Thursday, September 29, 2011

My Own Library

Picture: http://www.freshworldnewstoday.com/where-to-buy-books-online/

 I was in my bed wide awake thinking of the files that I have, stored on yahoo, Gmail or even Facebook and the wonders of it all. Technology is so amazing that checking the oldest or live news on the Internet is as easy as clicking a mouse. It is becoming the most essential tool of the day for many who rely on it as the only source of information. It is stupefying how fast one can access anything, such as the correct usage of the word stupefying, at the speed of one key per millisecond. We cannot go anywhere without a piece of technology strapped to us. We research every little thing on the Internet forgetting the feel of a page of an old book on our fingers. 

Yesterday,  a young teacher came into the classroom to talk about how easy it was to gather scientific up-to-date data from Scholar on Google. It was such an informative session and I honestly learned so much from his enthusiasm and knowledge. But he made one comment which made me question it between myself and I. He said that this kind of technology was not available to him when he was studying for his Bachelor's degree. There was little information on the Internet back then that they had to also refer to using books and magazines. He informed the students how the process of gathering information was tedious then and took such a long time, while there is a fast growing library in their backyard and can be available to them at the tips of their fingers.

While I agreed with him about the ease of finding information nowadays from documentaries and maps to translation and self-help sites in a short amount of time, I disagreed with the word 'tedious', not because I want to but because everyone had their own impression about the whole experience. I absolutely loved going into the stacks looking for my own books or magazines. Spending hours searching for the right data or piece of information was one of the few thrills of writing a  15-30 paged research term paper.  Searching for microfiche and sticking them into a machine that would enable me to discover what's on its tiny mysterious rectangles, was one of the highlights.

I did not get that chance during my Bachelor's degree, except once, to enter any stacks. At that time, due to the the blast, only the Master's students were allowed up in the tiny stack room which remained unharmed. The last term I was at Uni, I took a Master's degree course as an undergraduate. When my Professor first informed the class that we will be able to go into the stacks I rejoiced (Literally, with all its exaggerations!). The first and  following few times, I cherished every moment I had with the books,  their old yellow pages that carried years of wisdom and knowledge in their every shade and the dusty scent of generations passed.

Both my parents had built in me the love of books, how they must be respected, maintained and looked after. These lessons might have been forgotten had it not been for the day I was studying for my final IB exams and had spread my books all over the carpeted floor. My dad walked in to wish me good luck for the next day when he saw the soles of my feet resting on a stack of books. I was using them to lift my knees and cradle a book I was scrutinizing. He told me off gently for not respecting the books that contained the knowledge I was seeking.

And that my friends was that. From then on my love of books grew. And despite my addiction, gratefulness and appreciation for having a library in my backyard, being surrounded by touchable books, connected to their earthiness and caressed by their pages.... beats all that.

Any thoughts!!

23 comments:

nazelet said...

Books have always been my refuge and safe place. I learned to read before I was 5 years old and since then my constant and most trustworthy companians have been my books. Your father was so right about what he said. Books are living, sacred things.
As for the young teacher - well, he speaks for many of his generation. Sad. Research is verbal archeology - dig, dig, dig - and when you find your treasure you are grateful for the journey and what you've discovered becomes more precious because of all the work put in. Sad he thinks that tedious. How much we learn aong the way to the piece we need.

I hope my grandchildren will also be graced by the intimate feel of a book in their hands and the careful turning of pages.

Tabouleh said...

So true Paula... and I wish that my children will also have the privilege of looking through an old book in search of answers and enjoyment.

Anonymous said...

Hi, juѕt wanted tо sɑy, I loved tһis blog post. It was inspiring.
Keep onn posting!

Anonymous said...

With havin so much content do you ever run into aany issues of plagorism or copyright
infringement? My blog has a lot of completely unique content I've either authored myself or outsourced but
it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all ovewr the web without my agreement.
Do you know any ways to help reduce conttent from being ripped off?
I'd genuinely appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

Hello! I'm at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone!
Just wanted tto say I love reaing your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Keep up the excellent work!

Anonymous said...

Very good information. Lucky me I ran across your websdite by chance (stumbleupon).
I have saved aas a favorite for later!

Anonymous said...

I goot this site from my pal who informed mee about this
site and at the moment this time I am visiting this web site and reading very
informative articles at this time.

Anonymous said...

Wow, awesome bog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging lookk easy. The overall look of your website is magnificent, let
alone the content!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm it looks like youur website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess
I'll just sum it up what I wrote and say,
I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too aam an aspiring blog blogger but I'm still new to the whole thing.
Do youu have any tips and hints for rookie blog writers?
I'd genuinely appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

I blog often and I seriously appreciate your information.
Your article has truly peaked my interest.
I will book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once
per week. I subscribed to your Feed too.

Anonymous said...

Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you're workiong with?
I'm looking to start my own blog soon but I'm having a difficult time making
a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different tjen most blogs and I'm looking for something unique.
P.S Sorry foor getting off-topic buut I had to ask!

Anonymous said...

What's up, I check your neww stuff regularly. Your
writing style is witty, keep doing what you're doing!

Anonymous said...

When someone writes an article he/she keeeps the
plan of a user in his/her mind that how a user can understand it.
So that's whyy this article is great. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hello my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome,
nice written annd come wit almost all imporant infos. I'd
like tto look mire posts like thiis .

Anonymous said...

My brother suggested I may like this web site.
He was totally right. This submit actually maqde my day. You cann't consider just how so much time I
had spent ffor this info! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searchingg for
b

Anonymous said...

Good article. I definitely appreciate this site. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful, what a weblog it is! This web site gives valuable facts to us, keep it up.

Anonymous said...

Good post however I was wondering iif you could
write a ltte more on this subject? I'd be very
grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Kudos!

Anonymous said...

We are a bunch of volunteers and syarting a new scheme in oour
community. Your site provided us with useful iformation to work on. You've done aan impressive process and our entire community might
be thankful to you.

Anonymous said...

Heey There. I discovered your weblog using msn. That is
a very neatly written article. I'll be sure to bookmark it and come back to learn morte
of your useful info. Thanjk you for the post. I will
definitely comeback.

Anonymous said...

I every time used to read paagraph in news papers but now as I am
a user of weeb so from now I am using net for content,
thanks tto web.

Unknown said...

Hello there everyone... I have not been writing for a while so imagine my suprirze when I checked my blog tos ee comments that needed moderation and waiting for me to click the publish icon... apologies for being absent.
I use Blogspot as my platform... easy and attached to my Google account.
I am not a very confident blogger by the way so I do not have a lot of information. I jsut write what comes to mind. Thank you for following and checking it.