@ Your Library
Do you love your library? February is Love your Library month and many libraries including the Arrowhead Library System encourage supporting the library with your donations. The International Falls Public Library isn’t seeking donations (although we love memorials and selecting books in memory of individuals or special occasions). We instead want to ask you for your favorite library memories or why libraries are important to you and your community. Either share on the library’s Facebook page or group, stop by the library and fill out a slip or send us an email at ifallslibrary@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.
Here are some of my favorite things about libraries with recognition to Tiffany King, whose column “13 Reasons Why Libraries Are Holding Us All Together” made me think about my views on libraries and their importance.
Libraries allow me to read way more than I can afford or even want to buy. I could build a house out of books if I had to buy each book I wanted to read. Libraries provided me with friends, both physical and imaginary. Some of my closest friends I first met at the library.
Libraries are one of the few remaining places where everyone is welcome and can gather without being asked to give to get. Libraries encourage you to take as much as you can carry and then bring it all back and do it again.
I can learn about the history of my local community and find amazing stories of people who lived here before me. Library programs allow me to learn and do incredible things. I can learn a foreign language, create my resume, learn about space and begin to understand systemic injustice through books, websites, movies and more and all without paying anything beyond a small portion of my taxes.
And finally, libraries calm me, soothe me, and allow me to breathe deeply and know that as long as I have a public library something is right with the world.
Storytime this week will focus on Valentine’s Day. Come Thursday morning at 10:30 am for stories, rhymes and more followed by about thirty minutes of free play. This weekly event can be a great way to get the wiggles out and relieve some cabin fever.
The library will be closed on Monday, February 18th in observance of Presidents’ Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday. The library is regularly open Monday – Wednesday 10am – 8pm, Thursday – Friday 10am – 6pm and Saturday 10am – 3pm.
The Preschool book club will meet on Tuesday, February 19th at 6:30 pm and focus on building. Each family will receive a copy of the book What Will We Build Today? and participate in a variety of activities, enjoy a snack and read the story together. Any family with children of preschool age is welcome to attend and enjoy activities as a family, including any older children. This monthly program can help build a home library, encourage the idea that reading, books and libraries are fun.