This past Tuesday, the Coopersville Rotary Club met at the Coopersville District Library for lunch and its weekly meeting. The purpose of meeting at the library instead of at our usual home, The Farm Museum, was to hear a brief report about the Rotary sponsored "Reading Rocks" 2018 Summer Reading Program and other related programs LaVonne Marshall and her amazing staff provide each and every summer.
For those of you that have not visited the newly renovated and expanded facility, you need to stop reading this memo, don a coat, place boots on feet, and get over to the library for a look-see. It is gorgeous and compliments not only the Coopersville community but our surrounding neighbors as well. LaVonne and the Library staff have truly created a sense of place, intellectual growth, reading platforms, and a sanctuary of learning. We are truly blessed to have this facility downtown and managed by dedicated, thoughtful, and inspired people.
It makes me proud to walk its interiors; it also makes me think of how libraries originally emerged and how they eventually evolved over these many centuries. One source I studied introduced a word I haven’t seen for decades; philology, from the Greek meaning “love of learning and literature.” Philology was actually established at the world-famous Library and University of Alexandria in the 2nd century BCE. It seems the scholars or “Philologists” of Alexandria set out to write a statement of all human knowledge, which, prior to then was largely passed on from generation to generation, from community to community in the form of intricate oration and storytelling. The knowledge collected was then written into books and other mediums that eventually became the content of the Library and University of Alexandria.
For those of you that have not visited the newly renovated and expanded facility, you need to stop reading this memo, don a coat, place boots on feet, and get over to the library for a look-see. It is gorgeous and compliments not only the Coopersville community but our surrounding neighbors as well. LaVonne and the Library staff have truly created a sense of place, intellectual growth, reading platforms, and a sanctuary of learning. We are truly blessed to have this facility downtown and managed by dedicated, thoughtful, and inspired people.
It makes me proud to walk its interiors; it also makes me think of how libraries originally emerged and how they eventually evolved over these many centuries. One source I studied introduced a word I haven’t seen for decades; philology, from the Greek meaning “love of learning and literature.” Philology was actually established at the world-famous Library and University of Alexandria in the 2nd century BCE. It seems the scholars or “Philologists” of Alexandria set out to write a statement of all human knowledge, which, prior to then was largely passed on from generation to generation, from community to community in the form of intricate oration and storytelling. The knowledge collected was then written into books and other mediums that eventually became the content of the Library and University of Alexandria.
The Philologists described the Library as the “world’s memory.” How inspiring and how extremely aware they were of the depth and wealth of their collection! To understand that the Library held within its confines the evolution of the human intellect, its experiences and observations, and the self-awareness of its existence in the physical and metaphysical world. Philologists were the curators of this new written history and documentation of wisdom. They were “sort of” the first “librarians.” What a truly exciting era of history where the abstractness of thought became physical to the touch of one’s hand and fingers, visual to their eyes, and now reachable by the hundredfold.
So, it makes me smile as I walk through the Coopersville District Library. If you look very closely, the shadows of ancient scrolls and books are faintly etched amongst the current collection. Close your eyes
and concentrate; you can sense a bit of the aroma of those ancient writings. Yes, there are computers, tablets, high definition TVs, and audio programs replacing the pages of books and magazines. But they will not replace the ancient roots or the thoughtful nurturing that grew them into existence; there is always a beginning. Embrace our “Library and University of Alexandria” here in Coopersville.
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We have an interesting and substantive agenda for March 12, 2018. From the East Gateway Plat to the awarding of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Pump and UV Plant Upgrade Project to an Intergovernmental Agreement to Establish a Joint Senior Services Board, we will be busy. A quick reminder that we have our first Budget Workshop prior to council meeting at 6:00 PM. The agenda for this meeting is to review a number of capital projects that the city needs to address in 2018-2019 and a few in 2019-2020.
I invite questions prior to Monday night on any of the agenda items as a few of them are complex. For those intense college basketball fans, Selection Sunday will take place this Sunday March 11, when the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee reveals which 68 teams will compete during March Madness. Please have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
SOLD OUT: Celebrate Coopersville 2018
We are ***SOLD OUT*** and at maximum capacity for tickets. We’re sorry if you’ve missed your chance to joining us for this spectacular event, but you can still donate to the Rotary Silent Auction. Drop off your donation to City Hall or the NEO Forum office at the CAPS High School by March 20. Celebrate Coopersville will be taking place this year on March 22, 2018, at the West Michigan Plumbers, Fitters, and Service Trades Union Hall at 1008 O’Malley Drive. Find out about our entertainment and when to decorate your sponsored table here: http://tinyurl.com/CelebrateCoops2018. Be prepared to Honor Service with a Smile at this year’s Celebrate Coopersville!
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