And the winner is: Mairéad Murphy. 

Congratulations to Mairéad, who is the recipient of a €100 book voucher.

Thank you to everybody who sent us their story.  It was heartwarming to read about your positive library experiences and the stories about love for (and in) libraries.

My Library Love Story by Mairéad Murphy.

Childhood trips to the library were nerve wracking. Our brand new library overlooked the town of Killarney, white and sterile looking from the outside. Inside its aggressively acrylic carpet caused frequent static shocks that at first made me gasp, then turn to see the librarian's unsmiling look over her glasses. I was an early reader, reading Enid Blyton books before I started going to school. Most of my trips were with my Mom, we walked the mile and a half through the town of Killarney toreturn our books, Mom's Mills & Boons , my Enid Blytons. The librarian would nod, take my book and clunk dunk the date of return on it. I loved getting lost in the world of books, The Hollow Tree house, Secret Seven and Famous Five. I hadn't a clue what ginger beer was but the mention of it made my mouth water!

I remember my class being brought to the library to hear the travel writer Dervla Murphy read from one of her books. She arrived bringing her little dog with her. I looked to the librarian - surely they would put her dog outside somewhere!! But there was no mention made of the little creature and he busied himself exploring and sniffing while Dervla read, oblivious to his wanderings. Then I saw him stop, sniff, and, NO! he lifted a hind leg and peed up against our beautiful new library's white wall!! I was as incensed as a 9 year old could be!

Libraries took a back seat in my life after my school years. I trained, worked, travelled and fell in love, got married, moved back to Ireland, bought our home in Dunboyne and started our family. Our firstborn was an early reader like her mom and we became frequent visitors to our local library. What a different place that was; it was warm, colourful and oh so welcoming. Our librarians quickly got to know our names. Such a simple thing makes such a difference and gives somebody an instant sense of belonging.

Our library catered to the children's needs as they grew with stories read aloud from big colourful books by the librarian, oodles of choices of books for them to choose from as they grew and a quiet place to study.

One time I was researching the history of our local castle. No matter what words I typed into the search bar I could not find a mention of the history of the castle, only ads for it's current form as a hotel. I made enquiries at the library. Fellow librarians were drawn into the conversation, cupboards searched through, until finally an old cardboard box was pulled out and handed to me. It contained yellowed pages of old typewriter print. Dates, family names and stories tumbled off the pages, stories of priests and deathbed conversions of faiths, an olympian athlete, a woman's mysterious death and the holy water that washed away her stubborn blood stain, nuns, young mothers and lost babies...a wealth of fascinating history from the mists of time. Google : 0 Dunboyne Library : 1

Far more than a source of books and information, to me the library is a hub, a community gathering point, full of possibilities, opportunities and connections. How often have I visited the library, a quick stop off to return books but I spot a book I didn't know I needed, but one that brought great insight or joy? How often have I been quietly beckoned over by the librarian - 'I have an idea, we're thinking of running an event for International Womens' Day, any ideas?' And so would start a
coming together of speakers, readers, local poets and writers. A packed library, a spellbound audience, laughter, occasional tears, a shy nervous speaker receiving tumultuous applause. Questions and Answers time brought no awkward silences, but praise and questions and comments and thanks. Thanks for stories shared, souls bared, for people who cared. We were in our safe place. Then the chat over mugs of tea or glasses of wine and plates of home baking, no small talk here. We discussed the topics of the night in more depth, drew strangers into our conversation, recommended other books, exchanged names and numbers, found like-minded people and were gently shooed into the night, still chatting and laughing, by our wonderful librarians.

Our library gives a great strong sense of community. So many events have been organised by the staff that have brought people together. Strangers become familiar faces, acquaintances and friends. The deathly quiet library of my childhood stays in it's place in the Past. Now the old library hush is a friendly welcoming hum. The hum of stories, life and love.