Library

I love libraries. Not because of their vast collection of books and the peaceful reading atmosphere you get. It is because they’re time machines that transport us to different eras in history.

Each book holds within its pages the thoughts and footprints of brilliant minds from every century.

A library serves as a sacred space where we can connect with the intellectual legacy of our ancestors and gain profound insights into the world we live in.

It’s also a place of serendipity. An author, whom you’ve never heard of, might change your life the moment you randomly pick up their book from a library. Even a single page, or a paragraph — even a sentence from their book can change our lives.

Bookstores also give the same vibe, but you can’t spend a whole day reading random books at a bookstore.

When I was in undergrad, I had this crazy dream of redefining the theory of evolution (I still have that dream). I believed there were several gaps in the current theory of evolution that needs to be addressed. So, during my second year in college, I used to go to Connemara library every weekend to read old journal articles and books on evolutionary biology.

Every article and book I discovered was fascinating. This includes the original copy of Watson and Crick’s paper on the DNA published in 1953 to the original 1952 news article that explains the Urey-Miller experiment with illustrations.

I didn’t end up finishing the project. But, it was so much fun spending time at the library for my research.

I don’t visit libraries as much as I did back then. But, I know that one visit is all I need to get inspired. As a reader, you know that books can disappoint you. But, a library never disappoints you.