Written by Div
During my last 3 years, I spent lots of time in our university library, writing endless essays and doing countless design projects. We students love doing homework or preparing for exams in the library. Compared to the noisy and untidy dorm where about 6 mates live together, learning in a library is a better choice to concentrate.
Since I have so many memories in the library, I was excited to hear we would visit VPL. Besides the mission that Aida asked us to finish, I want to figure out what else we can do at VPL.
Let’s begin with” What are people doing in VPL compared to my university.” My university’s library is a perfect place to study; we bring our textbooks and laptops to spend time improving. Books and magazines are more like decorations; I hardly see any students doing anything except preparing for exams. However, in VPL, people enjoy different activities, workshops, chatting, and Internet surfing. It seems more like a place where citizens enjoy reading and leisure time.
Secondly, I want to talk about the variety of books. At each level, a white sign lists the services and books available: children’s books, language learning books, periodicals, newspapers, and more. The variety and quantity of books covered is impressive. We were asked to explore the VPL with the theme of English language learning. On the second level, it offers materials for learning different native languages, including Chinese and Latin, French, German, etc. There are a lot of references. I can see how accommodating the whole city is to different cultures. As for newspapers, in my home country, it’s been a long time since we’ve not read a newspaper. We can also experience stories and news through the emotional medium, like newspapers, but in a more cozy medium. In VPL’s Newspaper section, there are newspapers organized by year, country, and area, and it’s a fun experience just to browse through the different types of newspapers randomly.
Additionally, the atmosphere created by the library is my favourite part. Imagine a sunny Saturday, buying a cup of coffee on the first floor and checking the computer for the latest popular books. Grab your book and head to the 6th or 7th floor, finish a reading session in a quiet, independent space, and when you feel a little tired, head to the roof to look into the distance and enjoy the fresh air. This is the most enjoyable way to spend a weekend!
Every city has its unique character, which is reflected by the locations the local people love. I have visited VPL 3 times since our field trip, and I saw people of different ages enjoying reading in it every time. As for my city, it is known for its food. Food courts and night markets are the most popular places in the whole town. Meanwhile, nature, libraries, parks, etc., are more prevalent in Vancouver. I also want to experience the unique character and atmosphere of different cities as much as possible!