reading
LIBRARIES OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY, PA: LINDERMAN LIBRARY AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
StandardI mentioned a little over a week ago that I was beginning a new series on libraries of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, and I am this is the second entry in that series. My piece will feature the beautiful Linderman Library of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.
Linderman Library is the humanities library, and it is my favorite place on campus. I earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in English Literature at Lehigh University, and this extraordinary abode of books is a comforting and inspiring place to work. I have spent many hours doing research and writing in this safe haven for book people.
Linderman Library has many places to work, including a long reading room, which feels like something out of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter books, many nooks with desks, and one of the best features of the library–the rotunda. Several levels of books fill the outside circle, and a winding metal staircase goes from the first to the third floor.
One of the most beautiful features that is often missed is the dome that caps the rotunda. It is one of striking beauty, and made of stained glass. If you have the opportunity to visit Lehigh University, you should go to Linderman Library, visit the rotunda, and look up at the dome!
I am fortunate to live in an area with so many libraries, and I was doubly fortunate to attend a University with a humanities library that is not only filled with thousands of volumes of books and journals, but also it is beautiful. The very nature of its architecture encourages students to study in its comfortable environment.
I will continue this series on libraries and bookstores in the Lehigh Valley, PA soon.
I will also shortly begin a series on bookstores in the Lehigh Valley, PA.
Libraries Of The Lehigh Valley, PA
StandardI began this series several years ago, but I must have forgotten about it. Now, however, I intend to continue and share the wonderful libraries that exist with this section of Eastern Pennsylvania.
The Easton Public Library, located in the small city of Easton, PA, is a place that I loved as a youngster. I have been an avid reader since I was a small child, and this wonderful place gave me much solace and pleasure. When I was very small, we went to a branch library on South Side, Easton, and when I hit young teen years, I would walk the couple of miles to go to the library. It was worth every step.
Easton has about 25,000-27,000 people and is located on the banks of both the Delaware and the Lehigh Rivers, and it is the smallest of the cities that make up the majority of the Lehigh Valley, PA. It is in this small urban area that the Easton Public Library sits and serves a wide group of readers.
After many years, I recently visited this library with a friend who was doing research, and I was filled with both nostalgia and joy upon entering. It was hard to believe that I had not been into this place, where I had visited almost weekly for several years. I loved the visit, and while I do not know if You Can’t Go Home Again as suggested in the book by Thomas Wolfe, but I do know that you can return to libraries that you have loved!
I want to thank Sharon Gothard, a wonderful librarian, for her help with these images of the library, including pictures from both the present and the past.
Thank you for joining me in this journey to a place that was deeply important to me as a young person. I will continue the series soon with another library from this area.
A Few Quotations On Books
Standard“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”
Stephen King
“We live for books.”
Umberto Eco
“Books are the food and drink for the human soul.”
Charles F. French
A Wish For A Good Day of Writing!
StandardI want to wish all writers, everywhere, a good day of writing!
I simply wanted to wish all writers a good writing day–today and always. I also hope you will have excellent production on whatever project you are tackling.
Never doubt your abilities, and work on getting your first drafts done. They will not be perfect, but you will then have material to revise.
Remember to try to write every day and read everyday.
Also remember to value your abilities, your vision, and your writing.
Happy Writing!
Banned Books Week 2022
StandardThis week, from September 18 through September 24of 2022 is National Banned Books Week. Book banning and censorship is a crucial issue that should unite readers and writers. Throughout the world and humanity’s history, governments, churches, and other institutions have banned or attempted to ban and censor books.
Most of us are familiar with the images from Nazi Germany in which thousands of books were burned by the Fascists. All banning, however, is not so explicit. Sometimes in the United States of America, books are challenged, especially in the context of not being allowed to be taught in the classroom.
I oppose all such censorship. As a writer, it is an obscenity; as a teacher, it is an imposition of chosen ignorance; as a reader, it is an intolerable abomination. We must unite and oppose book banning, in all of its forms.
Fight for your freedom to choose what to read.
Here are several important links about this issue:
I will later, this week, in honor of this important cause put out another call for readers to become part of my unofficial group that opposes censorship–The Underground Library Society, The U. L. S.
In the meantime, I ask all of you this question: what is a book that has been banned or challenged that you love?
I choose To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Happy National Book Lovers Day!
StandardToday is a wonderful day–National Book Lovers Day!
Let us all embrace the joy of books!
Celebrate by reading a book today!
A Wonderful Poem by Robbie Cheadle!
StandardHere is a wonderful poem from Robbie Cheadle for you to enjoy!
Diana from Myths of the Mirror blog has a writing challenge underway. You can find it here: https://mythsofthemirror.com/2022/01/09/writing-challenge-the-teetering-tbr-pile/.
Poets and writers are challenged to write a poem or story about their TBR. I have used poetic license and written a poem about how my TBR came into existence.

The Invasion by Robbie Cheadle
Into my library, so full
“Wake up and make room”
Orwell roared like a bull.
***
Shakespeare, Hardy, and Austen
Regarded him with distain
“You’re ‘cleared out’ trash!
You may not remain.”
***
“Now don’t be unkind,
you’re also not new.
We’ve been disregarded
and we’re in quite a stew.”
***
“Fine, we’ll move forward
and you go in behind”
Before I could stop them
my shelves were redesigned.
***
What a fabulous sight
to see the outcasts stowed
It filled my heart with delight
‘though the shelves overflowed.
***
And that was the start
of my sanctuary for books
Some people find it strange
and give me odd looks
***
“Books are inanimate
They can’t speak to you”
What nonsense they talk
If only they knew.
Please be sure to visit Robbie’s blogs:
Robbie Cheadle Books/Poems/Reviews
More Quotations On Reading!
Standard“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”
Confucius

Frederick Douglass, ca. 1879. George K. Warren. (National Archives Gift Collection)