Magical Places

"An ordinary man can surround himself with two thousand books and thenceforward have at least one place in the world in which it is possible to be happy." - Augustine Birrell

"Books, I found, have the power to make time stand still, retreat or fly into the future." - Jim Bishop

The best thing my father ever did for me when I was growing up was to instill a deep and abiding love for the written word. One of the nicest memories I have of my dad is of a Saturday when I was five years old. We went to the local branch library and he signed me up for a library card. On that day my world expanded and has grown exponentially ever since with each new book I have opened.

In the ensuing 12 years, that library became like a second home to me. It was wasn't big or modern or fancy. It was a simple, small neighborhood branch library, within walking distance of both of the houses where I lived growing up.

The dim, familiar, cavelike sanctuary always felt both big and small to me at the same time. I will never forget the feeling of walking into the cool quiet on a hot summer day, hushed whispers the only sound in a time before computers and the dry papery smell of books mixed with dust that greeted me as soon as I opened the door.

A trip to the library was always filled with promise and anticipation for me. I never used the card catalog, instead preferring to wander and peruse the shelves, looking at covers, reading the sleeves or the first page and randomly choosing a stack to take home.

By the time I started high school, I knew where every book lived on every shelf, from the children's room to popular fiction and reference. Although I know it isn't possible, I always imagine I could go back there today and it would be as if time had been standing still, waiting for me to return to the same shelves and reach for the same books.

Now, I live in the city with the most modern and state of the art library system in the United States. My home is within walking distance of the award winning Columbus Metropolitan library. The building is huge and ornate, at least ten times as big and stately as the tiny neighborhood library of my childhood. There is a coffee bar and a gift shop, computers everywhere you look and an entire floor for CDs, DVDs and videos.

I still go to the library a few times a month, but the magical feeling of promise and expectation is not quite the same. Now, instead of wandering and perusing the shelves, I can search for and reserve anything I want online and just go pick it up. I sometimes find myself wishing for that simpler time when my love for the process was more important than the outcome.

Yesterday, I went to the library on my way home from work to pick up some music I had reserved last week. As I was pulling out of the parking deck into the dusky evening light, I slowed to a stop in the middle of downtown Columbus as a tiny bunny crossed in front of me on her way to the city park adjacent to the library building.

At the same time a homeless man was crossing the street to my left, the same direction the rabbit had come from. We both stopped in our tracks, me in my car and he on foot, to watch the bunny hopping by. And then we looked at each other, the look of incredulity on his face I'm sure mirroring mine. We laughed, sharing the moment before I drove on, hurrying home to make dinner, do laundry and enjoy an after work glass of wine while possibly reading a few pages of the book I'm currently into.

For a brief moment, all of the magic was there in front of me once more.

Comments

[V]

I miss that old library feel too. I remember just snuggling into a corner and looking through every thing that was in arm's reach.
Beautiful post!

[Chris]

Oh, I loved this post, TB!! Both the magic of reading and books part and the magic of an unexpected bunny sighting. My parents instilled a near-identical sense of love of reading and the library in me - the sense of potential is still there, but since I use the library very similarly to you now (reserve books online and get emails when they arrive at my local branch), the serendipitous possibility of browsing has faded.

[Dawn]

My very first job was in the Library. My first "You can cross the street by yourself" permission was to go to the library.

I loved this post.

My mom would always say "You can't spend too much money on Books or Music"

[Arabella]

I know exactly what you mean about that feeling of exploring all the shelves and going through the process of picking out your books, instead of doing most of it online. I used to spend HOURS at the library looking at the books and going through old newspapers on microfilm, long before I could simply Google things. I love having information literally at my fingertips, but I do miss that whole process of discovery and of finding new, random things along the way.

[Sarcomical]

what a wonderful post...it makes me want to go back into my hometown library! what with amazon and borders and all, i don't think i've been to a library in almost 10 years! (well, unless you count college, but who goes to the library in college to STUDY?) ;)

so beautifully written though.

