What is the term for a place that, upon arriving, gives you a sublime sense of belonging? Some people get this feeling when they trot through grassland on the prairie, toe the edge of a rushing river, enter the filtered light of a forest glen, or walk into the bustling action of a metropolitan hub. The heart swells, the soul seems to reach out and pour from every pore to enter the space and nestle into its nooks all at once. And, even if you are hundreds of miles from home, there is a feeling of belonging, of home.
Libraries are that to me.
I have something of an addiction to libraries. It’s a healthy affliction, I believe, so I don’t endeavor to stave its hunger (though, I admittedly put holds on books like a lonely hoarder glued to the home shopping network). While we were living-in-one-place people, every member of my family had a library card so that, if needed, I could max them all out at once. To run summer camp about China, Japan, and the Philippines, I routinely had 150 of the library’s books on my shelves. I could always talk my way out of fines, I think because I singlehandedly proved the validity of Fairfax County Library’s existence from a budget requisition perspective.
While on the road now, we use local libraries as a way to introduce ourselves to a region. We do a little research, share a mini report, and get a bit of background for the experiences we have in a given city.
This episode is coming to you from a library in Las Vegas, where we are hiding from the hellish heat of sin city’s famous strip. (Doesn’t everyone go to the library when they visit Las Vegas? Ha!). A few days ago, in Cedar City, Utah, the library was next to a playground–double whammy for good clean fun–and even offered a free character drawing session in the evening.
A month ago, in Calgary (Alberta, Canada), though, I walked into the brand new city library and was home.
The architecture of this immense, ship-shaped building, with its sweeping wooden decks spiraling upward evoked a promise of mental and spiritual elevation. I’m not exaggerating. There was a professional greeter in the foyer who enthusiastically pointed out the programs of the day and encouraged the kids to try a scavenger hunt. Other librarians, cheerily bedecked in turquoise vests, directed us to the fourth floor, where we found an entire wing dedicated to Alberta history, just awaiting our perusal.
The rooms! There were rooms dedicated to showcasing specific genres like Canadian picture book authors, aboriginal stories, comics, and encyclopedias. Rooms full of quirky out-dated media devices. Meeting rooms. A green screen room that printed our family photos free of charge! Rooms for kids to climb and move.
My teacher’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the children’s area, a cascade of stimulating puzzles, books, and activities. Desks, sofas, computers, windows, sculpture, natural light, stadium seating theater…the place went on and on!
What struck us was the dynamism of this learning environment. Unlike the cinema cliche of stuffy, dusty rows inhabited by dedicated bookworms (picture the elderly floating apparition at the beginning of Ghostbusters), this place was ALIVE with the excitement of learning. It is a place to meet for a cup of coffee and a chat over your latest poetry or philosophy muse. It inspires parents to construct picture book playgrounds for their little ones. This is a gathering place where community is created and uplifted.
While living this nomadic life, I can’t help but be attuned to this feeling of finding a place like home. Think they would let me move in?
Love this! Have you ever been to the library at Peabody Conservatory? I haven’t but evidently it’s the library that gave inspiration to Beauty and the Beast when he tells her the library is all hers 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. I spent a lot of time at the library during my school years, especially in the summer. If I especially enjoyed a particular book, I would look for others by the same author. Among the most memorable were the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, horse tales such as Black Beauty, and the Oz books (although I tired of the latter after 15 or so). Our library used the Dewey Decimal System, and I hated to find the books out of order. One year as a teen, I volunteered to “read” the shelves, putting misplaced books in their proper places.
I heard a great podcast episode about a young woman who realized accidentally that her family had been homeless as a child by visiting the librarian who had made her feel like a super hero. It was a very touching story… I will try to find it.. but the idea was that the librarian helped her to feel safe and smart – a feeling that carried her through a long academic career inspired. Libraries are wonderful – and librarians unsung heroes
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I knew I liked you guys when we got to chat in the Dad Edge Alliance. As one who is trying to create new programming in my own library what are some of your favorite or most unique library programs you have come across in your travels? What are the programs you think every library should have?
You should read “The Library Book.”
I feel like this library should be added to my bucket list! Sounds truly alive and wonderful.