The President's Letter

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      A recent feature article in the New York Times got me to thinking, which isn’t easy to do. But then, I suppose that’s what good articles are supposed to do, right? The article was about some of the most interesting home libraries in the country, like the one pictured to the right.

      As I paged through the article, it struck me that even books have become a status symbol for some people. I mean, these were amazing home libraries. From chic chaos to Rooseveltian gravitas, and everything in between. 

      But, more important than that was the realization of just how ubiquitous books are and how revered many authors are for the way they can transport us to new realities, introduce us to new friends, help us build new skills, and give our imaginations a hall pass to wander unchecked into a world of possibilities.

       If you had the good fortune to sit in on KDL’s recent “On the Same Page” event at the Van Andel Arena for an evening with Kristin Hannah and her good friend, and fellow author, Megan Chance, you saw that magic in action.

       For a thoroughly enjoyable hour, the two of them told us how they met 37 years ago and how they help each other fine tune their ideas and writing. They corrected each other’s faulty memories and laughed at their own shortcomings. They offered no cures for cancer or solutions for peace in the Middle East. And yet, 10,000 people sat mesmerized and wished it wouldn’t end.

      KDL Executive Director Lance Werner said that the event helped reaffirm the relevance of libraries in an evolving world. But, it also affirmed the relevance of books and the people who bring them to life for us.

      While my home library will never make the pages of the New York Times, it is still a place of security and comfort where I go to read, write and think. And, we all need a place like that in our lives.

      I hope you and your family and friends have a joyous time celebrating our country’s 250th birthday this Fourth of July! But, if you miss anything, you can always read the book.

--Joe David

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