[Tink]

Really make you wonder how far down the Rabbit Hole goes ;). I love libraries. I love the smell and the hushed voices. I love the sight of wall high shelves. It feels like home. Beautiful story Teebs!

[knq]

My daughter loves book and therefore LOVEs the library. I fear we piss off the staff though, since I end up piling up at least 20 unwanted books in the reshelving tray.

[Mignon]

Teebs, you've changed my plans for the day... Madeleine loves the library as much as you and I.

I got the chills in the part about the bunny and homeless guy.

[wordgirl]

I loved the library as a kid. Truthfully, I should have been a librarian...instead of an English teacher.

Cool in the summer, warm in the winter. The smell of books has always been intoxicating. The hush inside the library is reverential and automatic. Great post!

[mama_tulip]

I love the way libraries smell.

How cool that you shared that moment with that man.

[Lily]

I can still get lost in libraries...but rarely have time... thanks TB...see you in a few days!

[Gradual Gardener]

My Dad used to take us to the library once a week when I was a kid. I would check out as many books as they would let me (I think it was 3 or 4), and they'd all get returned a week later, finished. I devoured books. Still do, but not four a week any more, do to a lack of time.

I love this post!

[jess]

I loved the library as a kid, too, and have a similiar sense memory of it.

Now I buy my books, because I'm too lazy to go to the Boston city library that is only two blocks away from me.

[Peeve]

I used to love the library.... very early on they figured out my reading capacity, and let me borrow twice as many books as the normal limit!

[Nancy]

You described it perfectly -- this is the sensation that made me become a librarian.

Unfortunately the reality of working in a corporate/government library is nothing like the sensual pleasure of spending time in a library where the books are actually a pleasure to read. ;-)

[Feral Mom]

De-lurking! Finally. Of course, it will not surprise you that I'm a fan of libraries. You summed up the magic well. I am also a proud parent this week because the girls learned a new word: "library" (which they pronouce, "lie-Bray" and follow with the repeated query "book? book? book?") Proud moments, good times. Thanks for this post!

[Tigerlily]

I got misty eyed when I read your post this morning so I had to wait until now to comment.

Thanks for crafting such a beautiful story of your experiences!

[Elizabeth]

What a beautiful story. The bunny part gave me chills. I too have a deep love of books and libraries that I'm passing on to my boys. My Mother always said "you can never have too many books". I just can't afford to buy them!

[V-Grrrl]

My dad taught me to write my name in cursive before I even knew how to print so that I could get my own library card. He was a book lover and a voracious reader of non-fiction.

Back home in Virginia, my community has a small library that was created by a philanthropist. It was the center of our world. My kids LOVED to go there and in addition to all the fine reading, it had so many community programs, things for kids and adults. The librarians knew my kids by name and would recommend books. The building itself had charming colonial architecture and a cozy walled garden with brick pavers arranged in a circular pattern, several benches, and a wall fountain. The garden was lovingly tended by the local garden club and great to read in three seasons out of the year. The sense of community and philanthropy at the library was as magical for me as the books.

[RGLHM]

I so know that feeling!! I have tried to capture that moment in libraries and bookstores and it's rare. The bookstore McNally Robinson is the closest I have come to capturing it.

[Lucinda]

Oh, that was gorgeous. I too have a deep love for the library. My father used to drop me off on Saturdays and pick me up four or five hours later. I was in Heaven.

Now, I'm in love with perusing Amazon and then reserving books at my branch online. It's like going on a totally free shopping spree. :)

Congratulations on your Perfect Post Award. This was a truly magical post.

[Crazy MomCat]

You could not have captured my feelings about the library growing up any more perfectly. I am already looking forward to taking my kids to story time and doing the summer reading program with them when school is out. I even told my husband one day that I thought I could BE a librarian. I know they don't make jack, but I just love words so that I would love to surround myself with them. Congrats on your perfect post--it was well-deserved!

[Angie]

This is a wonderful post! Congrats on the perfect post award!