why we live here: our local public library

for a county of 30,000 people, we have a really awesome library.

when I first started at the group home in 2003, the library was a tiny dark building that smelled like you would think a small town library should smell. it was so tiny, in fact, that when kids needed a specific book for research we would have to ask at the circulation desk and the librarian had to go into the back or the basement to get the book for us. when we moved back to brevard in 2007, this beautiful building had magically appeared (through lots of hard work and an extremely dedicated friends of the library organization) and I just couldn't be happier about it.

the transylvania county public library has an amazing collection of books for both children and adults. I have happily feasted on homesteading memoirs and how-to guides, books about living of the grid and peak oil and putting up pickles. there is a whole "special collection" just on home education, chock full of information on curriculum and activities and why to homeschool in the first place. we've read all the boxcar children books and all the magic treehouse collection, too. we never go on a road trip without stocking up on books on CD. cora has taken home everything on turtles she can find. the children's librarians are eager to help my kids find what they want ("I can't remember what it's called, but there is a baby on the front…" true request made by my daughter, fulfilled by a librarian genius.)

the children's programming is especially fantastic. we've done flat stanley and the summer reading program. the kids both earned a library book dedicated in their honor for reading so much last summer, not to mention various take home prizes as well. jamin and I dressed as super heroes for mother's day one year (that was exciting). there is story time, complete with singing and a craft every other week. we've seen incredible puppet shows, billy jonas jam sessions, and even won a dance contest when secret agent 23 skidoo came through.



there is an outdoor concert series in the summer. local bands come to play, but also some bigger regional groups that we love to see. kids can run around and no one cares. the steps of the amphitheater are a great place to burn off some energy when we have time to kill running errands in town. and of course, it being brevard, you can't go to the library (or anywhere else) without seeing someone you know.

upstairs there is a special collection of local history and artifacts, scrapbooks full of treasures from the communities across the county. the transylvania times runs photos from this collection every so often as a reminder of who we are as a county and how far we've come.

the library has a CD collection that eric is particularly good at navigating. he brings home all kinds of things that I would never pick out, full of gems like this song that my children can't stop singing. we check out movies and television series (rabbit is especially fond on anything from the BBC).

maybe most towns are this lucky and have libraries this extraordinary. maybe I am gushing about something everyone else just takes for granted. but one thing I know for sure about the transylvania county public library: best public restrooms in town. big, clean, easy access. I've even seen people brushing their teeth at the sinks. we've stopped in plenty of times just because someone had to pee (or something even most urgent, ahem.) the library made potty training just a little bit easier for this family, that's for sure.

so whether you love books or bathroom breaks, there is something to be found for everyone, I promise. I hold the library responsible for some of my best brevard friendships as well (when you are new to town, it is a great place to find parents and kids just waiting to be friends with you.)

what has your library done for you lately?