As a little girl growing up in South Norwood, I was
fortunate to have two library sources in my neighborhood. One was in the Balch Elementary school; the
second was the little South Norwood branch of the Morrill Memorial Library.
I loved to visit the little library in my neighborhood;due
to lack of transportation, I did not have the opportunity to visit the main
branch that often. Before I was old
enough to be allowed to travel on the MBTA bus on my own, I would just check
out a book, and start reading it on the walk home. I can’t remember what age I was when the
branch closed, but it was a sad time for the residents in the area.
When my older daughter Lauren, now age twenty-three, started
Kindergarten at the Balch School, I wanted to be actively involved at her
school. I was limited to a few volunteer
opportunities at that time due to my pregnancy with my younger daughter
Jessica. Once Jessica was born, I happily
jumped in to help with fundraising opportunities with the PTO, but also wanted
to help in the library.
Lo and behold, my former librarian from my own childhood at
the Balch was the library assistant.
Mrs. Mary Pudsey, still as sweet as ever, was there to show me the
ropes. Mary Burnell was the librarian
and the three of us soon forged a wonderful working relationship. These lovely ladies were so enthusiastic
about building the foundation of reading with youngsters. Library time for most students was a special
time each week, first having a carefully selected book read aloud by the
librarian, then an opportunity to choose a book to bring home and read.
Sadly at the time of budget cuts, the library assistant
positions were cut and Mary Burnell moved on to the Willett School, I then was
in the company of another great librarian, Lora Roberts. She was eager and enthusiastic. No longer having a library assistant, she
needed to fill and extra pair of shoes; hence the need for more
volunteers. Many parents stepped up to
the plate to help her and we had a very well-run and organized library. We did have a few setbacks with a renovation
and expansion, as well as a flood shortly after the renovation; after a short
hiatus, we rallied to the rebuild the library once again.
Being the more senior volunteer at the library, I was given
the privilege to assist Ms. Roberts with the first graders checking out their
very first books. Each child was given a
shelf marker with his or her name on it.
They were told when they take a book off the shelf; they were to place their
marker there in order to mark the place on the shelf for correct placement of
the book. Some of the youngsters knew
exactly what type of book he or she was looking for. Others were a bit overwhelmed, not sure which
book to borrow. I would love to step in
and ask what was of was on interest to them. Once the selection had been made,
the child would have to sign his or her name and understand that the book
needed to be returned the following week during library time. Also the importance of taking good care of the
book was explained. A book is a special
item that needed to be safe guarded so the next child in school could borrow
and enjoy it as well.
Fast forward forty years, I still live in the neighborhood I
grew up in, the South Norwood branch of the library closed many, many years ago,
but I now work at the Morrill Memorial Library.
One of my favorite tasks in the Circulation Department is to issue library
cards; whether it is a new comer to town, someone who hasn’t been to the
library in many years, but most importantly, a youngster receiving a card for
the very first time. I truly enjoy
making that moment in time an event to remember. Once the card is issued, I
tell the young child to then visit the Children’s Librarian in order to receive
a special token.
Young or old, please
feel free to come visit us. We have so
much to offer our patrons, not just with books, but with DVDs, CDs, Audiobooks,
Periodicals as well as the latest technology with E-books and Freegal, our new
music downloads.
