Living in the Temple of Knowledge

Libraries

“My father was the Keeper of the Temple of Knowledge.” – Ronald Clark

Today’s offering is partly inspired by this video that I have long had bookmarked on my laptop:

It’s only 3 minutes long so do watch. It was produced by StoryCorps.

And today’s post was also partly inspired by the fact that I am writing this in Coburg Library, in inner city Melbourne, surrounded by the clicks, shufflings, buzz, and chatter of a diverse array of library users attending to their work / study / learning / recreational / social / civic needs all at the same time.

The last few months have been exceptionally tough for me for reasons I won’t go into here. And, as with other tough times in my life, I find myself often working out of my local library, enjoying its free wi-fi, its good heating or air conditioning, and its safe environment.

In all seriousness, I really don’t know where I would be if it weren’t for public libraries.

"I have always imagined that paradise would be a kind of library." – Jorge Luis Borges

How do you feel about libraries? What do they mean to you?

And if not libraries, what public space does mean something to you? Where do you turn to for comfort, safety, inspiration, development?

And where would you have liked to grow up? As a child I enjoyed romping about on King Island, where I had my own private sand dune near our house. But a library would’ve come a close second.

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