This is BY FAR my favorite chapter of the book to this point. As I may have told you before, I sort of grew up in the
library in Livingston, TX . . .
Yet I never understood that the angst (and I don't use that word lightly) that my mother felt working there was perhaps a common emotion among librarians. I can't believe that during my stint at the
Sam Houston State University library, I didn't make the connection and realize this.
I knew my connection to librarians was deep, but until today, I could not put my finger on it. Now I get it: People don't understand you and what you're about and what you've got for them for the most part. If you are passionate about what you do, about books, and knowledge, and human progress, they just don't get it, and perhaps think they don't WANT to get it, though if they really understood, they couldn't HELP but want what YOU have to offer. Who could turn down knowledge, betterment AND entertainment?
But here's the scoop, my peeps, I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. I HAVE EXACTLY the SAME things to OFFER! And, I experience exactly the same feelings when people don't "get" what it is I have to offer. Now, the big difference between us is that in my profession, there is a lot less feces, but still, I hear ya. I hear ya.
I'd also like to talk about what
Pam said. This is the perennial problem (except it never goes away, unlike real perennials), no one thinks they have time to do anything they perceive as fun or even possible fun. This begs the question though, why do miserable things (taking standardized tests) have to be more productive than "fun" things (hanging in the library reading a book)? WHO SAYS? If anyone finds the person who spread the nasty lie, please let me know. My not-so-secret guess is that hanging in the library reading and enjoying a book MIGHT lead to better test scores on the mandated day.
