Story time and graduation!

Here in the U.S., May is the month for college and high school graduations.
It’s a time for celebration and recognition. All the hard work has paid off and as some greeting cards say, “The tassel was worth the hassle.”  I am sure there are many people who are happy including parents, grandparents, other family members, professors, friends, classmates, and many others. The process of learning requires to have the desire, the curiosity, and to put in the work and effort to obtain new skills and knowledge. One place that comes to my mind where anyone can start their journey of learning is the public library, to be more specific, Story time or Toddler tales as some places call it.

Yes, your local public library is the best place to take your little kids and introduce them to the world of books, where they can start their love for learning.

Coming from Mexico, I honestly didn’t have the experience of going to public libraries. Yes, I went to school, and I got free textbooks from the government. If you go to a private school, you need to buy extra books. I still remember going to the bookstore with my parents to find specific textbooks for some classes. Even though I come from a family where my dad is an engineer and my mother is a nurse, I cannot remember them taking me to any public library for story time. They did send me to the best schools they could afford, and sometimes I went to public schools too with my siblings, but I was never exposed to books to read just for fun, it was always books to study. After I graduated from college, I took a long break and read nothing. In my mind I related books with school and homework, and I didn’t see them as fun. How sad is that?
When I moved to the USA, my first experience with a public library was in Williamsport, PA. Someone recommended me to explore the local library and to take my little girls to “Story Time.” I asked if I had to pay money, and they said no. “Really!? Oh wow! Ok, I’ll see what this is all about.”
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The James V. Brown library was my first experience with public libraries and the one where my girls got their first library cards. I got one for me too! When they told me that our library cards gave us access to books, I again asked if I had to pay something. They said no, but I had to return the books on time to not pay late fees. “We can get books for free. Are you for real?” 
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See, for many of you who have been born in this country, you might take for granted these amazing public spaces, you might not, but for me, it was like going into an amazing world. I loved taking my girls to story time, because as a little girl I never had that experience! I was learning with them many new things like spelling, vocabulary, sounds, grammar, and it gave me time to sit down and enjoy the process of learning in a fun and inviting way. The librarians and the coordinators always gave me printed calendars and they showed me how to make a reservation for the different sessions.

There was one event where the author came and not only read her book, but she gave copies for free to each child that came! This author was Lindsay Barrett George. Her book “Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse” was used as part of the activities the kids and adults did that morning.

As I kept going back to the library, my favorite section was always the kid’s section, not only because my kids wanted to get books for their age, but also because I was enjoying reading the picture books myself! I was learning new vocabulary, expressions, and with pictures it was even better. Many years have passed since that experience of taking my toddlers to story time, because we moved to Iowa, and then Utah. The first thing I always did was to find the local public library. I am grateful to these libraries for providing a safe, inviting, and wonderful place to learn.
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​When I published my book, I promised myself that I wanted to give back to the community and so far, I have donated my book to some public libraries. But the one that has a special place in my heart is the one in Williamsport. 
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Last April 30th, I went back as an author, and I was able to read my book in English and Spanish to the little kids and give them a free copy of my book. Thanks to Nicole Rader, the Programming & Youth Services Director, we had a fun session with music, games, and crafts. And thanks to Emma Klopp, the Development and Marketing Assistant, we had great pictures and videos of that event.
As I was being introduced and I was looking at those little kids, I couldn’t help thinking about how the journey of loving books and learning began for my girls in that place. I told my audience that just like them, my girls were their age, but now they are college graduates!  
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My oldest daughter graduated from the University of Utah last May 2023, and my younger daughter just graduated this May 2024 from Utah State University. I am so proud of them; I am grateful for my husband that began reading to them when they were babies. I am grateful for my parents that came all the way from Mexico to be at their graduations. I invite you to support your local public library, especially the programs for children. You never know how that will impact their lives and yours as well.