I saw a mobile library the other day and it brought back a wave of good memories. When I was little, living right up in the Yorkshire Dales the arrival of the mobile library was thrilling for a young bookworm like me.
Even the years my grandparents lived on the farm that was at the top of a valley, up a gill with a gradient that defied physics the mobile library would make its way there and my great-grandfather would get his stock of dog earred, paperback westerns which came with the aroma they were doing the rounds of all the other pipe smokers in the dale.
The mobile library played a big part in my childhood, it would stop directly outside our house in the village and then when I went to primary school it would visit there too.
My primary school was tiny, the most pupils in the entire school ever was 18! It was basically two large classrooms, which were divided by a large concertina screen but was usually left open plan. In two corners bookcases were arranged to make small reading areas. When the mobile library visited we would go out in groups and each select books which would be everyone's reading stock for the next few weeks.
It always seemed so exciting when it came. Grabbing on to the handrails to climb the steep steps into the library. I vividly remember the moulded wheel arch area which was like a little seat and how I always wanted to stay sat there and travel round with them on their adventure.
I've visited many libraries since but none has ever grabbed my heart quite like the mobile library of my youth and I'm so pleased to still see them on the road.
What a lovely memory and a great way to enjoy books.
Posted by: Tricia | 10 January 2009 at 04:47 PM