Library tales
With libraries closing at an alarming rate, Yours writer Marion Clarke recalls the joy they brought to us as children
When books were expensive and pocket money was limited, libraries gave us the chance to take home several books at once, as Pandora Huntingford recalls: “The few books I had were read many times over until I was able to join the local library.
“Among my favourites were the Chalet School stories by Elinor Brent-Dyer and, being an animal lover, books by Gerald Durrell. I have, of course, gone on to read adult books, but even now I still enjoy the old school stories. Is this a sign of entering my second childhood?”
I hope not, Pandora, because I often read recently published children’s books as I refuse to miss out on a good read just because I’m a grown-up!
Louise Frances has recently joined a library and found it’s not the same as it was when she was a girl: “There were rows of computers and DVDs for people to borrow. I went straight to the
‘When my older brother left home we naughtily retained his library ticket...’
children’s section and took out five of the Asterix and Obelix books. I’m hoping that when I dive in they will make me laugh as much as they did 45 years ago.
“My mother used to drive us 30 miles to our nearest library where we were allowed to take out ten books each for two weeks.
When my older brother left home we naughtily retained his ticket so we could get an extra five each!”
Ann Rowe, who loved Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree stories, learned a hard lesson early on: “My grandmother took me to the library for the first time when I was four years’ old. I felt so grown up having my own card and we took out one book, Peter and the Wolf. We went into the nearby park where we read it together. I wanted to go back and get another one, but I was told I had to wait a week before changing it. I cried all the way home.” “I remember spending many a happy Saturday morning choosing books to enjoy during the week,” writes Tanju Imal. “The long summer holiday meant entering the fantastic reading challenge run by the library. I loved it and read many books I would probably never have chosen myself.”
Geraldine Costello, who went on to become a librarian, loved searching for the books on her reading list from school: “Children’s authors Rosemary Sutcliff and Henry Treece were particular favourites. I also used to choose books for my parents’ friends – any excuse to go to the library!”
Another Rosemary Sutcliff fan has a belated confession to make. Janet Dandy says: “As a teenager, my favourite book was Rosemary Sutcliff’s tale of King Arthur, Sword at Sunset. I borrowed it from the school library and loved it so much that I have to admit I never returned it.”
How many of us bookworms can honestly say we’ve never been tempted to do the same?