* Inscribed (in french) on the proscenium of the old theatre in the Carnegie-Mellon School of Fine Arts, my alma mater.
Once again I have returned to Baker Library in the town where I grew up: Hanover, NH. This is the place I wrote my term papers in high school…
The place I Iearned from a classmate in 1963 that Oswald had been shot.
The place I found a desk with a secret drawer filled with treasures.
The place of many flirtations.
The place “where Inspiration spreads wide its glorious wings”.
The place I am from.
Of the many rooms I love in this library, I’m drawn once again to the Theodor Geisel (Dr. Suess) “imaginative place to study!” Must be something about unleashing the imagination of my childhood.
Voices from long ago join me, yet it is silent and I am alone. An exhibit in the hallway about the history of printing and binding of books reminds me of my brother Jim (who invented the electronic book).
I ponder an illustration from Dr. Suess’s last book, published in 1990: Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and I can’t imagine a more perfect place to work.
It’s time to disconnect: no tweets, no emails, no calls.
Over and Out.
Oh, Ann, I can just see and smell the small town library in Massillon, Ohio, where I read my way through shelves of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys right on up through the adult section.
Thank you, thank you for this post. I’m going to send this to my favorite librarian.
Loved the pics, too!
Yes! The sense memories of my favorite libraries are with me still. And you and I read the exact same same book series; remember “The Secret of the Old Clock”, the very first Nancy Drew mystery? (Didn’t you wonder about her “roadster”?) Unfortunately our town library, which I also adored, is now a flower shop.
Hanover High School students were allowed to use the Dartmouth Library (Baker) which was such an honor! I didn’t understand then how it informed my life.
Thank you for sending the piece to your favorite librarian – it is a touching gesture and much appreciated.