The Legacy of Reading

I feel old.

No, it's not because I celebrate one of those milestone birthdays next week. Well, maybe a little...

I substituted most of the summer in the library were I worked as a children's librarian for twenty years. After ten years it was a joy to be back in familiar surroundings with memories in every nook and cranny.

But I didn't expect the reaction of so many library patrons. At least once a day a parent approached the children's desk with one or more children in tow. They'd look at me and say, "You're back! You probably don't remember me but I came to your storytime when I was a child. Do you still have Lucy (storytime puppet)? This is my daughter. I bring her to the library every week. I want her to enjoy reading like I do."

Excitement simmered beneath my feeling about aging and the swiftness of passing years. This was why I became a children's librarian: to see a love of reading passed from one generation to another. These parents are giving their children a gift that will last a lifetime. When children are read to at a young age, they become lifelong readers and experience greater success at school.

I've enjoyed seeing the legacy of reading passed down in my own family. My niece and nephew didn't stand a chance--both their mother and aunt are librarians. They used to joke about their aunt who always gave books to them for Christmas and birthdays. However, I have a treasured photo of my nephew reading to his two-week-old son. My niece is imparting a love of reading and books to her preschool students.

We pass on many treasures to the children in our lives. What are you doing today to pass on the legacy of reading?