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Why People Love Libraries

Why I Love My Library

Women across the country share stories of how libraries impacted their lives.

As part of its ongoing partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) and its Campaign for America's Libraries, Woman's Day magazine regularly runs essay contests asking readers to send stories of how libraries impacted their lives. In 2007, for example, 2,000 readers shared heartfelt, funny, and touching stories on the topic “How the Library Changed My Life,” some of which were published in the March 6, 2007 issue. This winter, the topic was “The Library Helped Me Start My Business,” with winning essays published March 4, 2008, and through May 11, the magazine is accepting entries on the topic “How the Library Improved My Health.”

I Love Libraries is proud to present some of the top contest entries from the past two years here and in our archives. For more information, visit www.womansday.com. For more information on ALA's Campaign for America's Libraries, visit www.ala.org/@yourlibrary.

Eliza Truitt

Seattle, WA

The Seattle Public Library has been my own personal business school. Since starting my own wedding photography company, Eliza Truitt Photography, three years ago, I've used it for educating myself on all aspects of my business. Doing a quick search at my public library's website there are ten books devoted exclusively to running a photography business. Expand a little to look at books on running a small business and the possibilities are limitless.

Recent business books I've read include The Anatomy of Buzz: How to Create Word-of-Mouth Marketing by Emanuel Rosen and The E-myth revisited: why most small businesses don't work and what to do about it by Michael E. Gerber. I find that in each business book I read there is one nugget that I take and immediately apply to improving the way I run my business.

And the library is great for more than just educating yourself on business. When I need inspiration for an upcoming shoot I often browse the section of art photography books and check out a stack I can pore over at home to get my own creative mind revved up. And all those famous photographers whose names I've heard here and there–I check out books of their photographs from the library to look at and better understand what the fuss is all about. Looking at the portraiture done by photographers 50 or 80 years ago I am often blown away by how fresh their ideas were, and how much I have to learn from their work.

And the best part is that this education was entirely free, which I didn't need a business book to tell me was a wise financial decision.