If you don’t have a library card from your local library, my friends, now is the time to get one.

Libraries today offer book checkouts (of course), inter-library loans (materials from other libraries), e-books, audio books, DVDs, children’s programming, and free computer usage. Larger libraries offer adult education: computer and tech classes for basic learning, crafting, knitting, book discussion groups and more. My local library has rooms you can reserve for meetings, studying, etc. All these wonderful things are free with your library card.

Reading can teach us something new or increase our knowledge of things we have interest in. Reading gives us a window into other countries and places we have never visited. Reading can increase our vocabulary and communication skills. Studies also say that reading may stimulate and expand our mental faculties, decrease stress, improve our self-esteem, and even help us understand one another better.

Reading is powerful. We can take all this knowledge and information into ourselves to become better people mentally, physically, and spiritually. We can teach others ideas and information that we have learned through reading. We can read to those who can no longer physically see the printed page. We can teach those who cannot read to learn to read and love the printed word and all it has to offer us.

I was about seven or eight years old when my mama took me to our tiny community library for my first library card. I distinctly remember being in awe of that room, filled top to bottom with hundreds of books. I was in love! And I have never lost my love of reading.

I come from a family of readers: my mama and daddy, my favorite aunt and several close cousins—but also teachers who taught me that reading would open my mind and open doors all along my journey through life.

When I received that first library card, I checked out two books. Upon arriving home, I spied my daddy working outside. I nearly flew across the yard to show him my card and the books I checked out. I remember he stopped, wiped his hands on already dirty jeans, and took a careful look at my card. He smiled, ruffled my hair and told me he was proud of me.

A library card is important and children should be taught so. It teaches children responsibility as well. We check out books and are expected to not only keep up with them, but to return them in good shape so others can read them.

I can remember only losing one book in my life. I was around 12 and had a bicycle with a basket on the back. Many wonderful summer days, I would tool around town a bit and then head to the library (only three blocks away from home.) This particular day, I checked out a Nancy Drew I had not read yet. I loved Nancy Drew and I consume mysteries by the ton to this day. With Nancy safely ensconced in the basket, I tore out of the library parking lot, heading home.

I am unsure exactly what route I took but whatever it was, I somehow bounced Nancy out of the basket and into the great unknown. I didn’t have her when I arrived at home, and further detective work by me did not result in finding the book. Hanging my head low, I told my parents and we did have to pay a few dollars for the book. A sad day in my life for sure.

Friends, if you don’t have a library card or if yours has expired (or you’ve traveled to a new town recently), head to the library and get a new card. Take a child with you: yours or your neighbor’s. What could be more wonderful than to take a child to the library for their very first card! Well, maybe taking a child fishing. That’s a good experience too, folks.