| ABOUT THE LIBRARY |
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The Library, in its various forms, has provided an incredible
community service. And has it changed! Just keeping up with the location
could be tricky - first on Rose Avenue, then to Felicita & Center
City, next to Grand & Broadway, then to Escondido Avenue & 5th, then
to 2091 East Valley Parkway and
finally to the current location at 1330 East Valley Parkway. As most of
you know, The Philosophical Library is an all volunteer, non-profit organization.
When it first opened its doors in 1963, books of a different
kind - books on a large variety of philosophies, religious texts, spirituality,
and metaphysical practices - were not as easily found as they are today.
Even book stores were not as easily found as they are today! Once
inside a locally owned emporium of tomes and periodicals, one would be
lucky to find a copy of "Be Here Now" or "An Autobiography of a Yogi"
by Paramahansa Yogananda. Information just "a click" away would not
exist for almost 40 years. But the Library has continued in the tradition of
its founder, Stuart Otto, who saw this as a place not only of study and
research, but of fellowship and spiritual growth.
The facility itself has
undergone a great deal of spiritual evolution as classes, group discussions,
and the large variety of meetings continue to adjust and meet the
ever changing needs and demands of the public it serves. The guiding
principles of the Library were very unique and, although guaranteed by
our country's Constitution, promoting ideas embraced by other than
the main stream vocal majority and providing the materials for research
of such subjects was just beginning to emerge in the early '60s.
AT&T had just released the touch-tone phone, the Beatles released
their Number One hit "I Want To Hold Your Hand", and Dr. Martin
Luther King attempted to release a country from turmoil with his "I
Have A Dream" speech. In that year the Philosophical Library's mission
was set as follows: Not supporting or identifying with any one
specific teaching, doctrine, or creed in exclusion of others - and to be
an open place for the pursuit of wisdom. Let me repeat the last portion
of that last sentence - it is important: An open place for the pursuit
of wisdom. Let those younger than I not take this for granted.
It wasn't always so, even in a country such as the United States. That basic human
right, if not exercised, has been, and could be again, severely limited.
(I'll get down off my soap-box now!)
Though one may find a variety
of information on-line and purchase books on-line and join discussion
groups on-line, the Library has what the on-line realm cannot
offer. Personal interaction with like-minded people. I will not take
shelter in the often used "I must just be getting old" mind frame. And
I will state for the record (of course this is my opinion and not that of
the Library' s), there IS something missing from the on-line life style.
Buying e-books on-line will not let you feel the book, weigh it in your
hand, peruse the content, smell the newly minted ink and pulp, or ask
the person standing next to you "What did you think of this?" On-line
chat rooms will not let you see the expression of a face or hear the passion
in another' s voice. E-mails back and forth will not replace a quick
and easy decision making telephone call with a live person. And I will
go so far as to say - something is missing - without the human contact.
Contact, if just on a casual basis, perhaps especially on a casual basis,
is so natural, and so necessary.
- Ron Porter
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| OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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The Library is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected
for a four-year term on a rotating basis. The maximum number of members
is twelve; our current board has nine members:
Dan McMiller ~~~~~~~~~~~ President
Genny Carr ~~~~~ Vice President
Marjorie Rodgers ~~~~~~ Treasurer
Marjorie Rodgers ~~~~~~ Secretary (Acting)
Keith Smith
Waddy Wells
Rachel Connolly
The Board appoints an Executive Director to oversee the everyday activities.
The Board meets once a month to handle Library business. Each Board
member donates money as well as their time because they believe in the
Library's purpose.
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