Library

My parents, especially my mother, stressed reading from an early age. Reading in one form or another is part of my memories from my earliest years. Thus, by the time I reached elementary school, I was already reading at a level far above where I should have been. I was interested in learning of all kinds and all subjects.

I remember my first trips to the library with my mother. Back then there were reading programs for children. These consisted of a simple drawing with, say, spiders on it. Each book read earned a sticker or stamp. When a page was filled you won a small prize and started the next one. There was no theme and no requirement of difficulty ... it was just intended to be a fun way to encourage children to read.

I was suddenly in heaven when, one day in early grade school, the teacher passed out an order form for books which we could order right from the classroom. These were targetted precisely at our grade level and, well, I was literally enthralled. Not a week went by when I was not pestering my poor parents to order one or more of these books so I could read something.

Our trips to the library in those early years were frequent. I read everything I could get my hands on. For reasons which didn't become clear to me until much later in life, I hunted down every book I could find on the Japanese portion of World War II, especially the battle of Iwo Jima, Alexandre the Great and ancient Rome.

I was happily enjoying the library one day in early high school when I ran across a book, I think it was the Grapes of Wrath, with several passages blacked out. I brought this to the attention of the librarian, thinking someone had defaced the book, and was informed that these lines were considered unsuitable for the students for some unspecified reason. The lirbarian refiused to explain why.

Except for some research which I needed to write my family history, this was the last time I visited a library.

I refuse to have anything to do with censorship. I am an intelligent and responsible being, and I'll decide what materials are suitable for me.

From man early age, though, I've collected books of interest. I've always maintained my own library consisting of volumes about my own interests, since my earliest days. For many years I kept every single book and magazine that I ever purchased, but after moving out from home at the tender age of 19, I began thinning my collection to account for my changing tastes and interests.

Today I have an entire room devoted to my library. It has two desks for reading with appropriate light. This, for me, is a dream come true.

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