I'm reading in and fundraising for the 2021 READATHON because I love the Tompkins County Public Library and want to do my part to support it, now more than ever.

During this past year of the pandemic I've come to see even more clearly what is most important to me.  I've been so grateful to have been spared the horrific loss of a loved one. And I've been so grateful to have more than enough so I've been able to do all of the many things I love doing, especially with dear Sylvia.  Since she was born the library has been a central part of our lives.

When coronavirus hit and the library closed we were grateful for our, as usual, very large stack of library books.  What a treat that we could keep them for even longer - we always renew as many times as the system allows.  Then, we were so joyful and filled with such emotion that I unfortunately can't do justice describing (but I can always get a book at the library by writers much more gifted that I!) when we learned that we'd be allowed to reserved books and pick them up at the library. What a gift to be able to enter the building again.  What a treat to see our favorite librarians in person.  We could look into the Childen's section and talk and dream about the pandemic ending and being allowed to enter again. 

I'd been preparing Sylvia that we wouldn't be allowed into the stacks until after the pandemic was over and wouldn't that be such a wonderful thing to look forward to.  And then it happened.  The library announced that patrons would be allowed into the stacks for 30 minute sessions.  What?!!?  Coronavirus was still happening AND we got to go pick out our own books! 

Sylvia and I had gotten used to walking down the central walkway, masked up, waving to the Children's section and continuing on to the circulation area.  But then, we turned toward the entrance to the Children's section.  We stood at the threshold, paused to take it all in, and then crossed over into what Sylvia had really known as the library.  The land of books. We were going into the stacks. The warm wood bookcases.  The inlaid ceramic tiles of animals.  A place that brings the whole wide world right to you.  A place that can inspire you to make countless new whole worlds. 

I can remember that day so vividly and I hope that memory of that  is one of the last to fade. 

I want to raise funds to help buy books, films, and other materials so that every person coming to the library wherever they are coming remains informed, entertained, and educated. 100% of the funding for annual purchases comes from private support, like that raised by our READATHON. Please help me support TCPL by making a gift in honor of my read today!