On libraries

So I have just come from my college library. Now despite what you might think, this was not a pleasant experience for me. Since my freshman year, I have not enjoyed our library. Despite my fathers constant advice that studying there would be better than in my room, I avoided it. At the time the best excuse I could find for this was that it was a very long way away from my dorm building, not made easier by the winter months, or inclement weather in general. My second complaint was that it didn't contain any FUN books. I continued to do my homework in my room for the most part and life continued on.

So today I once more sojourn to the library, because it was kinda sorta required for a class. I browse for what I was supposed to browse, then wandered around to areas I had not yet investigated. Before long I had settled down in a chair on the third floor and was pulling out my reading for tomorrow. And you know what? I did my homework at the library. It was terrible. I could not get comfortable in the silly chair (and there weren't more comfortable ones) and it was so quiet that when someone started typing nearby it was extremely distracting. I just wanted to get out and go back to my room. But I stuck it out and finished my reading. On my way back to my dorm I ran into a friend who was headed INTO the library. We proceeded to discuss how much we did not enjoy the library, and I realized there were good reasons for my feelings of dislike toward the library.

(This next section might seem a little off topic, but bear with me! It's relevant.) So I have this best friend and we've know each other forever, but we haven't gone to school together for the past six and a half years. We try to stay in touch with skype, but it's not quite the same. So when we do see each other again, you could probably guess that we get pretty excited. :) After the happy enthusiastic greetings, and flurry of hugging usually the next thing we do is grab a couple books (or a really large stack of books) and sit next to each other on the couch/bed/floor and read. It's awesome! We exchange books/recommendations and get to it. The great part of that is when one of us gets to a really funny, or a really epic part we say, "Hey, listen to this!" and proceed to read it out loud. With our school library I just feel like laughing out loud at a book would be frowned upon, let alone then proceeding to read said funny part out loud would be frowned upon.

To sum up why I do not enjoy the Wheaton College library: no fun books, uncomfortable seating, unpleasant lighting, the stifling silence, and feeling that if you were in the library, you should be studying. I always have the vague feeling that I'm doing something I'm not supposed to be doing. And that feeling does not pair well in my mind with books. Books make me feel like I can do anything!



This would be my ideal library. Okay, have you seen Beauty and the Beast? I'm hoping that you have. (If you haven't, go watch it! It's a classic Disney movie, and probably my second favorite Disney Princess.) Picture the library that Beast has in his castle (it's a good general base for my perfect imaginary library.) A huge room with floor to ceiling bookshelves, including those ladders you've always wanted to play on but never had the chance to. Take and entire wall of this room and make it a floor to ceiling window overlooking a gorgeous garden that perhaps has a small brook running through it with orchards in the distance. There would be an elegant door leading out into this garden which in favorable weather could be opened to let in delicious breezes and warmth from the glorious sunlight as well as delightful bird song. A large curtain of deep green could be drawn for atmosphere purposes.

Off to one side would be the reading corner. It would have a lower ceiling that the rest of the library, so as to make the atmosphere much more comfortable. While there would still be a few bookshelves, there would be some wall space for fantastic and beautiful art. There would be serene scenes of nature, majestic images of wild creatures, sculpture: simple and elegant, yet thought-provoking. Next would be the fireplace. It would be simply enormous, always lit, and some nights cozy winter nights s'mores would be made. The chairs would be plentiful and fantastic: no two alike. There would be recliners, and loveseats, and chaise lounges.The carpet would be thick and soft for those would decide to forgo the fantastic seating options. There would also be an inexhaustible supply of soft blankets and fluffy pillows (blanket forts ALWAYS encouraged.) In one corner would be a bubbling fountain that would provide an extremely pleasant and relaxing background sound. Against one wall would be the drink station. There would be endless amounts of tea, divine hot chocolates, and delicious apple cider. Those wishing for something cool and refreshing would also not be disappointed. Iced tea, and lemonade, and possibly even combinations of the two would abound. No hint of coffee would ever enter my divine library. (Sorry guys, this is my imaginary library. You can have coffee in YOUR imaginary library.) The mugs would be created by me, and they would all be unique and beautiful. This area of my library is also where the library dog would also spend most of it's time. (Alright, let's be honest. I would probably have multiple library dogs. Also probably some cats.)
All that doesn't even begin to cover the books. The books! There would be any and all books I could ever want to read! (Again, this is my imaginary library. If you don't like it, go create your own.) There would be fantasy and science fiction that took you to whole new worlds where anything is possible. Biographies of brilliant and interesting people. Historical fiction that carries the events of an age long past back into remembrance. Brilliant theology that illuminated and clarified scripture. There would be be beautiful leather bound tomes, and old paperbacks yellowed with age and knowledge. C. S. Lewis, Patrick Rothfuss, Diana Wynne Jones, Terry Pratchett, Ray Bradbury, J. R. R. Tolkien, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, Brain Jacques, Donald Miller. There would be audiobooks for those who wished to enjoy a story while doing something with their hands. The temperature and humidity would always be perfect for book health, and nothing short of evil magic could harm these books. No pages could be bent, no spines broken, no blemishes made. And this would not be a library of silence! Not a raucous place for mischief, but a place where books could be discussed and passages could be shared. There would be visits from authors, parties where one would dress up as a character from a book, night adventures into the gardens by lantern light. It would be a place of joy and knowledge and serenity.