My parents purchased a set of encyclopedias for the family when I was a child. Years ago salesmen selling these books by the volumes used to go door to door. For me I valued these research archives very highly and passed them on to my children. Part of the gig was that for a vew extra dollars each year a now volume of the latest information would be sent to you.
Dear Ones,
Recently a local library bulletin board posted a sign for people donating books: "No encyclopedias older than five years are accepted." I'm sure in this high-tech age many libraries declare this statement for their book sales. So what should the public do with outdated books of knowledge and dictionaries, too?
With modern conveniences, including "Google," there's no longer a need for such information for most of the population. Many of us are spoiled with all methods of communication. But what about the impoverished in America? Not all families have money to purchase computers, I-pads and the latest technology? Often children don't know what an encyclopedia is. Kids can't drive themselves to libraries.
Many youths have never read books written by the ancient and modern world's great authors. How can young people distinguish trash from inspiring literature? TV provides instant graphic delights for children, especially in cartoons. But the words of a well-written book children and adults remember for a lifetime–adventure, nostalgia of the past and projection into the world of the future.
Encyclopedias recycled for paper or burned become knowledge gone up in smoke. These same books can be donated to the poor or to institutions not providing computers and other technology. Even the first volume of an encyclopedia is better than none. Kids receiving it may not get a whole picture of the world, but at least they have the potential of learning the meaning of words all that begin with the letter "A."
Within various pools of genes on Earth, children have the potential of being smarter than their parents. Many of them thirst for knowledge. So way should they become parched when they can drink from the fountains of what makes the world become so very worth while?
Mame,
helenesmith@(macdonaldsward)
