This week I was struck by how amazing it is to have access to public libraries. It is so easy to take for granted what I have always had available to me.
A few years ago I remember hearing about The Camel Library in Kenya. I remembered this story again this week and thought about the camel that carries books to villages in Kenya so that children can have access to them. What a creative and amazing idea. A public library that fits the cultural context in which it was born.
I had never thought about how the public library is a relatively new institution in America. My grandma grew up in the Los Angeles area when public libraries were just being established. Yes, our tax dollars at work. But it is a wonderful use of those dollars. I now live in a relatively small city with four public libraries. And I can get books sent from other libraries in my county to my home library. I have access to thousands and thousands of books!
One of my favorite books is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. I would encourage you to pick it up if you haven't read it. Mortenson writes about how he attempts to climb K2, the second highest mountain in the world, but never reaches the summit. After he and four other climbers complete a 75-hour life-saving rescue of a fifth climber, Mortenson takes a wrong turn on the trail and ends up in the small village of Korphe. Physically exhausted and ill, Mortenson was cared for by some of Korphe's residents while he recovers.
The scene that jumped out at me is when the author sees the children of Korphe gathered together every day to practice their lessons. They don't have a teacher or a school or books or pencils. But they are so thirsty to learn that they practice their arithmetic together by drawing with sticks in the ground. The book goes on to tell the story of how Mortenson fulfills his promise to build a school for the village.
I read the book when my son was starting first grade. I was struck by how I took for granted that my son had a school to attend. I am so thankful for my son's school -- for classrooms, books, pencils, pens, tables, chairs, art, science, music and so much more. And most of all for teachers! I have so many friends and family members who are teachers. Thank you for teaching our kids!
And this year, my son, who is now in third grade, has had to learn to live life with Tourette's at school. I am so thankful for all the support he has been given at school. He is in a community that wants to listen and learn about his needs. He feels safe and loved there. A gift beyond words.
The simple act of walking into the library caught my attention. I want to pay attention to the people and places that I take for granted. I want to say thank you.
One of my favorite books is Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. I would encourage you to pick it up if you haven't read it. Mortenson writes about how he attempts to climb K2, the second highest mountain in the world, but never reaches the summit. After he and four other climbers complete a 75-hour life-saving rescue of a fifth climber, Mortenson takes a wrong turn on the trail and ends up in the small village of Korphe. Physically exhausted and ill, Mortenson was cared for by some of Korphe's residents while he recovers.
The scene that jumped out at me is when the author sees the children of Korphe gathered together every day to practice their lessons. They don't have a teacher or a school or books or pencils. But they are so thirsty to learn that they practice their arithmetic together by drawing with sticks in the ground. The book goes on to tell the story of how Mortenson fulfills his promise to build a school for the village.
I read the book when my son was starting first grade. I was struck by how I took for granted that my son had a school to attend. I am so thankful for my son's school -- for classrooms, books, pencils, pens, tables, chairs, art, science, music and so much more. And most of all for teachers! I have so many friends and family members who are teachers. Thank you for teaching our kids!
And this year, my son, who is now in third grade, has had to learn to live life with Tourette's at school. I am so thankful for all the support he has been given at school. He is in a community that wants to listen and learn about his needs. He feels safe and loved there. A gift beyond words.
The simple act of walking into the library caught my attention. I want to pay attention to the people and places that I take for granted. I want to say thank you.
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