A love letter to the library

       When I saw little, I would go to the library often. It was a place of wonder for me. My mom would help me pick out books and I would play with the train set and make new friends. As I got older, the library was more of a place of discovery. When I needed to write a report or had a project due for school the library was the source of information for me. I remember spending a lot of time in the library at school in middle school and high school. The library became a social place; somewhere I could connect with friends about subjects we were learning and things we didn't quite understand yet. In college, the library was everything. A quiet place for solitude and research that was more valuable at times than my own apartment. As an adult and professional working in the education space, the library has become a friend -- a welcoming place I can utilize to bring joy to others. 
     I love how the library has filled so many different roles in my life. I love how libraries have adapted and transformed over time. I love that libraries are welcoming and inviting. I love that you can walk into a library with one idea in your head and leave with hundreds more. I love that there is joy at the library. 
        To all the librarians we know and all of the people out there who love the libraries like we do, thank you! Thank you for making the library a place of wonder and delight! Happy Valentine's Day! We love you, libraries!
~ Claire Haasl, Executive Director, DLHEF