As We Lived and As We Wrote, We Remembered

The Kendal at Ithaca History Committee published a book written by residents, who were invited to tell a story about a memorable incident or period in their lives that proved to be important.  They looked back into their childhood, or another time of life, for an interesting event that was tucked away in their memories.  Out of these writings emerged a wonderful collection of stories representing school days, adventures, careers, travels, wartime, and retirement.  Please check back often as we will publish a new story from week to week.

BeenThere, Done That!  C.S.

I think I was about eight years old when I started to explore my public library. I grew up in New York City, in Manhattan, on the West Side. The New York Public Library had branches all over the city and I was lucky enough to have one in my neighborhood. I could walk there by myself. Saturday mornings I would regularly look for new books or old favorites to re-read. I loved the Bobbsey Twins, The Five little Peppers, the Nancy Drews and the Hardy Boys. I thought it was a kind of miracle that my library had so many titles that I could borrow.

New York City elementary schools in the "old days" didn't have real libraries, so the Public Library wasn't a mere choice for me, it was a necessity. I've been a reader all my life. Looking back, I'm sure my own neighborhood experiences made me the independent and selective reader I've always been. Throughout my NYC high school years and undergraduate years at the University of Wisconsin, libraries continued to excite me and I gravitated toward them. I was an English major but looked toward a graduate degree in library science after marriage and four children.

My library experiences with the Middletown, N.Y. and Ithaca City School districts were diverse: elementary, middle and high school students, staff and programs were responsibilities until I retired in 1986 as District Library Coordinator and Director. I really did retire! Until I moved to Kendal, that is. So I've come full circle, you might say. Once again, starting and organizing a new library (been there done that), selecting materials and attracting readers of all ages and stages(been there done that) and finally, absorbing myself in the delights and fulfillment that libraries and library users provide me. I'm a very lucky person.