Here’s a Beautiful Reason for Loving Libraries : The Library Moment!
Not everyone has my luck — I love my job.
I am a librarian.
There are many reasons why I am passionate about librarianship, the least suprising of which is that I adore libraries. The source of this feeling comes from my childhood. My family immigrated to the United States when I was six — we were the opposite of rich; the majority of my toys came from second-hand shops, we rarely went out to eat, and my parents worked all the time. Did I feel poor? Never! A major reason for that was the local library.
My father took my brother and me to the Will & Ariel Durant Library every week. I felt limitless! Anything I was curious about had expression there. That little branch library is where I discovered the Library Moment!
What is the Library Moment?
It’s that moment when you get to the end of a book you loved, only to find out that it’s the first in a series!
That moment when, in pursuit of a skill or an answer, you realize that there is so much more to learn, and you will never be bored.
That moment when a friendly stranger shows you a secret door that opens into a new world.
That is the Library Moment — the astonishing feeling when an infinity of possibilities open up to you and you are speechless in the face of this sublime occurrence.
This is the “Library Moment”. Sure, this feeling can hit you anywhere. But stoking curiosity is the library’s major purpose; you find the whole series of books at the library, the friendly stranger that opens the gates to new worlds is the librarian, and the pursuit of skills and knowledge? Is there a place more inclined towards aiding in your learning and exploration than a library?
The Library Moment is when you realize that, whatever you love, there’s more where that came from, and there will always be more. I work at a library so I am lucky indeed, I get to see people experiencing Library Moments all the time. In fact, I help create those moments!
So next time you are feeling cynical about society or bored with life, drop into a library. Peruse the books and movies, chat with the librarian, sit down and relax for a while. Spend a little time away from the go go go of life and you might just experience the wonder of the Library Moment! And better still, you’ll have the ability recognize and celebrate Library Moments no matter where you are.
Happy travels, my friend!
