We All Belong Here

by Kate Park翻譯：常青

We All Belong Here

by Kate Park翻譯：常青

圖書館，這應該是個很多人會選擇去尋求精神寄托的地方吧。因為在圖書館里，你總能找到你想要品讀的書，你可以從書中學到很多，同時也能夠讓自己的身心更加放松、更加平靜。是啊，我們都該慶幸，慶幸圖書館能夠成為你我的歸屬之地。

My family moved to rural northeast Texas 33 years ago this month from Little Rock注1. We were not native Texans. From the church we attended, to the1)political candidates my parents supported, we were considered outsiders by many in the tightly2)knit community. But within the first month of moving to Texas, my mom signed us up for a library card.

We lived three3)blocks from my local library, a small but friendly and4)well-stocked branch for a community of less than 3,000 people. We walked several times a week to choose new books and movies.

Like a lot of kids, I enjoyed school, but did not always ft into social groups. Later, I found my place as soon as I learned how to read. Learning to read gave me a pass to the library. And the library provided not just one place to belong, but an endless list of new places to explore and characters to meet. I also had something to talk about with my fellow classmates—books.

The librarians recognized that I loved books and reading (and that I probably needed a place to belong). In the third grade, I was selected to be a library5)assistant. The library became a place of not only information and research, but also of6)solace and inspiration.

After high school, I enrolled at the University of North Texas to study biology, but realized quickly that English classes were my favorite. After graduating with an English degree, I pursued a master’s degree in London and worked on author events. This experience confrmed for me the power of hearing authors discuss their processes, inspiration and work.

Modern libraries are changing to respond to the needs of our growing community. The library system also offers English classes, GED注2preparation; programs for children, teens, adults and senior citizens—and all for free. Libraries are one of the last7)democratic spaces in our society that remain free, open and8)accessible to all.

Everyone should have a safe place to go; a place to find information and inspiration; a place to belong. The good news is that we have that place in the library. And for that, I am truly grateful.

33年前的這個月，我們家從小石城搬到了得克薩斯州東北部的鄉下。我們不是得克薩斯本土人。從我們參加的教會到我父母所支持的政治候選人，在這個彼此聯系緊密的社區里，很多人都把我們當作是局外人。但在搬往得克薩斯州的第一個月里，媽媽就為我們辦了張圖書證。

我們家距當地的圖書館有三個街區遠。對于這個居民人數不到3000的社區而言，圖書館規模雖小，卻非常適合讀者，且館藏豐富。我們每周都會去上幾次圖書館，在那里挑一些新書和電影。

和很多小孩一樣，我喜歡上學，只是總不那么合群。不久，在學會閱讀后，我很快便找到了屬于自己的天地。學會閱讀給了我前往圖書館的一張無形通行證。而圖書館于我已不再只是一個歸屬之地了，它還讓我能夠在書中進行無窮無盡的探索，認識到各式各樣的人物。我也因此有了可以和同學們一起討論的話題—圖書。

圖書管理員意識到了我熱愛書籍和閱讀（而且我大概也需要一個歸屬之地）。在讀三年級時，我當上了圖書館助理。于是，圖書館不再僅僅是提供信息和研究的場所了，它也給予了我慰藉和靈感。

高中畢業后，我考入了北得克薩斯大學學習生物學，但我很快便意識到英語課程才是我的最愛。從英語專業畢業后，我便前往倫敦攻讀碩士學位并參與組織作者活動這一類的工作。這段經歷使我更加堅信聆聽作者討論他們的寫作過程、靈感來源和作品時那其中所蘊含的力量。

現代圖書館為了適應日益增長的社會需求正在不斷改進。圖書館系統還提供了英語課程和GED備考課程；還有一些為兒童、青少年、成年人和老年人準備的各類活動，這些都是免費的。圖書館是人類社會最后的民主空間之一，它仍自由、開放、面向全世界。

每個人都應該擁有一個安全的去處；一個可以查找信息及收獲靈感的地方；一個歸屬之地。好消息是，我們在圖書館里能找到那樣一個地方。為此，我真的心存感激。

1) political candidate 政治候選人

2) knit [n?t] v. 緊密連接

3) block [bl?k] n. 街區

4) well-stocked 貯藏量多的

5) assistant [?'s?st?nt] n. 助理

6) solace ['s?l?s] n. 安慰，慰藉

7) democratic [dem?'kr?t?k] adj. 民主的

8) accessible [?k'ses?bl] adj. 可以出入的，可以達到的

注1：小石城（Little Rock），位于美國阿肯色州中部，是該州的首府和最大城市。

注2：即General Educational Development，（美國）普通高中同等學歷證書。