We all know what the library is about, right? It’s a place to do research. A place to study. A place to work on a computer, to collaborate in groups, to try new technologies, and to read unabridged dictionaries in preparation for marathon Scrabble parties. In short, it’s a warm and welcoming place staffed by folks dedicated to helping you succeed in your academic and intellectual pursuits.
Sounds pretty nice doesn’t it? Well, I’m here to tell you that there’s another side to the library, a wild and dangerous side.
Oscar Wilde once said, “All great ideas are dangerous.” He was referring to the power of ideas to transform not only the individual but also the world she occupies. For me, that’s the whole point of college. For me, that’s what makes the library such an amazing place.
Walking into the library is more than just entering a repository of information. Former first lady Laura Bush, herself a librarian, said, “Libraries offer, for free, the wisdom of the ages – and sages – and, simply put, there’s something for everyone inside.”
It’s actually a step into a dynamic and challenging world of ideas. The library is where we test our beliefs and concepts against facts and alternative points of view. It’s a place where we find books, journals, and databases that actively argue and debate issues and theories that confuse, chal- lenge, and sometimes scare us (for me it’s the whole robot thing). That’s where the real education begins. It takes you beyond your own world, for better or for worse. It allows you to see more, want more and perhaps do more.
No one has ever said wisdom or inspiration isn’t a little scary, but it has indeed changed the world. Need some proof, just keep reading.
“In my work a good library is essential. It enables me to learn the background and previous discussions of the various issues I am called upon to decide. It provides the stability and continuity for the rule of law.” – Sandra Day O’Connor, First Female Member of the Supreme Court of the U.S.
“I often wonder what my life would be like without the use of a library. Throughout my education and career, libraries have been not only the key to much of the knowledge I have acquired, but also have given me a direction within my profession.” – David Horowitz, Activist & Writer.
“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” – Walter Cronkite, Broadcaster
Proceed with caution as you visit our libraries throughout your education. You might stumble upon a career. Find a new passion. Open your heart. Recognize a need. Discover something new. So take a deep breath and head on in and live a little dangerously. Have a great semester.