Tucked on the cozy block of Avondale Ave, near the Roslyn Fire Company sits a small, yellow house that is about the size of a dining room and living room. Inside of this house lives over a thousand books who spend each day either circulating through the area or sitting on the shelves, waiting to be picked up by the next inquisitive reader. While it may seem small and quiet, it is a crucial power source in the county’s book circulation process.
The Roslyn Library was officially labeled in 1965. Built into two portable classrooms and funded by donations from the fire department and the community, the library was built from the love and support of the community. Every day, people of all backgrounds walk through the front door into the library and pass Roslyn’s take away library filled with books that are free to grab and go. A basket sits on the floor with toys, tools, and other small things the library is donating to the community for anyone to take. After waving to the friendly face behind the desk, you are greeted by the colorful children’s section filled with picture books, children’s novels, children’s graphic novels, and a nonfiction section. Additionally, there is a section dedicated to children’s series that bring nostalgia such as the My Weird School books or even the Magic Tree House books.
Sprawled beneath the shelves in the corner of the children’s section is tons of toys for children to play with while parents browse the shelves or siblings get some work done. The best part? The library is so small that a loud baby brother, still learning manners, won’t make the librarians angry. It’s a familiar home to those who need a place to sit, read, and spend time with their siblings or children. Going farther into the library, you reach the middle school section eventually spanning into young adult and adult. After picking out the perfect book by your favorite author, you can sit down in one of the comfy, cushioned red chairs that are fantastic for reading on a rainy day. You may spot the book cellar section on the ends of the shelves where books such as Brittany Spears’ autobiography and Cassandra Clare’s books are being sold for cheap and affordable prices no more expensive than five dollars. Maybe you’ll wander to the back where the yarn library is and grab a brand new, donated yarn along with the exact needles you need in order to sew your best friend a scarf. And the best news? It’s all free. Museum passes, craft classes, assistance, and a diverse, not overwhelming amount of books. Don’t forget to grab a craft bag lovingly curated by one of the library staff and a new book from that one series you never heard of but was on display so now your dying to read. Because the magic of libraries lie in the kindness, care, and love that each person receives on entry. And at the Roslyn Library, I can definitely feel the love spanning 60 years from the original small community that funded it all the way to the weekly visitors that spend half an hour talking with the librarians and learning new things through many different hobby classes.
