Whether you’re diving into our curated booklists, attending a program, or participating in a Beanstack reading challenge, we want to hear your stories.
Share your #YakimaValleyLibraries story aquí.
| I grew up in an extremely large city and had a bit of culture shock moving to tiny Naches, WA. I didn’t know where I fit in, it was difficult making friends and I felt a bit out of place. Being a bookworm, I visited Naches library (and the wonderfully cultured Mrs. Katy, the librarian) and fell in love. The library has made Naches feel like home in so many ways. The children’s story time program is the highlight of my three year old’s week (and mine too!). We adopted our daughter Lovely last year, and she has gone through so much, recently being diagnosed with cerebral palsy among other major issues with her heart and breathing.
Story time allows our daughter to shine – she learned how to use scissors there at age 2, she learned how to dance (even though her right foot and right arm don’t work very well – nobody minds), she learned respect, patience, focus, reading skills, art skills (the crafts are her favorite!), and above all friendship. It has been therapeutic for her, seeing her skills develop and confidence boost to the sky. Thank you to all the librarians here in Yakima county. I also have friends who are Yakima librarians by day but karate gurus by night (Sydney, Katlyn, and Theresa). They’ve even supported me outside of the library to attain a black belt (another way of bringing me closer to the community)! The librarian staff are overwhelmingly supportive and honestly an integral part of our community and beyond. They are inspirational human beings and I hope the world continues to see and appreciate their super-hero powers. Thank you from the bottom of our heart! |
| I took my kids to story time at the library when they were babies and toddlers. We have used STEM kits, checked out movies and games to enjoy as a family, and participated in summer reading events and activities. We love the sense of community and helpful librarians. The Taylor Swift event was lots of fun! |
| The Yakima Valley Libraries have been an incredible resource for my family. I love taking my young kids to the library, where they can explore new books and participate in engaging programs. We’ve attended storytimes that spark their imagination and checked out books that have become bedtime favorites. The library is more than just a place to borrow books—it’s a space where we can learn together, discover new interests, and build a love for reading. The welcoming environment and helpful staff make every visit a memorable experience. Thank you, YVL, for being such an important part of our learning journey! |
| La biblioteca de Naches es la mejor desde que conocí ese lugar ha sido maravilloso, mis hijas les encanta ir, a conocer nuevos libros, participar en las actividades y la búsqueda de tesoro. Se ha vuelto nuestro lugar favorito. |
| The library has been such an asset for me and my family. My toddler is an AVID reader and together we read 20+ books a day – it’s great! One day I decided I’d take her to the library for the first time and it just happened to be right before story time, so we stayed. It was the happiest coincidence. I didn’t know what to expect or how it would go but the staff was so welcoming and helpful answering all my questions. I’m a stay-at-home mom so being able to take my girl somewhere with other kids, watching and listening to them engage in books and learning, while also meeting other parents has been a blessing.
I couldn’t be more thankful for our local library. Now, we make a point to stop by either the West Valley or Downtown location weekly to check it out. And each week our check-out stack gets bigger and bigger! I’ve also attended a beginner watercolor program that was so fun and informative that helped me tap into my creativity I had not explored since becoming a mother. I truly look forward to the next one. I make sure to tell all my family and friends – with kids and without – just how lovely the library is and how important it is to our community. There truly is something for everyone and we have found our “something” at our local library. Thank you for all you do for this community! |
| The library has always held a special place in my heart, both as a child and now as a parent. Growing up, it was a place where I could escape into the worlds within books, discovering new topics and learning things I never imagined. I would spend hours in the aisles, picking up books on everything from cooking to animals to history, always eager to learn more. The library provided me with a safe and inspiring space to explore my interests, foster my curiosity, and ignite my love of reading and knowledge. This is where I realized how books could transport me to different places and fuel my creativity.
Now, as a parent, I see the same magic unfolding for my 2-year old son. The library continues to be a place where we both learn, explore and create together. Storytime has been a particularly special experience for us where each week we get to hear stories, sing, dance, and create crafts together, making the most special memories. These moments fuel my son’s imagination and love of books, while also allowing us to connect. I cherish watching him immerse himself in the same joy I once found in libraries – the wonder of discovering new worlds and learning new topics. The library has been a constant source of inspiration for both of us. It’s a place where my son and I can share our love of stories and creativity, while also allowing me to reflect on my own childhood and the joy of learning that began there. |
| The Yakima Valley Library system, specifically the Toppenish Library, was the only metaphorical sports field I ever felt safe participating in, on, or at. The summer reading program, in the years 1990-1997, held an opportunity where I was freely allowed to express my learning in the summertime! Fifteen-minute chunks of reading bringing me closer to stickers?! I was all in. Some might think a sticker is a tiny reward or not something to work toward yet those stickers were better than crisp bills to me. Those holographic stickers were my currency of joy – from ages seven through thirteen!
