A Two-fer

Bobby Burns observed that the "best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray."  My plan for All Saints Day was to visit a number of libraries.  But first, I paid a call on a widow in my Church who was having surgery.  The procedure scheduled for 9:00 a.m. did not commence until nearly 11:00 so I was delayed in starting my journey.  I do not begrudge the time I spent with this dear woman and her family nor the time spent by the medical personnel preparing to do the delicate work of surgery.

After leaving the hospital, I traveled to Salisbury to visit three very fine academic institutions.  Between me and Salisbury was a horrendous wreck involving two tractor-trailer trucks.  Interstate traffic was snarled so I left the highway to try to find a less congested path.  Fortunately, that path led me by Gary's, a favorite restaurant in Kannapolis.  Since I couldn't get to my first sop before lunch time, I stopped at Gary's.





The first stop in Salisbury was Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.  The library there is in transition.  Their director, Tony Lippard left to go to another school and in his place is Lisa Shores, the acting director.  The woman in charge of acquiring the books is Kathy Fountain who is a cheerful a person as I've ever met.
 

Just across the interstate highway is Hood Theological Seminary.  When I visited in the summer, the director was not there but this day I found Jess Bellemer just returning from lunch.  A window near the door had a most intricate design and I commented on its beauty.  Jess informed me it had shattered under extreme temperature but not broken.  I note that there is a sermon illustration in there somewhere.






Catawba College was my third and final stop of this shortened day.  There I met Steve McKenzie who directs the fine library on the campus.  There is a great contrast between the traditional architecture of the outside of the building and the very modern and scholar-friendly inside of the building.

Because of my late start, I was unable to complete my itinerary so I returned home and hatched a plan to finish the next morning.

Each month I meet with a life-long friend for personal and spiritual accountability.  We share our lives and encourage each other to "finish on fire."  Meeting him was on my way to Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs.  After our meeting, I continued to GWU and found Laurie Bumgardner. When I had visited in the summer, they were receiving the holdings of a branch campus that had closed.  That work had been completed and the library was bigger ad better than ever.  Laurie introduced me to the reference librarian, Dr. Pam Dennis.  Dr. Dennis told me that for the two weeks before the end of the semester, the library stays open 24 hour a day with two librarians present.  That kind of sacrifice shows the devotion these people have to the students they serve.    

I only visit a few public libraries but one of them is in my former hometown of Gastonia.  The Library was abuzz with activity because it is a site for "early voting."  There was a long line of people entering the library to cast their ballot.  I commend voting to everyone on (or before) November 8th. Inside, I met my old friend, Bob Biggers who works at the front desk and he brought Jane Kayler, the acquisitions director to me.  Jane shares a last name with a dear friend of mine but, try as we might, we were not able to establish a connection.

My final visit for this second shortened day was at the oldest Catholic University in the South, Belmont Abbey.  Sharon Bolger is in charge of getting books and I found her hard at work at the front desk.  She serves an eclectic mix of students seeking a bachelor's degree and Catholic scholars from the Abbey.

Thus ended my second shortened day.  But two halves seem to have made a whole day.  I wonder how often I fail to achieved what's possible because I can't achieve what I'd planned.