Scene In Detroit: Why I Heart The Library in 2012
By Amelia Kanan, CBS Detroit Blogger
A few weeks ago, I snapped. It was long overdue and came after a long day of sitting in a coffee shop, researching, writing, e-mailing, photoshopping, submitting, Pinning and Facebooking. I found myself cursing the illuminating light bouncing off my glazed-over eyes.
My heart rate was elevated due to my overstimulated brain from the abundance and randomness of information, images and sounds that I had been consuming for the past few hours.
I needed to shut it down and take a break from my better half (my Mac). What else could I do, I thought? What could I do that involves silence, excludes any electronics, induces calmed nerves and lowers anxiety? It was too cold for a walk. I wasn't tired, so a nap was out of the question. And then it hit me: the library. I could read as many magazines as I wanted without having to awkwardly pretend I might buy it. I could sit in silence, no one would disturb me and children would be forced to be controlled and quiet. It's a place where I'm free to look for new authors, check out old books and have any sort of reference guide at my fingertips.
I'm fully aware when I mention the word "library" I'm at risk of losing a lot of people's attention. I can almost hear their silent thoughts saying "BORE-ING" as they hide behind polite smiles and nods.
We live in an era where all we have to do is "Google this" or "wiki that" to get any information we need. Sure you can get books online and read articles on your phone so you never have to go anywhere, but don't you think some reading is meant to be read in its purest form? I do believe that because of electronic convenience we are overstimulating ourselves (not to mention, our kids) and killing our eyes. The library is like my reset button. Never do I leave a library annoyed or thinking "This was a waste of time". The librarians are friendly and helpful, the quiet pedestrians around you are respectful, and it's like a store full of goods that you can have for FREE. DVD's, audio books, magazines, newspapers, books, music and references are all free.
Let's be real. Times are tough for everyone. On average, I used to buy four new books a month and paid for three monthly periodicals. Sadly, those days are far behind me, but to be perfectly honest with you, if I was able to afford that behavior I still don't think I would go back to my old ways. Magazines and papers can quickly amount to lots of clutter and I only read books once, there's no reason to buy so many new books. Sorry, Barnes and Nobel.
On top of all this, libraries are something to be cherished, especially the ones in Detroit. So many, built in the early 1900s, are beautifully preserved with stained glass windows, stones walls, tile floors, vaulted ceilings and big wooden doors. These incredibly old institutions are many times located in areas that seem run down and might be considered "bad neighborhoods" and there they are still standing, operating, and providing a need for a community.
Since I snapped few weeks ago, I've made it a weekly point to frequent the library. I've checked out three libraries in the city and I'm excited to see more because although the experience differs each time, it has consistently been pleasant and, more importantly, does the job of resetting my overly stimulated brain and nerves.
Amelia Kanan is freelance writer/photographer and a returning native of Detroit. A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago, she wrote for an Emmy nominated sketch comedy show and pursued her passion for documentary filmmaking in Los Angeles. An incomplete list of her loves: books, human rights, improv, the smell of new shoes, talking to strangers, libraries, France, yoga, furniture, music, sociology and pushing the limits.
