Expressing in a written form why I love libraries has been on my mind for quite some time. Being a faithful – and frequent – user of the library services for most of my life, I feel it’s the least I can do to say a meaningful thank-you. Who knows, maybe by stating that I love libraries will further increase awareness of the amazing services the libraries provide?
Why now, you might ask? Lately, I’ve been spending time playing with Canva designing illustrations for my Instagram accounts. (Please feel free to stalk my social media and see the results @aniabogacka). While researching interesting quotes, I came across the words of Jean-Paul Sartre. In his autobiography – appropriately entitled “The Words” (1963) – he said the following:
I had found my religion: nothing seemed more important to me than a book. I saw the library as a temple.
That was the sign I needed: Sartre expressed precisely how I feel about the libraries. For years, I’ve been calling libraries the temples of knowledge. I reveled in the image of a Sunday service in such a temple where everyone is worshiping in the silent unison the Book Almighty. Does it make your heart jump out of your chest and scream Amen! But using its indoor voice, of course. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
Back to my original question, why do I love libraries?
Libraries Are Introvert Heaven
Libraries are quiet and filled with books – two things most introverts love. No wonder they seem like an epitome of heaven for introverts. While I am a social (and happy!) introvert, meaning I am not a shy person, I admit to being easily distracted by noises and loud sounds. Working in an open concept office is not for me – I know, because I’ve tried. Music playing in the background to make my shopping experience more pleasant? I’ve abandoned shopping way too many time because of the annoying music in the store.
Libraries, on the other hand, with no music policy and no talking allowed other than in hushed voices, are like the islands of sanity. I feel recharged just by spending time there. Moreover, it is safe to assume that the people who spend a prolonged time there, are at least literate. That’s what I call music to my editor’s ears!
And there are books everywhere. Each contains words that tell the stories or describe concepts, or make you forget your problems. Often, books also make you forget about the reality. I know, because the only time I was late for school for the fault of my own, was when one chapter of Annie of Green Gables started after breakfast turned into a half of the book. I made it to school just before the lunch break.
I’m older and wiser now, and know that the pull from a good book is stronger than any self-regulation abilities I possess. How do I know? I might or might not have finished the final pages of “Gone Girl” at my desk at work. Therefore, when I go on yet another binge reading marathon – recently it was the Icelandic mysteries – I “allow” myself to only read at night. By doing so I can ensure that the only thing I lose would be sleep, not my job or a perfect attendance record.
Libraries Are Trendsetters
How so? They made content sharing cool before others have jumped on that bandwagon. Looking at you HuffingtonPost, Facebook and others. Libraries were there first and that’s why they should be considered the ultimate content sharing platform!
More seriously, for the generation of new Nomads like myself, libraries are the closest you get to actually reading a real book without the guilt of having to leave it behind during the many moves we face. And this guilt is very real, let me tell you.
Growing up in a home filled with books, I can’t imagine not having books at hand. For years, the best gift I would receive was a book. Yet, my life choices have forced me to re-examine the relationship with books I have. As a result, my own home has only a small fraction of my parents’ vast collection.
I’ve moved over 20 times in my life, including changing countries and continents. Several times during a move, I had to make a tough choice about which books to take and which ones leave behind. Taking them all was not possible. I love books and when I had to choose, it felt like being in Sophie’s Choice. I did my best trying to find new, good homes for my books. But that’s all I could do, I couldn’t guarantee they’d be equally appreciated there as when standing on my bookshelves.
I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from my Nomadic lifestyle. Efficient packing is easy, furnishing new places is a breeze, and getting to know new neighbourhoods fun. But travelling light means no room for accumulating stuff. Seasonal purging becomes your second nature and that, sadly, also applies to the number of books you own. There are the e-books, some may say. Sure, but I am an old school when it comes to books and prefer reading hard copies and not their electronic versions. Besides, attaching the colourful sticky notes I place next to the sentences I find inspiring is rather challenging on an e-reader.
