When I was between the ages of eight and fifteen, I spent hours each week at the public library.
I was fortunate to live within a few miles of the library, which meant that my siblings, friends, and I would all ride our bikes over there after school and during summer vacation.
It might sound boring in retrospect, but this was during a transitory stage in the late 90s when computers were still finding their way into every home across the country. The library afforded us an escape from bad weather and toxic influences, guarding us from the kids who created trouble to kill time. They also had a ton of activities like movie showings and craft and origami events. On top of that, I could rent as many books and movies I wanted to, never leaving the building empty handed. Because it has been so many years since I frequented my old library, I decided to visit the building after work one afternoon. The first thing I noticed before anything else is how cold their air conditioner is that cools the whole library. It easily has the coldest air conditioner of any public venue or business in my entire town. To make matters even better, they have free WIFI and a small coffee shop inside. I have made a habit of spending my lunch breaks there, catching up on work emails while enjoying a hot cup of coffee inside some of the coldest air conditioning I have ever felt. I hope my local library is still here going strong for generations to come. It truly is a staple of my small community.