Is it possible to know (the intention or story within) a book without reading it? To just discuss its outline with some friends or colleagues who more or less “believe” in it? And then without further ado writing a blogpost about it.
Well anyway, that is what I am doing, so apologies if I have made the wrong assumptions. As far as I get it the book is about clearing the mess in your house, in a logical order, and to help you in reaching or living a happy life, without too much focus on possessions.

I wondered about the analogy with us librarians. Part of us is about collecting, in the old days of paper, and nowadays of online content (and then often without possession;-). A collection that we order, clear and clean, in a conscious or thoughtful way. (Other parts of us are about so many more things, serving the best study places, providing academic skills to students and staff, facilitating the production of online education or research output. Of course.)

Do we wonder, during our special tasks, if something “sparks a joy” (the phrase that I hear and read whenever the book is quoted)? Is that something we could or would consider in our review of (online) materials? I guess not always. However perhaps this question would just be enough. Joy. Inspiration. Good memories. Useful tips. Bringing in the joy of reading, of keeping or telling why something is or was important. So that could also be a good subtitle for the Library. A place filled with sparks of joy.

researchexhibit
Dig-It! Research Exhibition during IfoT 2016 TU Delft.

On June 2, we had a Research Exhibition in our Library. Twenty innovative projects of our university were presented, and a lot of (external) visitors were walking around, talking with the researchers, and listening to some speed talks. Some people asked me whether this was a proper event to take place in the Library. I explained that we want people to search (be curious!), find (get answers!) and share information (create and innovate!) via all sorts of channels or ways. So of course our place can contain so much more than the traditional books or study places. Exhibitions, project presentations, workshops. In the context of science, design and engineering they all fit our purpose. To create sparks of joy.

And by the way. I am hesitating to follow my friends’ way of clearing or cleaning the stuff in my own house. I am fuzzying my way through my possessions. 😉