by Samuel Smith
Over the last seven years, my child, spouse, and I have visited many libraries across the Pacific Northwest, but mostly in Idaho. We’re a travel nurse family. We move to a new town and job about every 13 weeks. Our journey began in 2018 when we moved from southern Idaho to Coeur D’Alene for my wife’s first nursing assignment. Since then, we’ve been to Oregon and Washington, back to Idaho, back to Oregon and Washington again, and currently we’re back in Boise, with plans to visit other states.
We’re a family dedicated to reading, learning, and exploring. With limited space in our car, we rely upon public libraries for books and other services. The first thing we do after unpacking our stuff at a new house is head down to the nearest library and sign up for a card. In our hectic life, public libraries have been one of the few constants we can rely on.
Our daughter loves physical books and the kids’ activities and programs libraries host. She’s learned to read, prepared for kindergarten with other kids, made beautiful art, learned Spanish and American Sign Language, and built Lego exhibits. She is very excited about the prospect of getting to read a book to a dog! Every visit to the library sparks her imagination and deepens her love of learning, reminding us that these spaces are not just places to borrow books, but places to grow and connect.
Public libraries have played a vital role in our family’s journey. Whether it’s through a reading program, a community event, or just a quiet corner to explore new worlds, libraries are invaluable to traveling families. I encourage you to visit your local library and explore all the programs they offer. Support your library today, and help ensure these treasures remain for future generations.
Happy Reading!
IWU thanks Samuel Smith for this article. He’s an author as well; learn more about him.
Would you like to submit an article to IWU for publication? Read more on our Submissions page.
