How a Cheeseball Movie Inspired My Noble Career

I remember watching a made for TV movie when I was a child in the early 1980's.  It was a mystery movie and one scene involved the main character uncovering clues to the mystery while researching in the library.  At that moment, I was hooked. The library seemed magical; a place where answers could be found and the craziness made sane. A place to discover things, important things - that's where I wanted to be.

The public library in my hometown of Pasadena, Tx was this great single story ranch style building. I loved everything about it -from the games and puzzles in the children's section, to the tidy card catalog, to the fascinating microfiche machines that allowed me to look into the past. Mainly, I loved it because every time I entered the doors I imagined myself as a character in that movie searching for clues to life's mysteries.

Pasadena Public Library image from http://ppltx.net/about/history/

Fast forward 34 years and as a middle school librarian, I have an opportunity to recreate that same atmosphere for my students. Although some of the tools have changed, the goal is still the same-assist in the discovery and help make sense of the craziness.  The discoveries may come from fictional texts -finding that character dealing with the same situation as my students. It could be a historical fiction or nonfiction text that leads a student to study the past in an effort to be better prepared for the future. It could be in the various programming features like Creepy Cafe, Library Lounge or Maker Days where students might discover a creative side to their brains that was previously never expressed.

How lucky am I to be in a position to stir up the ideas in my students or provide resources that assist in their discoveries? I want my students to make the connection that libraries are the place where discoveries are unearthed. Their ideas can blossom when supported by the resources the libraries provides. If this generation fails to see the importance of a library, imagine what that means for the future of libraries. We must keep it alive. We must continually promote it as a magical place of discovery, an incubator of ideas, a place where the craziness is made sane.

The rest of the story!

Of course, I tracked down this movie and it starred Parker Stevenson. So honestly, to my 9 yr old self that may have been the source of my fascination with this movie. I even tracked down a full version of this movie on You Tube and actually watched it. Here is where the magic is shattered -SHATTERED!  The librarian in the movie is named Lucielle or Lucinda or some version of Lucy. Before she delivers the crucial information she uncovered through her diligent research, she is tragically crushed to death by the electric gates at the entrance of the creepy, possessed, house! This explains my secret wariness of gated communities and electric gates. So I'm slightly embarrassed to admit, the first spark of inspiration for my passion in my very noble profession is a cheese ball horror show -OMG!!  I choose to see it this way - you never know what will inspire someone. I just need to be sure the library is a place of positive inspiration and stay away from electric gates!