by Paula Lonergan
Vol 6 Issue 1

I had to locate some documents at the library for my job. I went searching for one of them myself. When I got to the second floor where the book was located. I found out something new and interesting. The sheleves were the kind that moved. How can I explain it? Well, I don't think I can. All I can say is the shelves moved. Initally, I tried to move it by hand with my own strength. Then I saw the buttons, which you press to make the shelves move, but I couldn't make it work. I called on a guy walking by to help me. Modern technology just leaves me behind sometime. Oh well.

After I located he book and photocopied the article I was looking for, I went and sat at the reference desk and waited for the librarian who was searching for the other document I needed. I contentedly sat there and enjoyed the silence and watched the people walk by quietly.

I used to work at a library. In fact, it was one of most well-known libraries in the world, the Library of Congress. I loved working there. It was so big and quiet. I would have to go into the deep, dark rooms below and in crevices of the buildings to search for items needed. Back then the LOC didn't have moving shelves. I found it fascinating to walk down the hallways and into the doors and elevators of the large buildings. Being an employee I was also able to check out books of all kinds, as many as I wanted. I took advantage of being able to read all kinds of interesting books.

Perhaps my love of libraries goes back even further though. I have clear memories of visiting the local library when I was in elementary school. My mom would take my brother and I to the library. We would come home with our arms filled with books. Then there were programs at the library, writing programs, reading programs. They even had a booklet for us kids where we could submit our little poems or pictures.

Ah, the lovely library memories. I think I need to visit them more often. Eventually I'm sure I'll figure out how to make the shelves move by myself.

Copyright 2003 Paula Lonergan
All rights reserved.