The Importance of Libraries

This week, I want to focus my writing on the “Dear Miss Breed” letters. In every letter sent by one of the children, the connection they had with Miss Breed was obvious, similar to their connection to the library and reading. This resonated with me because, like them, I remember loving my library as a child. It’s children’s section was so fun, it had toys, a patterned rug to play on, tables with dolphins on them, and of course, shelves of books. By the “end” of my childhood I knew where each of my favorite series were, and knew the names of many of the employees. A couple years ago, they ended up moving our library to a bigger building to fit in a lot of new spaces for people to enjoy. I never felt like it was the same going there, with all of the bright fluorescent lights and dull colors. Of course, the children of the Japanese internment camps missing their library isn’t the same as my experience, but losing a library that you loved is hard in any situation. I wonder if the children were able to reunite with Miss Breed when they came home. I also wonder how Miss Breed managed to keep in touch with all of these children, likely while running a library. Overall, I think it is important for every kid to experience a library during their childhood, and I’m glad these children were able to find happiness in books during such hard times.