Shelf Life - History Edition

This week we're featuring a story from longtime library lover and patron, Mary Pellicano!

"Growing up on Long Island, I was fortunate to live within walking distance of my local public library.  I spent many hours in the children’s section there, which was, as I recall,  always filled with warm sunlight and friendly librarians.  This was my sanctuary,  my escape as a child.  I remember one librarian in particular, who always wore a pretty dress and smelled faintly of hairspray and peppermint.  I didn’t know her name, but she knew mine, and always had a stack of books on her desk, waiting for me. “I think that you will enjoy these, Mary,” she would say and she was (almost) always right.  I devoured books in those days, and lost myself in the stories.  I identified with the March sisters, with their many siblings but only one parent.  Went on adventures in the wild west with the Ingalls family, and dreamed of visiting Prince Edward Island to befriend young Anne.  Later, I honed my sleuthing skills with Nancy Drew, delighted in the delicious mystery of gothic romances and vowed to “stay gold” like Ponyboy.  

When it came time to think about what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was easy: a librarian, of course!  Now, this took some time, but eventually, at the ripe young age of 42, I graduated from Syracuse University with the coveted MLS degree at last.   I took a job as a school librarian, and for almost 20 years I enjoyed helping kids discover the wonderful world of reading just like I did so many years ago. 

Early on in my career I realized that good librarianship is more than just being a steward of the books, however.  It is knowing your students, and connecting them to whatever resource they need to be successful.  While many of us look back at our time in middle and high school with fond nostalgia, for many teenagers these days school can be a source of misery.  For them, the resource they need might be anything from homework help if they are struggling academically, a granola bar if they are too hungry to learn, or a hug if that’s just what they needed that day.  My students were always welcome in my library: there was no shushing, no stern looks, just a safe space to explore, discover or escape if necessary.

I retired in 2021, and moved to Easton.  My first stop upon settling in was, naturally, the library.  The first time I walked into the Easton branch it was like going home again to that long ago library of my childhood. I was met by friendly librarians and comforted at once by the warm sunlight that filled the space. That was several years ago now, but I return often to attend the many wonderful programs, check out books or just soak in that library vibe.   And sometimes, every once in a while, as I’m perusing the stacks, I imagine just the slightest whiff of hairspray and peppermint…"

Thank you, Mary, for sharing your library story!

Have a memory or library story you'd like to share? Submit it to librarymemories@tcfl.org - anonymous submissions accepted also!