Home isn't a street address or a residence or as Robert Frost quipped, "The place where, when you go there, they have to let you in."Over the years of what seems to me a quickly passing timeline, I have called several places home. Born in Logan, raised in Smithfield, attended college at Utah State University, married in Logan but newlywed moved to Ogden. We moved to Brigham City, with our little family, in October of 1995. We moved here for the small town atmosphere, the safe neighborhoods and schools, and the shorter commute to Thiokol. What has kept us here? The neighbors, the people of the community and the home town feeling our children developed for Brigham City. It doesn't hurt I suppose that I am a city employee.
Home makes us who we are. It is impossible to think of Charles Dickens and not think of Dickens' London or to think of James Joyce and not think of Dublin. We are linked to a place by language, dialect, culture or shared experience. Those living in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina will have forever a common link with other residents. I daresay that Brigham City residents feel linked during Peach Days, for better or worse.
What is surprising is the connection residents feel for the library here. Brigham City has one of the oldest libraries in the state. Built during the early part of the 20th century our current Carnegie building replaced another "free reading room" in town. People who grew up in town will visit and mention librarians past, like Mary or Vernie. They remember when the children's room was in the basement and when the addition was built. During our renovation I have heard many comment on the value of preserving the old building as part of the identity of the city. I believe it was one of the major factors for people voting against the bond for a new library. They love the Carnegie building.
The library fills a new role in today's world. Besides coming for books, patrons come to attend programs, use the Internet for social networking and bring their children to play and relax. We have become a place for hanging out with friends and quiet study. We have evolved into the communities living room.
Home Sweet Home is a memory of joys shared, experiences gathered and knowledge gained. It's not the brick and mortar, the shape, or size that matters. It is the people, the life that takes place here because as Edgar Guest wrote, "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home."
Michele, Children's Librarian
2 comments:
You write a wondeful blog - you should be a writer, it seems to come so natural to you.
This is exactly how I feel about our library. :)
You are a wonderful writer, by the way! That was a very polished blog post.
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