Top borrower finds 'something for everyone' in Chattahoochee Valley Libraries
With three weeks left before Christmas, it's a good time to remember a local institution that provides free gifts of knowledge and entertainment all year round.
And nobody has benefited from the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries more than Tanya Mayfield, who borrowed the most items, 979, from the system in fiscal year 2015 -- 196 more than the system's second-place borrower, Judy Mulligan, who checked out 783.
Tanya alone accounted for approximately one-tenth of 1 percent of the CVL's total FY15 circulation of 934,663 items.
Told how many items she has borrowed, Tanya laughed and asserted it actually is more because she uses other library cards in her family when she reaches the 20-item limit.
"If you included those," she said, "it probably is well over 1,000 that we've checked out."
Regardless of the number, the impact is clear: Her family cherishes the library system.
"The staff is friendly," Tanya said. "The selection of books and other materials is great. They have the latest books and movies. The online catalog is useful for requesting books. The programs are useful and fun. There is something for everyone at the library."
Tanya, 38, is a homemaker. Her husband, Nick, 39, is an ophthalmologist. Their two daughters, Hannah Grace, 10, and Penny, 6, attend St. Luke School. Hannah Grace is a fifth-grader but reads on a 10th-grade level on the Accelerated Reader scale. Penny is a first-grader but reads on the second-grade level. Tanya credits the school and library for helping them reach those levels.
Tanya started her family's connection to the library by taking Hannah Grace and Penny to story times when they were preschoolers. They participate in the summer reading programs for children and adults. They attend the book festival each year, and they even read to dogs in the Puppy Tales program.
"Having a great library helps to encourage reading throughout our whole family," Tanya said. "The more our kids see us reading, the more they want to read. The girls are always eager to see what books they can find when they visit. It's like a treasure hunt for them to find a good book. They love to read, and I think frequent trips to the library is a big part of that."
Dash and search
On a visit last month to the North Columbus Public Library, Tanya watched her daughters dash around and search through the stacks.
"I feel like we've read all of these books," she said with a laugh. "It's hard sometimes to find one we haven't read."
Which is a problem this mama welcomes.
"They have a bright future because they love to read," she said.
Branch manager Katie Burnett has seen the Mayfield girls graduate from reading picture books to chapter books.
"It's really cool to see that," Burnett said. "We like that with our customers. It's really family oriented. They're just one of the examples."
Hannah Grace measures the evolution of her book selections this way: "The heavier they get the better they get."
The girls sat with Tanya at a table in the children's area and read aloud "Those Darn Squirrels Fly South,"; written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. The experience was dynamic, even without electronics. Their eyes danced with delight as they took turns reading each page. They giggled at the funny parts and gasped at the surprising parts. They thoroughly enjoyed enjoying the book together.
"We all get to interact," Hannah Grace said.
"They may notice something that I don't," Tanya said.
Discussing the books they read further emphasizes the learning.
"The girls do like to tell me what is going on in the books they are reading by themselves," Tanya said."Discussing helps to check reading comprehension, which is so important to success in school."
Reading routine
At home, the Mayfields read together at least one book before bedtime.
"We've just been doing that forever," Tanya said.
Lately, the choice has been an American Girl book, which Nick puts up with like a good family man. Tanya chuckled and acknowledged with respect, "He's read a lot of girlie stories."
Hannah Grace likes the creative voices her parents use while reading the stories.
"Dad sometimes mocks people," she said with a laugh.
Nick, in a phone interview, explained his approach.
“If I can make reading more fun for them, it’s usually more fun for me,” he said. “To make them laugh is one of the most important things in the world to me.”
Then the girls read by themselves in bed.
"I recommend books to her," Hannah Grace proudly said of Penny.
"She lets her check out books from her personal library," Tanya added.
Hannah Grace estimated she reads 30 minutes every morning before leaving for school and 30 minutes every night before lights out; all for pleasure, not homework.
"My books, I just kind of get into them and I can't stop reading them," she said, then added, "Last night, I stayed up really late reading."
"Me too," Penny chimed in.
Asked whether she approves, Tanya said, "Not too late, but, yes, some late is OK. At least they're not staying up looking at the iPad or watching TV."
Asked what the TV limit rule is in their house, Tanya said, "They don't need it. They don't ask to watch it."
That's because they do ask to go to the library. It's also because Tanya and Nick model the behavior.
"They need to see you reading," Tanya said.
In fact, Tanya said with a laugh, "I've never had to tell them to read; sometimes I have to tell them to stop reading."
Tanya suggests letting children pick their books.
"Don't force them to read something they don't want to read," she said.
Favorites
Hannah Grace's favorite book is "The Lord of the Rings."
"The characters, they just kind of come to life in my mind, and it's like I'm there," she said. "The author just describes it so well. I just feel like I'm caught up in the book."
As for books she recommends for adults to read to children, Tanya suggested "Dragons Love Tacos," another one by Rubin and Salmieri. They also like the Pinkalicious series by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann. Other favorite authors include Daisy Meadows, Roald Dahl and J.K. Rowling.
When she selects books for herself, Tanya usually reaches for a novel. Her most recent favorite is “The Martian” by Andy Weir. Nick’s all-time favorites are “It” by Stephen King and “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy. His current recommendation is “The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto” by Mitch Albom.
Tanya often relies on the library staff’s recommendations. Hannah Grace, who sometimes recommends books to other children, aspires to become a library volunteer.
"I just like being social in the library," she said.
Tanya planted that seed years ago at those story times in the library.
"Just being here, surrounded by the books, you can't help but pick one out," she said.
The story times helped teach her daughters how to sit still and pay attention, she said. Oh, and the setting also provided Tanya another way to talk with other mothers.
"I met some good friends," she said.
Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.
This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Top borrower finds 'something for everyone' in Chattahoochee Valley Libraries."