There’s something special about wandering through a library. I know a library isn’t exactly designed for strolls, but I’ve often found myself doing just that: walking slowly between the stacks, letting titles catch my eye and thoughts drift in the quiet. It’s a delightful thing to do if you have the chance.
In high school, I often paced through the small school library between classes. There wasn’t much space, but it was a good library and a great part of the school. I’d slowly meander through it, occasionally stopping to pull out a book and flip through it. Flipping through books feels a little like overhearing bits of conversation. There’s a surprising amount of personality in a library.
As a child, I visited the Union Public Library on Peachtree Street fairly often. The sound the door makes when you walk into the main room is a mental souvenir I still carry. That sound—a library welcoming you in—is a wonderful memory to give a child.
One thing I did at the library a lot in early childhood was search for titles I hadn’t read in a particular book series I was obsessed with. Searching is one of life’s quieter joys, and the library is a lovely place to search.
The front doors of that library open to a small entryway that branches into two larger rooms. In a way, it feels like a fork in the road. A library is full of symbolic roads—pathways lined with words, leading to ideas and worlds we never expected. We all know books can take us places. It’s one of those ideas we hear early in life and carry with us.
The Union Public Library is part of the Kemper-Newton Regional Library System, which also has branches in Decatur, DeKalb, Newton, and Scooba—most of which are open Monday through Friday. The system has summer library events planned throughout June, with a schedule available on the Kemper-Newton Regional Library System’s Facebook page. Some of them might be great opportunities for you or your child.
But even going just to find a good book is special. I spoke with a couple of managers at the Union Public Library, who mentioned that one challenge the library faces is people simply not utilizing it much for what it is. They also said most people who do check out books are middle-aged or older adults, with few young adults visiting.
Admittedly, I can’t say that I’m a big library-goer anymore either. But still, I believe that finding and handling a physical book can be an irreplaceable experience. You might find that when you remember the book, you remember how it felt in your hands—the wrinkles along the cover, how the pages sounded or smelled, or the faint but distinctive tint they had.
Books you borrow from the library can stay with you long after you return them. I’m sure any library would appreciate a visit—if you ever feel inclined to wander through words yourself.
