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Dec. 17th, 2006 08:03 pmI went to the library today. It's interesting going there, as libraries have certainly changed.
I remember a little library near where I grew up. It was kinda dark and smelled a little bit musty. However, it had bookshelves all the way up to the ceiling. I remember looking around and feeling like I was surrounded by entire worlds that existed just to be explored.
The library I went to today was modern. It had several eye-catching displays. It stocked graphic novels, which was nice. It had a lot of CDs, VHS taps, DVDs, and computers. In effect, if someone wanted information on anything specific, it is definitely the place to go.
It was also bright and airy. It felt inviting, and have little play areas so that parents would feel safe leaving their children there. If I had a family, and wanted to get books for my kids, I can definitely see myself going there.
However, and this is a big however . . . There was no sense of mystery. There were few worlds there to explore, just products created to be consumed by the masses. I understand the reason that libraries have changed, but I mourn for the experience of browsing through a collection of books, where any volume might be a hidden treasure that no one has peered into for generations.
I am glad that more people are using libraries and that they are changing with the times. I just wish that they didn't have to take away the magic too.
I remember a little library near where I grew up. It was kinda dark and smelled a little bit musty. However, it had bookshelves all the way up to the ceiling. I remember looking around and feeling like I was surrounded by entire worlds that existed just to be explored.
The library I went to today was modern. It had several eye-catching displays. It stocked graphic novels, which was nice. It had a lot of CDs, VHS taps, DVDs, and computers. In effect, if someone wanted information on anything specific, it is definitely the place to go.
It was also bright and airy. It felt inviting, and have little play areas so that parents would feel safe leaving their children there. If I had a family, and wanted to get books for my kids, I can definitely see myself going there.
However, and this is a big however . . . There was no sense of mystery. There were few worlds there to explore, just products created to be consumed by the masses. I understand the reason that libraries have changed, but I mourn for the experience of browsing through a collection of books, where any volume might be a hidden treasure that no one has peered into for generations.
I am glad that more people are using libraries and that they are changing with the times. I just wish that they didn't have to take away the magic too.
