What was the library like in my elementary school? I thought about this question for a long time, trying to remember what the library was like. I then realized there was no library.

Back in the mid 50's our classrooms were small independent media centers. Each room had art supplies, educational materials, and books spread out on shelves in back of the room. Also each room had a closet which held dark secrets only known by the teachers. Every once in a while she (always a she) would open the door and come out with some new chalk, paints or text books for that day then the mysterious closet door would be locked for another adventure

It wasn't until I entered high school that we had a library in a separate room. We did have a local town library, which my mother (always your mother) took us to occasionally. It was a large stone structure and once inside the tall bookshelves of dark wood loomed over you, heavy wooden tables and chairs made for a foreboding feeling. The children's section was in the basement, down the back staircase. I remember how quiet it was as if all the sounds were absorbed by the books. It scared the hell out of me so I rarely went to the library. Fortunately, age has over come fear, and now I'll go into any library.