation.  Have you checked on the future of your library lately? If not,  take a look at http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/

Meanwhile,  I would tell you more about my new short story but I can't because..... Shh - I promised not to say a word.





4 comments:

Another Guernseyman said...

We had very little money to spend on books when I was a child so the local library was the 'in place to go.' Anything that encourages children to read stories - and write them too - has to be a good thing.

Guernsey Girl said...

I agree - story telling comes easily to young children but they still need to be praised and encouraged. My granddaughter has wonderful imagination - especially when we're role-playing at the top of the stairs!

Barbara said...

Hi Marilyn, I love this post your granddaughter sounds adorable. The New Story Budget looks good too. :-) I did reply to your email about using the scary pictures from my blog, but it may have been too late for Halloween (sorry if it was). You are welcome to use as many of them as you like. Barbara.

Guernsey Girl said...

Thanks, Barbara...for some reason I didn't receive the email but it's so kind of you to say I can use your pictures. I love your blog and can understand why it's so popular :)