Library Love

Photo by JME Film Photography - 35mm B&W

This moment has been 8 years in the making. I absolutely adore piecing together catalytic decisions to present day blessings. When I’m asked what is the best decision I’ve ever made, I always say going vegan. Not just because of the total turnaround it did for my entire well-being but because it’s lead me down a life path full of love, support & sustained connections. I invite you to hike down this well trodden path of how we are now able to call the Northside Library home.

One day in February 2016, I woke up and decided the eggs I was making for breakfast would be my last. I had been slowly transitioning away from an omnivore diet over five years. I was in the middle of my college career at UVA and the shift felt like a new book has just been opened. Fast forward to 2018, I was beginning to find friends in the local vegan community through meetups, potlucks and social media. I connected with Andrea and we’ve been friends ever since sharing our love for food, the outdoors, reading, writing & exploring new haircuts.

Andrea was launching her, now award winning, book “Iveliz Explains It All” at an event hosted at the Northside Library. My husband and I were excited to support her and see this library she always raved about. We were 20 weeks pregnant at the time. I wasn’t quite waddling yet but I took slow steps throughout which gave me time to really observe everything. After the event, I remember wandering the rows wondering what it’ll be like picking out new books with our child. I took mental note of the early literacy programming they offered before departing.

Last spring I found myself suspended in the liminal space of postpartum. Where everything is simultaneously blissful and isolating and new and scary. My husband came home to help me recover and take care of our son Emery. With him, I felt more confident about finally leaving our home more often. I was weary of being trapped in a dark room all day and night trapped underneath a quite chonky newborn who snored melodically. I recalled the free story time at the library and that became our first true family outing.

We didn’t let anxiety keep us from going into a new space. We strapped our son into his carrier and climbed the 36 stairs up to what quickly became our sacred third space. Out of breath, we mustered a smile and hello to Miss Cathie who welcomed us warmly into the room for “Babies and Books”. In a circle of parents and children ranging from newborn to 2 years old, we slowly began learning all kinds of nursery rhymes, listening to silly books and tried to get our son to even acknowledge the existence of a bubble floating in the air.

I remember immediately feeling a sense of belonging in that space. Even though I’ve been the only Black mother attending every week, I didn’t feel othered. It felt safe for us as an interracial family to just enjoy ourselves and not feel like we were taking up too much space or drawing too much attention. From that day forward, I made it my mission to attend rain, snow or shine to this story time. And since, we’ve only missed two sessions due to illness.

Emery is a lo-fi kid which is great for us since we’re lo-fi parents. For a long time, all he would do is stare with furrowed brows at every one. I think it took 6 months before he started to emote in that session? He’s super expressive at home but too much commotion and little man’s is frozen. But I knew this would be great for his development despite his seemingly lack of interest in shakers.

The infamous shakers that make them kids go crazy - JME Film Photography 35mm

We opted to not live close to our family. None of our college friends had kids. I’m a full time mama so we don’t do daycare. So this story time was all we had for socializing and growing as individuals outside of our home. We now have friends that we made from the weekly sessions that we see regularly for play dates. It was a great way to introduce us to structuring our days and improve on how to leave the house consistently. And Emery is SUCH a social toddler now because of it.

For the last session, Emery and I walked into the library that warm, vibrant Thursday morning with books to return that he made me read 30 times each over the past couple weeks. In kids section, I watched him pull out a chair to sit at a table. I grabbed a book for him and he started trying to read it aloud to the other kids. We eventually made our way to the room and Emery beamed with joy upon seeing Miss Cathie. It was her last day for she was retiring. The session wasn’t sad at all, it was actually the best one we’ve had.

There were a lot of firsts for us during that last session. I’ve never seen Emery actually do the waving and clapping at the same time to the hello song. He only a few days prior figured out how to roll his arms and showed off the skill during his favorite rhyme “Roll Roll Sugar Babies”. He was hilariously impatient in wanting to grab shakers. All while periodically walking up to everyone to tilt his head to smile or to gently stroke someone’s hair. I was in true awe of how illuminated his aura was. He was in his own flow state.

In the end, I connected with all the caregivers in the room as our children played with the wide variety of toys dispersed throughout the room. I captured a final picture of him with Miss Cathie to cherish forever in his baby book. Her and I exchanged our gratitude and love for another. We didn’t say goodbye, only a “we will keep in touch”…

Words cannot fully encapsulate the positive impact the library, especially Miss Cathie, made on our lives. I had the pleasure of witnessing a full circle over a year from who we were to who we’ve become. And to think it’s all free?! The library helped us raise our son and helped us grow in confidence as parents. We’re forever indebted to the library for blessing us this way.

I must acknowledge my mother for instilling my love for books & safe reading spaces from the womb. I’ve tried to replicate that with my son. I hope Emery reads as fluidly as his father and writes as effortlessly as his mother. I pray libraries stay free, accessible and standing for as long as possible. Who knew a decision 8 years ago would lead to all this?

Miss Cathie with Emery May 2023 - JME Film Photography 35mm

~

Request:

Please consider donating to our or your own local library!

Resource:

You can use your library card to do all kinds of things. You can checkout ebooks through Libby. You can attend a wide range of events like crafting, book clubs, reading to dogs, how to do your taxes, etc.!

Q&A:

Email me your answers to withcarrington@gmail.com or comment on Substack :)

1. What are your connections to the library?

2. Do you have a favorite librarian?

3. When’s the last time you’ve connected the dots from a decision made years ago?

~

Hyphae

Some good reads that are complimentary to today’s letter:

Andrea has 2 books in English and Spanish and a third coming out soon!

No one buys books

Yes, People Do Buy Books