Romancing the Library

I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes     1     (read) up to three books a day as a child. Stories were     2    (prep.) air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.

My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old,     3     was a dream job. I had so much enthusiasm, shelving books, reading to the children for story time,     4     my friends and I would hang out there often, teaching children and doing homework.

The library meant more to me as I grew older and had several children. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library,     5     my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.

I always read, using different voices, as if I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it! It was a special time to bond with my children and keep them     6     (fill) with the wonderment of books.

Libraries offered story hour and I’d take my children, and then my grandchildren there     7     (listen) to writers read books. Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I am happy that the excitement of going to the library     8     (live) on from generation to generation.

As an author of romance novels, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I see libraries    9     a safe haven (避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that     10     (help) to put together a reader with a book.

I could say my first love affair was with books, and I was constantly romancing the library.

“Chinese Bookshelf” a project which aims to provide local readers with access     1     Chinese books and culture, was launched Tuesday here.

    2     (locate) inside Foyles Bookstore at Charing Cross Road, near the British Museum and Chinatown, the “China Bookshelf”    3     (introduce) more than 100 kinds of books such as literature, folktale, economic publications and political works.

Carmelo Puglisi, head of foreign language books at Foyles Bookstore, told Xinhua that the bookshop has always attached great     4     (important) to Chinese books as it started selling them years ago.

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to Britain, said in a congratulatory letter to the launching ceremony     5     the carefully-selected books in the “Chinese Bookshelf “ will serve as a bridge for     6     (culture) exchanges and a window for Western readers     7     (understand) China.

“Chinese publishing has transformed itself in the last 10 to 20 years,     8    it is now among the leading publishing     9     (nation) of the world. I think the more the Chinese and Western publishers can develop global Chinese books, journals, databases,    10     more understanding there will be between the East and West,” he said.