How Libraries Light Up My Life
Emily Dickinson says it all:
There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry—
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll—
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul.
But, when I retired after a life-long friendship with Libraries, that is, going almost steady with them, I thought, “How will I ever get to a Library from here?”
Here is Mt. Notre Dame Health Center, a beautiful new facility for the Sisters of Notre Dame. I, Sister Helen McDermott, 93 years of age, a Sister of Notre Dame for 75 years, came here in 2001 to what we always affectionately called “The Mountain.” I looked forward to many happy hours of reading.
With all the responsibility of teaching, directing Religious Education Programs, ministering as a Pastoral Assistant in a parish behind me, I said to myself, “I’ll relax and read on our Mountain home!” However, no buses come to this Mountain. With driving days over, how often can you ask to go to a Library?
Lo and behold! You don’t need to go to a Library. The Cincinnati Public Library comes to us. Every fourth Friday of the month you can hear the announcement, “Attention, please. The Librarians are here.” So, those of us in “Assisted Living,” go swiftly to the Activity Room, return our books and get new ones. The Librarians know our favorite type of books and never fail us.
On the second floor, “The Skilled Care Unit,” Sisters who can still enjoy reading meet each month with a Librarian from Reading, Ohio. There she reviews books and arranges for the Sisters’ needs and interests.
And, best of all, most books are in Large Print, making reading enjoyable for a 93 year-old lady!
Looking back to the history of Libraries, how grateful we should be to an old friend, Benjamin Franklin, who begged books from his friends and began his Subscription Library. He anticipated and assisted in the incorporation of the first American Library, known as “Library Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” in 1734. Franklin’s motto and dream was realized: “To pour forth benefits for the common good is divine.”
Thus began the LIGHT and blessing of Libraries for our country. A gracious “Thank you” to all who make this possible for the youngest and oldest, confirming that “pouring forth a benefit for the common good is divine.”
