If you’re anything like me, the scene in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast when the Beast gives Belle her very own library is a foundational origin story for you. It is maybe the most romantic scene in the world because it is when the Beast really does something altruistically - he knows what Belle loves - books more than anything - and he wants to give her Joy. So he gives her a library. It is also, for any bookish soul, the promise of a romance based on knowledge, connection, wonder, and delight.
And I may or may not have felt a little like Belle when I most recently visited - actually visited for the first time - The Library of Congress. But my guide was not a prince in disguise, but my dear friend, Joanna Colclough - a reference librarian specializing in newspapers and current periodicals at the Library of Congress.
Joanna is a wonderfully kindred spirit. We met years ago now in a Blessed is She women’s group, one my all-too-confident-in-me priest put me in charge of almost as soon as I became ‘officially’ Catholic. The ladies in that group became dear friends - one of them is godmother to my daughter, even - and though they are now spread far around the country and the world in some cases, busy with their own families and lives, we still have a WhatsApp group going called “The Guild” - named for the Book Club we started after Blessed is She ended, wanting to dive into literature together and most of all share in each other’s company.
And of course this is the best promise of books - that they can be shared. And it is the beautiful promise of all libraries. Here, take this! Enjoy! It is so benevolent, so generous, and I’m truly with Howard Norman when he wrote -
“When thinking harshly on the human condition, as I so often do, my antidote is to think gently on libraries, for if human beings are capable of preserving the history of our knowledge in the form of books, there may still be hope.”
And that is what I felt on my recent behind-the-scenes tour of library - a magical place of tunnels and dusty, musty history and very much available, to you and to all. What a dream! What an American, patriotic celebration! Books, books, books - here for you to enjoy, at your service. Goodness, I felt buoyed and proud on that visit, when Joanna so generously showed me around this marvelous place.
Tune into this podcast to hear some highlights from our tour, how you can become a researcher at the Library, learn what the Library actually does (I had no idea), how do you solve a problem like Maria (you’ll hear what I mean), and most all, celebrate the history and preservation of knowledge and the written word. I think you’ll be wonderfully encouraged!
I want to thank Joanna for her incredible tour and I was so thrilled to see her truly in her element. The Library is lucky to have her!
And for all my fellow Belles at heart, think of the Library of Congress as a gift from your country to you, a sincere gift of history and knowledge and beautiful, beautiful books.
If you’d prefer to listen to this podcast elsewhere, just look up Born of Wonder on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, wherever you download your podcasts!
LINKS:
Library of Congress Website: https://www.loc.gov/
Tour of Librarian’s Office with a secret vault:
How to Use the Reading Room (featuring Joanna pushing a cart! Hi!):
Close ups of the contents of Lincoln’s pockets:
https://www.loc.gov/resource/lprbscsm.scsm1049/?st=gallery
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Behind-the-Scenes at The Library of Congress