What is a library? Google would say it is just a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for people to read, borrow or reference. My college friends would say it’s the location of sleepless nights with walls that have witnessed hours upon hours of studying. For me, my mind does not go to the generic definition or a location only relevant since college. Instead, I instantly think of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library [1], which has held more than just books for me; since my childhood, it has held countless memories and experiences that have guided me through all stages of my life.
When my family first moved to the area and I was just barely a year old, my parents took me to the children’s section to grab a book off the shelf to be read in a cozy corner of the room. It was here that I first learned to read and understand the concept of a story. From Charlotte’s Web to Madeline, all my childhood favorite books were discovered within the walls of the library; this would also spark my love of reading in the years to come. I remember fondly feeling like such a big kid when I got to eventually pick out my books and bring them up to the front desk to check out.
My mom has also shared how the library provided an outlet for her to interact with other moms and a way for me to meet other children, especially prior to my brother being born. My parents were fresh from North Carolina with no friends in Mt. Lebanon, and the library served as a connection point in the community for them to meet people in the area who were at the same stage of life. I love going back through old photos from my childhood and finding photos of me playing with other children and discovering the world around me at the library; one photo stands out of me coming face to face with what seems to be my first cat at some type of animal event at the library. The library truly is a background of some of my earliest childhood memories and served as an entry point into the Mt. Lebanon community for my parents.
Moving on to my teen years, I reached the memorable age of 16, when I could get my license and could stop relying as much on my parents. Instead of waiting around for my mom to drive me to the library to pick up the newest series of my favorite show or book, I could now drive myself. Especially during COVID, when I was bored out of my mind, the library was my haven to escape and stock up on all the entertainment I desired. I roamed the aisles for what seemed like hours to make sure I got all the things I needed. My parents loved this because it was a type of shopping experience that would leave no damage to the credit card bill. What was once a place of forming connections and familial memories became my first place of independence and decision-making as I grew up.
With age, I started utilizing new aspects of the library. I began to use the space as my home base for studying throughout high school and into the current day on my college breaks. The window seats offered the perfect mix of privacy while still offering a charming view of Uptown; the study rooms are also great options if additional privacy is needed. On school days, I loved seeing children stream out of Mellon Middle School and bring laughter and a youthful energy that always motivated me to work in the library. The closeness to Uptown Coffee is a bonus of studying that both I (and my credit card) quickly discovered.
Not only was the library a place that helped me, but I would also like to think I gave back to the library in my way as well. I became a page in my later high school years, and it was one of my first jobs. Each day I looked forward to the small talk with the gracious and kind staff, along with interacting with patrons of all ages who I observed enjoying the library in the same ways I do.
As you can see, a library, and particularly the Mt. Lebanon Library, to me, is not something that can be summed up with one generic definition crafted by technology. The word instead encompasses a place filled with memories from the innocence of learning to read to the determination of studying for the final season. (And I could do it all for free!) I do not believe I am alone in viewing the library as a place that has been a comforting outlet for people throughout their lives. The library is a centerpiece of the Mt. Lebanon community for so many people, and I hope that it can stay that way forever. I urge you to consider what you think of when you hear the word “library.” You may just find yourself on a trip down memory lane.