While waiting for my grandson, I go into the library to read my book. I go to the back lounge area, sit in one of the comfortable chairs, take out my tablet and settle down for at least an hour. I take a moment to look around me.

My chair is near the teen section. I can hear their laughter as they interact on the terminals playing a computer game that only my grandson can understand. A few are playing a board game. They sound like they are having fun and I’m glad they have a safe place to be.

At one table, some men are playing chess. I can hear loud whispers as they strategize their next moves. Near them, an older couple appears to be having computer problems. A librarian comes to the rescue and soon the couple is smiling and working on their own.

A little girl runs up to her grandpa, all excited that she’s found the book she wanted. Two high school girls are sitting at their own computers, side by side, obviously working on some assignment. They chat as they help each other.

A man is sitting at a lounge chair near me, reading the newspaper. Another is at the back table with his laptop open, headset on, head bobbing to the music with papers strewn everywhere, obviously very intent on some big project.

As I look around I see that almost every computer in the room is occupied, while other people are walking by amongst the stacks browsing the many books.

We don’t have a big library like some of the cities. It’s a small space that we all share, old and young together. It’s a community library. I like it like that. Now, back to my book.