School on the Yakama reservation felt oppressive, it was oppressive as bullying was rampant and we were mocked if we valued learning by hearing the constant commentary of, “stuck up/school girl” in the air, but the public library was a place where I could authentically and athletically shine in the most glorious of introverted ways – as a reader – and I earned the only trophies I had ever earned in my youth! Instead of sweating and bleeding on a gymnasium floor in my childhood, breaking my body down, my mind was nurtured and expanded as I read voraciously, building my senses up. I became addicted to books, and a book collector soon after, while I stopped checking-out books in favor of buying them, I never forgot about their magic, I created my own library! Currently, when I nanny or tutor and summer arrives, I take children to the local YVL to participate, and I call my family, off the reservation, to remind them to participate in the areas where they now reside. The library is magical, it is pure and simple. The library is a magical space, and it helps facilitate and build creative mind-athletes! I would not be me without the library in Toppenish, and the awards I was given to honor the athleticism my mind held! While I do appreciate the library at all times, in summer months- I am most reminded of the magic it holds…. and don’t worry, I remind EVERYONE around me! 🙂 |
| This was a couple yrs back but a kindness I will forever cherish. I was applying to work at a local school district and needed to use the library’s computer. For some reason the documents I uploaded kept erasing (multiple times). My then 9-month-old cried at full blast and my computer time was running out. The librarian added more time to my computer, was understanding about my upset baby, and helped me upload my documents. A couple weeks later I landed an interview. I got the job; it would not have been possible without free access to a computer and the compassion of a great librarian. The picture I will share is of the baby a couple years later enjoying the “accommodations” at the library as we have continued to visit our local library |
| I [have] been teaching my girls to love reading as much as I do. So, we go as often as we can. One of my girls has autism but I push her so can do the scavenger hunts that they have at the library. My 8-year-old girl loves scary stories, so she always gets two or three books (plus the books she gets at school). |
| In 2008, I found my first romance novel at the Union Gap Library. During my school years, I had issues with learning. I kept walking by a book that kept catching my eye. One day, I decided to check it out. I read the first page and put the book down. When I picked the book up a second time, I understood the story about love, heroism, and adventure. My mom commented that it was like a light bulb turned on in my head because my schoolwork improved. In high school, I survived my darkest days due to romance novels being my creature of comfort, my family. I am thankful to have a library to walk beside me and enrich my life till the end. |
| I have always enjoyed reading but working full time and becoming a mother made finding time to read really difficult. I downloaded Libby app and used my library card to start listening to audiobooks and fell in love with reading again! It has become an amazing hobby that is with me wherever I go and helped me connect with other readers! So thankful for YVL and their vast collection of audiobooks on Libby to help me live a thousand lives! |
| The librarian introduced me to Libby a while back and I am so grateful. At first, I just wanted audio books to listen to as I took my daily walk. But soon I discovered I could peruse my favorite magazines, check out books for my Kindle, find resources to help my granddaughter with college assignments and research new authors, topics, etc. Libby is my new BFF! Thank you, YVL. |
| The Library is a fun-for-all-ages place to engage and learn about events for the entire family. The Library allows me to explore my own unique creativity. I am able to learn hands on from activities offered here at the Library. I am also able to implement those same activities to practice at home or outdoor/indoor settings with the kids and grandkids learning about our own creative individuality. The Library is a fun place to get inspired to write books, baby books, etcetera. |
| I started using Yakima Valley Libraries in 2024, as something to do with my 4-year-old son. We started (and still do!) go regularly to get new stories to read together. He also loves doing the kid’s scavenger hunt every month.
When I was taking him, I decided to check out the cooking section. I have found so many new recipes that have become family favorites through using cookbooks from the library! Sometimes the internet is so overwhelming when it comes to finding new ideas, having a hard copy in a book is a nice change. These cookbooks have made it so much fun to try new things and actually makes cooking dinner enjoyable! |
| The library helps me find new book that help me become more creative, learn new things, and explore many new ideas that help me do better in life. |
| I love that using the library has given my children a place to learn to love reading. From the time they are tiny to teen years. All the summer programs have not only inspired reading in them, but all the science and arts summer programs you have put on gave us something fun and free to do in the summer to stay cool and be entertained. I honestly don’t know what we would do without the library and are very thankful for it. |
| I love the CD’s! It’s fun to listen to my favorite music for free. I also love doing the scavenger hunts, story time, and all the other fun things the library has for kids! |
| I have always been close to a Library, ever since preschool years. Lately what is the most satisfactory experience is the Book Club activity. I also have found a great service in finding an author who matches my reading interest, as when I was presented to Janet Evanovich novels. So, I wait expectantly a full year to read her latest book. I became her fan as to write her a letter that she answered by mail. If I can add a plus to the benefits the Library offers, it’s to be able to find any literature, in mostly different languages, in paper or eBook. Thus, I have read classics in Spanish, like “Cien años de soledad” and “Don Quijote de la Mancha”. |
| The library has brought out the creative side in me and my toddler daughter. We loved doing the time capsule event, such a cool idea. We also explored for the clues in the Halloween scavenger hunt, we love Halloween. We have also attended a few story times. I’m so grateful for the different events the library puts on. I am hoping to make it to a crocheting class in the future! |
| When we moved to Yakima, I had my library card before I got the Internet connected in our apartment. My kids have been raised in the library: attending storytime, special events, and STEAM days… checking out museum passes, board games, and movies… stretching our “you can only check out as many books as you can carry” rule to their maximum limit. Each summer we make it a goal to visit each library at least once. It’s been bittersweet to watch them move through the board books to picture books, then through the children’s chapter books, and now start slowly moving to YA and the rest of the library. They’ve truly grown up here and learned so many life skills.
But our favorite resource is the Libby app, which has saved my sanity on long car rides and bailed me out when I forgot to pack Harry Potter 5 on vacation (my kids did NOT want to wait to hear what happened next!). |
| The computer for printing, checking out books to read like the selah story. Love during the summer that Selah Library normally takes care of a classroom pet. |
| I love the library because I’m a total bookworm, and the library is a place where I can get unlimited books for free. I’m so glad that the library is a place where I can get the books I love. I have found all of my favorite books there. |