Growing up with the library

by Shayera Tangri

I grew up in the tiny town of Baldwinsville, NY, (pop. 7500), a suburb of Syracuse. It’s best known for, um… well, hmmm… If I ever figure out what it’s known for I’ll get back to you. I think Baldwinsville is one of the original 2 traffic light towns. For me, a recent immigrant to America and Baldwinsville, the town had the most magical of places. The public library, which was conveniently located in the Downtown area. I’d walked into that building as an already book addicted 8 year old in the late 1970s, and for the next 16 years, it was pretty much my home away from home.

I worked my way through the books with systematic determination. The librarians would come up with new ways for me to discover books too. On one occasion, it was decided that I could only check out books on a certain theme. Once there was a treasure hunt. I was occasionally the guinea pig for Summer Reading themes.

I spent many evenings and weekends in that building, even after I outgrew Summer Reading. The Baldwinsville Public Library helped me through all those school assignments and college applications. For me, that building was permanent. In 1993, the Library Board approved plans for a new building. One which would have a dedicated computer room and would be automated. It would also be about twice the size of the building I was used to. I left Baldwinsville the next year. I haven’t been back since, in fact. I’m planning on going back this year, for a friend’s wedding. I guess I’ll have to drive by and take a look at the new building. I guess. But for me, the Baldwinsville Public Library will always be in that little building, with the beautiful wooden shelves and card catalog and punch card due date slips.