A few months ago, we went to the library. We went just because we had too. Now, the kids clamour to go.
Back in December, the kids were going to the library with their school and they needed library cards. So off we trucked to the Bloor-Gladstone branch of the Toronto Public Library to sign up. As I deftly avoided reference to my previous card, which I’m sure held incriminating evidence and long overdue fines, the kids went to look at books with @nathalily.
The older one was interested in early reader novels, big type, a hundred pages or so. He was so interested that he camped out on one of the library’s big comfy chairs and got completely engrossed. The younger one was all over the dinosaur section. Books on Velociraptors, dinosaur encyclopedias, books with CD’s. You name it. If there was a dino on it, he wanted it.
Turns out, that every few weeks, they want to go back and reload. The older one can devour a short novel in a couple of hours, while the younger one starts to get bored of his current collection of books featuring sauropods and theropods. So back we go.
And the Bloor-Gladstone branch is beautiful. There’s lots of computers, learning centres, and wifi. No wonder there’s a line up to get in when the doors open on Sunday. The TPL has done a great job of making the library the place to be, not just the place you told your parents you would be. The staff is great, and a few are active on twitter too.
Rediscovering the Library has been a fantastic thing for our family. And a vibrant library network makes a huge contribution to Toronto’s communities. If you haven’t gone in a while, I highly recommend it.
By the way, want to know the best dinosaur word I’ve learned? Thagomizer. It’s the spikey tail of the Stegosaurus. Now that’s cool.
