CornerShot

When I was a teenager, the only library I could go to was the Roanoke City Library. It was huge (to me, then) but you could check out only six books at a time.

Then they built the Hollins library, where the librarians are always helpful and friendly. It has always been the one I go back to.

I also liked the small library at Mount Pleasant. It was in the elementary school at first, and you could always count on getting a best-seller there. This was later moved into its own building on Virginia 116. It has the feeling of an old-time friendly library.

Vinton's library has always had the most interesting and fun librarians. Among those, currently, is Marni Smith . The classes she teaches are always informative and have provided me with many hours of creative fun.

Then, they built the new Roanoke County library and hid it quite successfully. It is a beautiful facility that will be used often and for a long time.

What a delight it is to visit the small library at Blue Ridge, which I do quite often, and the Salem library, where I go to see the beautiful wall hanging in front of the checkout desk.

I guess you could call me an equal opportunity library user. I just love the riches we have in Roanoke with all of these libraries and wonderful librarians. They make it very good to live in the Roanoke Valley.

Weather Journal

3 hours ago

1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County 

2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping 

5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football 

6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

7. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible

9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli 

10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area