This is a picture of our library.
Go through the left-hand door, up some stairs, turn right, up some more stairs, and turn left through the old wooden doors and you've found the Harbor Springs Public Library. Or is it private? I'm not sure, but it's small and quaint and crammed full of books and the librarian scares me. Which is what librarians are supposed to do, right?
In fact I would have some pictures of the inside of the library, but the last time we were there, Jimmie got yelled at for sliding his feet across the carpeting in an effort to build up static electricity to shock his sister. He handled the admonishment quite well; I was embarrassed beyond belief.
Also, we have a couple of books overdue.
It has a cozy seating area that kind of looks like this:
but imagine more eclectic seating, windows that look out onto Main Street and books, lots and lots of books. And the smell of fudge, because there's a fudge shop right below the library.
I don't know about you, but fudge and books really might be heaven.
When I go back to my home town, from time-to-time we'll stop at the library. It's a beautiful facility, not at all the library I remember downtown, next to the fire station. The one where I knew exactly where to find all the Edgar Eager books. The one where you wrote your name on the inside cover right next to where the librarian stamped the due date. When I go to the new library I can still find my name in the old books. It's a kind of magic all to itself.
I love exploring libraries and realizing all of the information and stories and thoughts that are out there to be explored. Last visit to the local library we scored this book:
Anna and I are working on one the projects from this book and will be posting it soon, I promise. It involves sponges.
Checking out books involves giving the librarian your name. She hand-stamps the books and you're good to go. I love that.
There's been talk about a new library. One with computers and lots of books and access to much more than this library has to offer. I'd like to say that I would prefer the old over the new, but that probably wouldn't be true. I'll like a new library. I love technology. Any place filled with books is my kind of place. But I won't give up the old, either.
I think there's always room for both.
...alison...
