I am so pleased to get the opportunity to tell you how the library system in Ireland had such a wonderful impact on my life and that of my family. I grew up in rural Ireland in the sโthere was very little work, wages were low, and no money to spare for luxuries.
As a result, we moved a couple of times so that my father could get work. This meant a new school, making new friends, and trying to settle in.
But everywhere we moved, there was always the constant of a local library in the nearest town, it felt like an old friend. Our parents were both great readers and joined each one of us in the local library as soon as we were old enough. Each Friday night Dad drove us into the nearest town for our weekly trip to the library.
I have such vivid memories of going up the steps and in the big wide door, into the hushed world of shelves of books. Back then you were allowed two books.
The first I can remember that had an impact on me was the science fiction series, Kemlo. I was fascinated by the world it opened up to me, believed every word of it, and decided that it was only a matter of time before we would all be living in outer space. I felt so lucky to have what seemed to me this enormous source of books to choose from.
