After school last week, as a student was walking into the bathroom in the library, he said

Wait, Mrs. Abdul, do you, like, get sick of staying in the library all day?

He’s a library regular that uses the library more for relaxation and connecting with friends than schoolwork. So it was even weirder question because he doesn’t normally engage me in conversation aside from coming and going or when I have to address he or his friends’ behavior.

I paused for a minute– unsure what he was really getting at but then I responded

I like being in the library! But, (pauses) I can leave the library when I want to… like, I meet teachers in their classes and can walk around the building. I’m not stuck here. But there’s no place I’d rather be. I like what we’ve built in the library, we work hard to make it a place that people want to be.

I wasn’t sure if he thought I couldn’t leave the library or that it was boring being in the library all day. I can honestly say that it’s never a dull moment in the library! He seemed content with my answer and went about his business but I had a chuckle at the question.

The library is the best place to be if I had to be trapped, that’s for sure!