Today, I am writing this from a small library in Batesville, Indiana. I'm not very familar with Batesville, but from what I've seen it's a beautiful little town. I'm here today because my Dad had a meeting with someone here who will be teaching with Dad in Belize next month and since we are heading onto Greensburg later for the class I am in (and that Dad is teaching) it made sense for me to come with him rather than have him return to North Vernon after his meeting. So, I am sitting in the Library of this cute little town and it brings to mind many fond memories.
First of all, if I find it very ironic that the theme song from "Reading Rainbow" would be stuck in my head on the same day that I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time in the library. I haven't been in a library for any length of time in ages, but I used to come all the time. Especially when I was young. Every week, (during the years we were in Evangelism)when we would go to a new town, we would generally look for the town library. Then during the week we would go at least once. I have always loved to read and would always go to the Librarian and ask if I could read the books from "Reading Rainbow." Then I would walk away frustrated because they always looked at me like I was speaking Greek or something. Ha ha. You would think that the librarians would be familiar with a TV show that was all about getting kids to read, but sadly that was often not the case. So strange.
Even so, I have always loved libraries and it is amazing to me how over the years they really haven't changed all that much. In every town, they are set up about the same. And while I'm thrilled that in most places the old card catalogue is now on computer, most of the rest of the library is pretty much like every other library I've ever been in. (Though this one, I must admit, is a bit noisier. Even the librarians don't seem to know how to whisper. ) For me, there is something quite comforting about a library. It's almost homey. There are so many amazing adventures that are just waiting to be found and so much information that can be gleaned from the books that line it's rows and walls. Although I know that kindles and nooks are all the rage and they are very handy for making books easier to carry around, I must admit that I LOVE reading real books with real pages. Being able to flip through to my favorite part or hunt up the piece of information that I need is so much more satifying when the pages are literally in my hand rather than on the screen.
So, I'll be spending the next hour or so in this library. Enjoying the books...searching for items of information needed for a project and just generally basking in the comfort of the atmosphere. It's going to be a good afternoon. :-)
