The Library

CEBU, Philippines - When you hear the word library, what is the first thing that comes in your mind?

A library is a quiet place filled with books to read, chairs to sit on and tables to rest your book on. That’s quite obvious. A library has to have a librarian to help you out. He/she writes the name of a book on your library card, or if you don’t have one, they can help you find your book. That’s the basic things you need to know about a library. Oh, and don’t forget, the librarian can be strict and go “SHSSSSSSHHH!!” if you’re noisy.

Here I am, in the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum, or Cebu City Public Library and Information Center writing this article. It also houses the Cebu City Tourism Commission. Actually, it’s not quiet at all. There’s a summer workshop going on here about music, you can imagine the voices and the melody of the sweet instruments around.

Reading a book is one of my favorite hobbies. A lot of people love to read, too. It relaxes your eyes and reading is important……..Imagine yourself in a world with no books. Um…I wouldn’t want that. Would you?

The importance of reading. Yes. I am getting to that. First, I want to talk about what happens in a library. Here I will state an imaginative conversation (that just formed in my head) between a girl named Sarah, her mother and the librarian upon coming inside a library and wanting to get a borrower’s card. This conversation is quite simple:

Sarah: Wow, there are a lot of books, Mommy!

Mom: Yes, there are a lot of books here, Sarah.

Librarian: Hello, I’m the librarian. What can I do for you?

Mom: We would like to get a borrower’s card for Sarah, please.

Librarian: Sure. Just come this way (walking towards her office).

Librarian: Now, Sarah, just write down your name on this card and your Mommy will        do the rest.Sarah writes her name on the card while Mommy signs papers.

Librarian: Okeydokey, Sarah. You can go and pick a book.(Sarah gets a book she likes and writes the title down on her card.)

Librarian: Done! You can take the book home and read it. Remember, you must bring it back without any damage. And another thing, Sarah: Reading books is important because you will not just learn a lot, but you can also discover a whole new world through books because as you imagine the story, it transports you through time and anywhere!

I just stated the importance of reading there, in the librarian’s last line. Well, okeydokey, bye-bye for now and spread the news of the importance of reading to your friends!