Mid-Columbia Libraries

I was a kindergarten drop-out when I was 6 because Mother was cooking meals for wheat harvest workers in the Horse Heaven Hills and didn't have time to pick me up from half day Kindergarten in Kennewick. One day as I played with my older brothers' cars in the dusty driveway, I heard a loud speaker from the road. "This is your Mid-Columbia Library Bookmobile" it announced as the van circled into our driveway. The door opened and Mother and I were invited into an amazing room lined with books. As the librarian started to hand me a book of colorful butterflies, I noticed my dirty hands. "Wait," I cried and ran to the house to wash my hands. When I came back, I found they had waited for me! On June 10, 2011, I retired as Director of a small library in Texas, completing a journey that started that day. My love of books began with that indelible memory. As libraries struggle with shrinking funding let us never forget the magic and life-changing power of the knowlege we provide to all.