Were you younger than Andrew?
Andrew is about to become a first grader in Arlington , and he just got his first Arlington Public Library card at the Columbia Pike Branch Library. We think he looks like he’s about to check out lots of great books.
Have Fun Andrew, and Happy Reading!
You know, it’s been so long that I don’t remember. But we were a reading family, at least with my mother who encouraged lots of trips to the library and an uncle who published children’s fiction. We’d both come back with these stacks of thick books, and next thing I knew, one of my books had disappeared — my mother was reading it.
I got my library card when I was born. I have an old white card from 1982 which was 30 years ago! The librarians just keep putting on new labels. The last time I checked it was redone in 2010 and still going strong. When I lived across the street from Glencarlyn Library. I transtition to Central Library when I moved far away and Central was closer to my job. I still visit my best friend who lives in Arlington and still check out books.
I was five. I got my library card at the Dayton View Branch of the Dayton Public Library in Dayton, OH. I had to show the librarian that I could read, and I was only allowed to take out 10 books at a time in the beginning. We went to the library on Saturday and the books only lasted until Wednesday. After a couple weeks, my mother persuaded the library to let me take out as many books as I could carry. (btw, the spelling is kindergartner with a “t” …)
Layne – thanks for catching the typo!
I got mine when I was 5, and my sister got her’s at 4.
No idea. I was too young to remember. But I do remember going to the library and the card had a metal plate so that it could be imprinted on the check out card that was in the pocket attached to the inside cover of the book. There was the dewey decimal system and a card catalog with small 3×5 cards that I would look up. I do remember when I got my first Arlington County library card. I was 23 and just moved here. It was my first day and I was walking to the grocery store to get my first groceries and saw the library. I walked in, showed them my newly signed lease and then got my card.
I’ve had a library card since I learned to read. (age 5) My first card was at Long Eaton library, in the UK. We were only allowed 2 books at a time. I’ve moved a lot since then and the first thing I do in any new community is get a library card. I remember getting my card at Cherrydale library in 1995 and feeling a whole lot better about the move I’d just made.
I know that I was pretty young, probably around five or six. My first card was with Arlington County Public Library. I think I got it from the Shirlington Branch (back when it was on Arlington Mill Rd). I have been using it ever since. 🙂
I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I got my first library card, but I do remember that, as a boy (probably starting when I was about six or so), my mother would regularly take us on trips to the library. At that time (over 35 years ago), we were living in New Rochelle, NY, and there was a small branch library about a block from our house. I probably learned to enjoy and look forward to a trip to the library back then, and got my first card in New Rochelle. We moved to Falls Church, VA, back in 1985. I got a card for Falls Church (which of course I still have) shortly after we moved. I got cards for neighboring library systems, including Arlington, in 1988. I have had an Arlington County Library Card since then. Although I love visiting just about any public library, I consider the Arlington Public Library (especially Central Library and Westover Branch) to be my favorite. I enjoy spending time reading and browsing books in the library.
I was 7 when I got my first library card in Tacoma, Washington. The Tacoma Public Library didn’t have an age limit, but required you to be able to sign your name on the back of the card — or I would have gotten it sooner!