Tuesday 17 January 2012

I have always been an avid reader.  Not only do I appreciate the words on the pages, I also enjoy the pages as a whole, the book.  I am not much of a online reader, reading alot on the computer gives me a headache.  Paper is fated as my favourite medium.  I am one of those people who even likes the smell a book, the older the better.  When visiting an archive I spend a little time just looking over the oldest works. 
As such, my link to the past takes the form of a leather bound, circa 1800's, book.  Its topic concerns the great libraries and archives throughout history.
My story begins when I acquired a box of books from a great uncle who was a little quirky.  As I opened the beautiful dark brown leather cover a note falls on to the floor.  It is of course a note to me from my uncle, with a simple line, "Only you can appreciate this amazing book; turn the pages to go, but home you will be in the contents."
I turned to the contents and saw that each chapter focused on a great library, or archive.  The libraries of ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Middle East are listed.  The archives of the Vatican and monasteries throughout Europe are listed.  Some of the libraries are located in museums such as the British Museum. Libraries, Museums and Archives are listed up through time into the 20th Century.  As I turn the next page it is blank with only two words hand written, in bold letters:

GET READY!

As I turn the page to the first chapter the air around me starts to dissipate and change.  Swirling around my body I am taken back in time to the Alexandria Library.  It is amazing I have the chance to read everything from the past before it is destroyed in its respective library, museum or archive. I am not interactive with those around me, (it all is very complicated but has to do with different planes of existence,) yet I can read everything.  Turning back to the contents takes me back home without a time change while I was gone.   The book only allows me to travel to its contents, not outside the pages.   I have unlimited access to prime sources. A happy historians dream, :)

Monday 16 January 2012

Hello, :))

I will have more to say later today!.  Class awaits!