Libraries offer comfort, friendship

Like an open, gentle and generous family member, libraries have always offered me comfort, friendship and knowledge. When I first moved to Madison in 2004, the Alicia Ashman library was the first branch I really got to know. It offered me an introduction to the City of Madison and surrounding areas.

From the moment I learned to read, I always loved books. The Madison Public Library offers several places that fully embrace reading and seek to share that enjoyment with others. I ventured to a couple of book club meetings at the South Madison branch when my shy little self first moved here. South Madison also offered a series of informative lectures based on issues in the Da Vinci Code. The enjoyment of books stretched to other media as well. I admired the artwork displayed at the library as well as the free movies shown at Alicia Ashman. It also was a place to use the internet and copy machine. When I left my driver's license in the copy machine at Ashman, the staff were quick in calling me about it. Book clubs offered me a way of hanging on to my college days of reviewing and analyzing literature.

Now I live closer to Sequoya and marvel at the transformation from a cramped, damp library to a modern and expansive space. It is easily accessible. I can pop in at any time, grab an audio book for a long drive or choose from staff picks. Every book I've selected from the display has been enjoyable and thought-provoking.

The library is a place to get books, read the paper and maybe surf the Internet. Most importantly, though, the libraries have friendly, helpful staff that welcomed me as part of the Madison community.

--Sarah Miller, Madison Sequoya Branch (05/10)