As you can see, for me the public libraries are a godsend. They provide me with the opportunity to continue reading hard copies of books, without the guilt of leaving them behind when the time to move again happens. And while some people don’t like books that are read by others, I find it endearing to find someone’s bookmark in the book I’m reading. Or a note left on the margin – as long as it’s written in pencil! In those moments I feel a sense of belonging to an invisible community, something that modern Nomands don’t get to experience too often.
Libraries Are the Temples of Knowledge
Libraries will help you learn. When I was completing my Master’s theses back in Poland, I was a frequent user of the Warsaw’s various libraries. I have found memories of walking through the Mokotow Field (Pole Mokotowskie) to the Polish National Library. And once there, searching through the manual catalogue, placing orders, waiting for the light on my table to start flashing, signalling the items I requested had been delivered to the front desk, going to pick them up, only to realize they weren’t necessary what I wanted, so I had to start again. I feel ancient!
Fast forward a few years later and I live in St. Catherines, ON. It wasn’t the easiest chapter of my life and somehow St. Catherines’ Public Library collection had restored my faith in humanity. This library had the latest copies of graphic software tutorials, which were essential for me to upgrade my skills. I took a full advantage of them and soon after, I could put these skills into a good use by putting together a bi-monthly magazine. Now things would be easier with Lynda.com and the hundreds of online tutorials, but back in 2005, books were still the way to go.
While the various Warsaw’s libraries had been immensely helpful in writing my Master’s theses, Toronto Public Library gets the full credit for my Positive Psychology certificate. Actually, I should have dedicated my capstone to the Toronto Public Library, as I wouldn’t have been able to complete it without reading all the materials required! And the more positive psychology books I read, the bigger my love for this discipline grew.
Being a diligent student is easy when you have an unobstructed access to the items on your reading lists. At the beginning of each module, I would check the reading list, go to the www.tpl.ca, search for the required items, place them on hold and pick them up a few days later at my home branch. In 2017, there were over 7 millions holds placed for the library items at the Toronto Public Library. I wonder how many of them were mine? Check the infographic below for more fun facts about the Toronto Public Library.
Libraries Are Architectural Gems
While many of the libraries are visually pleasing, some of them are real architectural gems. Just to name a few Berlin Philological Library, Brooklyn Central Library, State Library of Victoria, which could be seen in the background of the quote above. I promise myself to visit all the buildings featured on this list of 12 modern architecture libraries.
Our own Toronto Reference Library is one of the most frequently photographed libraries in the city. Designed by architect Raymond Moriyama, the library opened in 1977 under the name of Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library. The Toronto Reference Library, at 38,691 m², is the biggest public reference library in Canada. I can literally spent hours in this building.
The Halifax Central Library is another Canadian gem worth visiting. If you don’t have a reason to go to Halifax – which I doubt – you should at least check their library. The design of this building is a joint venture between two architectural firms – one local Fowler Bauld and Mitchell, and Schmidt Hammer Lassen of Denmark. The new library opened in December 2014 and won a Lieutenant Governor’s Design Award in Architecture for 2014 and a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture in 2016.
@mmesmiley is my other Instagram account focused – among other things – on architecture.
Libraries Are Welcoming
No one can dispute that, right? Well, apparently the welcoming atmosphere extends beyond their opening hours. A few years back, when I was dropping off some books at my local branch, I must have ventured too deep into the shelves. And somehow missed the warning about the closing time. The dimming lights were my first cue to something not being right. And then there was silence.
I said “Hello? Is anybody here?” in my very much outdoor voice. No response. So I ran to the door. It was locked. Just as I was contemplating which bookshelf should I sleep under that night, I saw a movement in the back room. Somebody was still there! I waved and got rescued.
In retrospect, I should have stayed put. It would have made for a great story. How many of you can say you love the libraries so much that you spent a night there? Well, I almost did!
So yes, I have plenty of reasons reason to love libraries. How about you? Do you like libraries? And if so, tell me why. Please comment below.
Key Facts about Toronto Public Library
