Thanks Ben (Franklin)

I'm reposting some of my old blog material, mostly to get it all in one place again. This was originally posted on My Space on Jan 5, 2008.

Somehow, I forget how much I enjoy going to the public library. I've loved going there since I was a child. (Yes, smartass! They had libraries when I was a kid.) It has always been a magical place... quiet, cool, relaxing.



There are comfy chairs to lounge in or tables to sit at if you prefer a more structured environment. There's computers attached to the internet if you feel the need to connect to the outside world and everywhere people are securely locked away in their own personal space. Some are reading, some studying, some carrying on whispered conversations but they are all being respectful of everyone else's need and or desire for peace and quiet. Time seems to stand still.



You know, if you think about it, time actually does stand still. All that knowledge, all that information, all that passion frozen in time on the pages of books and magazines. It's awesome.

As you might have guessed, I stopped by the library on my way to the gym this afternoon. There were a few things that caught my attention while I was there.

First, there were an amazing number of people there today. It was actually a bit crowded. Not like at a baseball game or a concert, but crowded none the less. Even more surprising to me was the disproportionate number of young people there (under 20). I don't know why this stood out for me but it did. I guess with the proliferation of the internet and video games I had assumed that libraries had gone out of style for kids, only visited by those who attached sentimental value to them like myself. Granted, some of the younger teens were there socially, (what better place could there be for fourteen year olds to sit and make doe eyes at each other for hours at a time??) But even factoring out those few, there were a large number of teens there. Maybe there's hope for the future after all.



And the librarians and volunteers were incredibly nice and helpful. Why is it that people who get paid to help you (store clerks, etc?) mostly treat you like you're an annoying piece of shit on the bottom of their shoe, but the volunteers (or woefully underpaid employees) at the library bend over backwards to make sure you're finding what you need and having no problems checking out? Doesn't make sense to me.

Well, actually, it does but that's another blog entirely.

Anyway, it was a refreshing stop on my way to the gym. I have to remember to do that more often.

Oh, and in case you're wondering.... A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer (recommended by a close friend) and a hand full of books about drawing and sketching were the treasures I left with.



I'll let you know how it turns out. :-)