From the time I learned to read, I was a force to be reckoned with. The summer after first grade was my heyday. I was an accomplished reader who read anything and everything, and I loved it.
My family was not in a position to buy extras, including books, so the Franklin Public Library was one of my favorite places. It was located on Phillips Street, which is a short street connecting Main Street and Palmer Street. The library was just south of Rankin Square and that watchful Confederate. The building is still there, and it has been the home of various businesses throughout the years.
I don’t know who the librarian really was, but Mr. and Mrs. Murray worked there as a team. The kids’ section was toward the back on easy reachable lower shelves. It wasn’t a place to play or even read.
And, it was as quiet as a tomb. There was no foolishness.
The Murrays were not unkind. She was tall with short hair and sensible shoes. He wasn’t as memorable. In my mind he has on a plaid shirt and a sweater. They were both just matter of fact with a job to do, and they did it perfectly.
If a person was not a reader longing for a wonderful supply of books, there was nothing to entice entrance into the library – no posters, no flowers, and no decorations, and the lighting wasn’t the best. Just shelves of wonderful books. I was in book heaven.
Keep in mind I was a semi-feral town kid who was, more or less, on my own, up and down Main Street while my Mama worked. There was no adult with me on my library trips. I popped in, chose my books, and left. I was allowed to take three books.
I selected my books and carried them to the counter. There, one of the Murrays flipped to the back of each book and took out the cards for me to sign. Then a date stamp, tapped twice on the ink pad, recorded the day I was to return the book both on the card and in the book.
One sad day I turned to where the date was stamped and realized my three books were overdue. What a quandary! That had never happened before. I knew there was no money for library fines, and I was very worried it would result in my library privileges being revoked.
I finally confessed to my grandmother, who did her best to keep me both physically safe and on the straight and narrow until my Mama came home from work. Somewhere she found a quarter and sent me to return the books and pay the fine. Today, I marvel at how precious that quarter was. I knew then and now it was a sacrifice.
I returned the books and placed the quarter on the counter. Mrs. Murray turned to the back of the books and saw the dates. She looked over her glasses and asked me who gave me the quarter, and I told her. She said, “Take the money back to your grandmother and be more careful next time.”
And, that is one reason why libraries and librarians are dear to me.