Masks preferred sign, Ben May Library. Mobile, Alabama. July 2021.
When I set my Maps to Birmingham back in summer 2020, I set it for an Ethiopian restaurant. I had lunch there immediately upon my arrival at my newly chosen city.
When I set my Maps to Mobile the other day, I set it for the main branch of the Mobile public library system: Ben May Public Library.
After being amongst COVID collaborators in Missouri for two weeks, the sign on the Ben May Library thrilled me. "Masks preferred" - such a succinct, firm, and pleasant statement. When I walked in, my spirit lifted again because every library employee wore a mask.
Having already been entranced by the lush live oaks in the neighborhood, which leaned over the shady street with loving arms, and then that masks preferred sign - my brain shot out a swoony splash of good chemicals.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
As someone who lives within a fairly frugal budget, I can tell you that access to some of Tucson's and Arizona's cultural, natural, and recreational amenities is expensive. To wit, for one adult:
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
I remember how poor I was when my daughter was young. If that were today, and if I lived in Tucson, many places would be off limits to us because of the admission fees. There are many, many low-income families in Tucson.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
In 2017, more than 18% of Tucsonans lived at or below the poverty line. Twenty-six percent of Tucson's youth lived in poverty. Normally, I would compare Tucson's poverty rate with the US average, but who cares? When it comes to access to arts and sciences cultural centers, parks, etc. in Tucson, it only matters how many Tusconans can't afford to reap the same experiences and knowledge that their more affluent cohorts in Tucson can.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
This hurts us as a community, now and in the future.
If children don't know about - see, touch, hear, and talk to - painters, dancers, sculptors, scientists, naturalists, master gardeners, authors, astronomers, biologists, historians, engineers, mathematicians, technicians - how can they normalize these disciplines as accessible to them?
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
If we can maximize the experiential education of all of our children, and through that, maximize their potential lifetime earnings, it will reverberate through our communities, and to their children, and to their grandchildren.
Besides, access to centers of culture and nature are part of the Declaration of Independence: the inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness.
Access to centers of culture and nature adds to our quality of life.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
So ==> When I registered for my Pima County library card, I was mighty impressed to learn about the Culture Pass. Similar to what I'd do with a book, I can "check out" the admission for two people to Tucson-area arts, nature, and sciences centers - at no cost. I have one week to use the admission and then my "loan" automatically returns to the library. I can check out a new venue the following week; two "loans" per month.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.
A companion program to the Culture Pass is the Field Trip pass program for Title 1 schools (schools that serve a large percentage of low-income students).
"The Act One Field Trip Program is a system and a solution for narrowing an opportunity gap that denies students from low-income families equal access to educational arts experiences."
Yes!
My first Culture Pass admission: Tucson Botanical Gardens. A collection of garden rooms that bid you to sit and be, to gaze and listen, without speaking, and without thinking too much.
A library on El Paso's westside is the Dorris van Doren Library on Redd Road. This library has a small courtyard; inside the courtyard is an A-frame. Groups use the A-frame for young-child activities or meetings. When available, individuals enjoy the space while reading, studying, or contemplating the artfully-framed view of the outdoors from within. The A-frame has a fireplace, a cozy arrangement of soft chairs, and a couple of large group-study tables.
The courtyard is a pleasant space to sit outside to read alone or have quiet tete-a-tetes between tutor and student or friends.
It is so good to sit inside the A-frame and do nothing but look outside. Once I saw hawks wheeling over the ridge. Another time a young rabbit tarried next to the window, perhaps enjoying the shade on a hot day.
The Westside Community Park is just on the other side of the ridge that you see through the window.
One day, after a meeting in the A-frame, I climbed up that ridge and walked along one of the park's trails. I saw both flora and fauna:
Cactus flower on Westside Community Park trail. August 2016.
Lizard on Westside Community Park trail. August 2016.
Lafayette has one of the most charming downtowns I've ever seen. Despite being very compact, it packs in two museums, an arts center, a branch of the library, and the usual assortment of restaurants, clubs, and shopping opportunities. Pictures to come eventually.
The Lafayette Public Library System has a number of branches. The original main library is undergoing a massive renovation, and there's a temporary branch on downtown Jefferson Street to stand in during this time.
Lafayette library, temporary Jefferson Street branch, Lafayette, Louisiana.
I loved the basement-y, coffeehouse vibe at this branch.
It only took four staff (on site and over the phone) to give me permission to take these photos.
Lafayette library, temporary Jefferson Street branch, Lafayette, Louisiana.
(In Caucasus Georgia, the first person I asked would have spread his arms wide and said, "Of courrrrrrrrrrrrrse, why would you nottake photos?!" But that is a country where complete strangers will come up to you and ask if you want to take a picture of them - with your camera - that they will never see! ... and why would you not?)
(In New Mexico, the first person I asked would have shrugged and said, "Sure.")
