There’s something about old books. The older the better. I love the feel, the beautiful textures of leather-bound or cloth-covered books. You can run your hands over them and feel the history. Such care has been taken with stitching the pages together and embossing the covers with a title and author’s name. The spines of these books have always been given special attention, designed with ribbing and more embossing. To walk into a bookstore that specialises in antiquarian books is one of my great loves; the unique smell of old leather and ink, my eyes filling to the brim with the view of wall-to-wall old books, the atmosphere that envelops me. I feel at home.

There’s a strong desire to caress those books locked away inside the glass cabinets, to open them and look inside. It’s very hard to leave without eagerly handing over my credit card and hugging a new old book to my chest, walking out with that feeling of deep satisfaction.

It’s many a reader’s dream to have a library like these bookstores with the obligatory ladder that sits in a runner and slides back and forth so that every book can be lovingly adored up close. To be able to stand back and scan your shelves then scamper up a ladder to find a well-loved gem. Some are lucky to have these ladders, but we can all dream.

When I walk into my local bookshop or library I have a similar feeling of arriving home. A place that is safe, peopled with those of my tribe. A place where I can find the answers to just about anything I want to know. A place where I can find something to take home and lose myself in. I know I bang on about libraries and bookshops interminably, but, truly, they are the most invaluable places, staffed with the most invaluable people.

This issue sees a series of new articles on libraries kick off. Recently, we met up with librarians who work in the NSW prison system. The importance of books, information and reading for inmates is priceless. These librarians are simply passionate about what they do and their work supports rehabilitation and changes lives. Literacy is an issue that librarians face with inmates and librarians are an important key in helping to improve this.

So much hardship in this world seems avoidable through early education. It saddens me to know there are still many homes that don’t have any books living within them. We still have, for some inexplicable reason, kids that slip through the net and arrive at high school with little to no literacy. How does that happen?

Surely, this is why libraries are so important. They level the playing field. Everyone can get access to books in libraries for free. No matter if you attend an elite private school or a far-flung public school in a low-income neighbourhood. It gives me a thrill to see little hands grasping books to take home and read. You can see how eager they are to dive into a story. What joy they will have when becoming so engrossed in their book they will forget what time it is. Better than all the gold in the world. Every child should have an opportunity to experience this.

But libraries do more than offer these kids access to books. They provide resources to learn, discover, collaborate, be connected with other kids, find confidence in themselves and all from within a safe place.

I hope all governments – local, state, federal – will support libraries of all types with funds. Funds are what they need. It’s what we, as a community, need. Libraries are doing the work to fill the gaps and support kids. They will always get my vote.

Rowena

And Baxter, who hates being read to. He always leaves the room. After which I make a sad face.