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.

Whatchamacallit

As I travel I think about what I am going to write.  My day began with a return visit to Mitchell Community College in Statesville.  I was there to meet the new Director, Beverly Rufty, and to show her how to use our company's website.  I arrived to find that she was expecting one of five interviewees for a position with the library.  We visited briefly and I left her to prepare for the interviews.  As I walked back to my car, I noticed that the door of the Broad Street United Methodist Church (part of my brother, John's tribe) was open.  I don't mean it was simply unlocked.  It was standing open.  I couldn't resist so I walked over and found the building to be open for anyone to come in.  The sanctuary was beautiful and apparently is available for people to simply come in and meditate or pray.  There was no one to supervise and I thought what a risk the Church takes to make the sanctuary available.  As I returned to my car, I thought a good title might be "The Church of the Open Door."

My next stop was another return visit to the school named for my brother, John Wesley University in
High Point.  As had been the case on my previous two visits, the library director was not available.  High Point is a city I visit fairly frequently so I will try to see her again.  After that visit I thought I might write about perseverance.

My next stop was in Asheboro at the Randolph County Community College.  Debbie Luck and Pam Pollard have become good friends and I asked if I could take a picture with them.  They agreed (though they, like most women, are loathe to have their picture taken) if I would allow their library mascot, Snoopy, to join in.  Snoopy was dressed in a tutu and had just returned form visiting someone in the hospital where the nurses had given him "Breast Cancer Awareness" headgear.  He had voted in early voting and had the sticker to prove it.  I'm afraid my rather drab attire did not match his flamboyance.  At that point, I was convinced Snoopy would find his way into the title.

It was noon when I got to Troy and the Montgomery County

Community College. I looked around for a place to eat and found a gem.  Hometown BBQ is a local eatery that features "Eastern Style" barbecue.  That is not my favorite kind so I ordered barbecued chicken, collard greens and butter beans.  The food was delicious and the service as friendly as could be.  They served hushpuppies with honey butter which is a great way to end any meal. My only concern was keeping the abundant barbecue sauce off my tie--which would have made a good title.

Deborah Ashby is the director at MCCC but she was on vacation.  MCCC is the school I wrote about in a previous tome that has a nationally-recognized program teaching taxidermy.  I though about going over to see the program but I was still stuffed from lunch!








Stanley County Community College had just celebrated Halloween and the director, Erin Allen, had a
werewolf on her head.  I asked her if she was aware of it and she seemed to not be the least bit put off.

My final stop was in Misenheimer at Pfeiffer University.  Lara Little reported a 3% growth in enrollment at the school this year and introduced me to the man who orders books for the library, Damion Miller.  Damion is built more like a linebacker than a librarian.  Clearly these two have the Gustavus Adolphus Pfeiffer library well in hand.  Those four names--Misenheimer, Pfeiffer, Gustavus and Adolphus would certainly make eye-catching titles.

So I am left with "Whatchamacallit."  Because however you describe this day's travels, it's about books and the people who love them.  The freedom to read and write and name are guarantees that come with being a citizen of this fair land.  I hope you will not only excercise that right but also fulfill that duty on November 8th.