Shaped my teenage and young adult years

There wasn't much to do in Stittsville when I was a kid, but the library was a short bike-ride away and best of all: free. My parents never minded if I were to run out of the house yelling "I'm going to the library!" It was a frequent occurrence in the summer time, and I would borrow as many books as I could carry home to read all summer long.

When I was a teen, I loved having access to the music library; I would listen to a set of CDs, make up dances, and lay in my bedroom singing along until I went back and exchanged them for a new bunch. Once I got my license, I sought out the museum passes to explore Ottawa and soak up the sights.

I have always loved to learn, and the library afforded me the chance to learn through books, videos, and museums. Even after I left the region for university, I would still rely on the library as a space to study when I returned home during exam prep week. Though I don't use the space as often as I used to, I feel a sense of both calm and excitement every time I walk into my local library and see the books, media, reading nooks, and computers, all ready to be used by the community.