Zealand's First Library Card

We went to San Francisco's Main library today in Civic Center. Zealand loves the bus ride over. So many interesting people to watch on the 6 line and so many cars, trains, and busses shooting up and down market street. The library has an entire room and half a floor devoted to children. There is a whole wall of board books and a play corner with wooden balls and colorful interactive games with pegs, magnets, etc. Usually there is one or two older kids who take it upon themselves to entertain the "baby." Today it was a young girl who ran back and forth from a stand full of stuffed puppets to where Zealand was standing to provide him with a puppet show. The children's librarian is an older heavy set African American woman with short cropped hair and tiny reading glasses perched on her nose. She is a formidable presence behind the counter with her hooded eyes and no nonsense demeanor. But, Zealand always gets a big smile from her. The last time we were at the library Zealand still was not walking. Instead he was pushing a small child's chair around the entire library while loudly making ooh and ahh sounds. She could not keep her eyes off of him and asked him questions about where he was going. Today Zealand walked close to the counter and she again asked, "and, where do you think you are going?" Zealand shyly smiled and stepped closer to me. As we walked away I heard her say, "look at that walk."

Before leaving I grabbed many board books covering Zealand's favorite subjects: trains, cars, and dogs. And, drum roll... signed Zealand up for his very first library card. Libraries are becoming more and more important to me now that I have Zealand. I know they will be an important part of his childhood. I hope they help inspire a love of reading and a love of books. I feel very lucky to have access to such a wonderful public institution.