Yesterday morning I had a Throwback Thursday on a Monday. For the first time in probably eight years, I walked through the doors of the North Spokane Library, the library that I spent my childhood in. I spent countless hours inside that building’s walls but when my mom dropped me off yesterday I wondered to myself if I would even be able to recognize it once I walked inside. Library technology has changed so much and eight years is a long time for any structure to go without some updating. What would I see?

This is the North Spokane Public Library, the library I grew up going to. (Photo courtesy of www.scld.com).

Let me put it this way: I thought I was put inside a time machine. The place was the exact same. The layout, the stations, the offices, and the book shelves hadn’t changed one bit from a decade ago. Somehow this particular library had missed out on the plethora of computers, charging stations, and community areas that have swept through libraries across the nation. No big deal to me though, the reason why I went wasn’t really because I wanted a “21st Century Library Experience.”

This photo was taken by me yesterday but it very well could have been taken in 1992 as well.

I was at the North Spokane Library yesterday morning because my sister and niece were attending baby story time. At 10:30 a.m. the three of us went into the exact room that I went to for story time some 20 years ago. It was a completely adorable experience as a young library employee blew bubbles, read a few Christmas books, and sang some songs. Afterwards she brought out a bunch of toys and the babies played. With Mikayla only pushing four months she didn’t really partake in the play time or get excited by the singing and bubbles but she definitely observed. I enjoyed myself watching the babies of crawling age roam throughout the area and check one another out. Such a refreshing, innocent way to spend the morning.

Mikayla had a great morning at story time.

After the story time session I did browse the library for about 30 minutes. After you spend time in university libraries you can’t help but feel cozy and at home in tiny, one level neighborhood public centers. Another change that immediately jumps out at you is the type of literature available. The books on the shelves were things I actually wanted to read rather than long academic tomes. I found five books that interested me and proceeded to the self checkout area.

I spent a little bit of time going through the book shelves.

Although I knew it probably wouldn’t work, I tried scanning my library card that I was issued over 20 years ago. You better believe I hung onto that card for all this time. Not a big surprise that it got rejected. I had to depart the self checkout and go to one of the librarians at the front desk where she marveled at the relic of a card that I still had. She promptly issued me a new one. She checked me out my books and I walked back out into the Spokane cold, smiling a little bit after my blast from the past.

My ancient library card. If you look on the back, you will see my name. I only wrote the first letter of my name before my mom completed the rest of it because of my awful toddler penmanship.

Merry Christmas everyone! Don’t know if I will write over the next two days. Have a very blessed holiday. Don’t Blink.