Remembering Mrs. Roberts

Many years ago… when I was young (I write this as a 51 year old now) I spent a large amount of time at my local library. I’d grown up in a family of readers, and I was no different. I spent hours there after school, a lot of us did, but for me it was more than just a place to go in our quiet rural north Florida town. It was magical. And one person who made it that way was Mrs. Roberts, the head librarian. She was a quintessential southern grandma type. Kind, a quick smile, and a will of iron. LOL She saw something in me I guess because she never batted an eye at the stacks of books I borrowed (far more than I think I was actually allowed to.) but she knew I’d return them. I once found a reference book that I adored, and I read that thing every time I came into the building. It was on greek and roman mythos. One day she saw me being somewhat annoyed because I had to go and I still wasn’t done with it. She quietly made me promise to bring it back the next day, but she let me take it home that night. I devoured the rest of it, staying up way later than I was supposed to, reading by the cliche flashlight. And I did return in the next day, she just gave me a wink and a smile and said nothing. But one more thing sticks in my head. Something that says something to me now, in this current cultural and political environment. I was at the library with some friends, and I found a copy of Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’ on the shelf. I found myself somewhat taken aback by the fact that some of the people I was with, said I that I should put that back, it was ‘evil’ (mostly because their Pastor had said so) It actually started a bit of an argument, and I seemed to be the only one who didn’t think it was evil. One kid I knew said he should check it out and burn it. I was horrified at that thought. Mrs. Roberts heard us arguing, which was rare, and came back to the corner we all sort of were and asked us what we were fighting about. When we explained she cocked an eyebrow.. and simply said “I don’t believe in evolution. But, burning a book you don’t agree with is wrong. It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with a book, a library is for all. If you don’t like something, then don’t check it out, and don’t read it.” that sort of ended the argument, and that was that. I guess I just wanted to say to her that I always remembered that, and the lessons she taught me. Thanks for encouraging me to read and explore. And thanks for being you. Mrs. Roberts passed away at the age of 90, back on August 23rd of this year. We had lost touch after she retired for the most part, though on a few rare occasions I had run into her when I went back to my old hometown for whatever reason. I just found out yesterday, and felt like I should or needed to recognize her. Thanks!