My Visit to the West Florida Public Library
The warm Pensacola summer breeze sent a chill down my spine as I made my way into the West Florida Public Library. The sun was shining brightly above helping to guide my far from gloomy journey to the library. Today was no ordinary excursion to the library but, a day of new findings and research. Pulling on those heavy glass doors to enter; we immediately feel surrounded by a sense of comfort and adventure. Endless shelves of books reach above my height, cover the walls, and scatter throughout the entire library. Computers with bright screens and hardworking students typing away fill the atmospheres silence. An entire wall of DVDs and movies gives an alternative option to borrowers beyond text. Casual sitting areas help offer comfort and convenience to all who walk into this library. Statues stand tall proclaiming their stories, paintings fill in all empty spots on the walls, and artifacts from all over the world FILL glass cases in the main entrance the library. I begin to take a much closer look at these interesting pieces of artwork in this area.

Upon showing my interest in the artwork; I found that most of the pieces were kindly donated by various venues here in the city of Pensacola. I also became aware that our library was one out of ten in the United States that offers various hands on science exhibits that have a different theme monthly. I began weaving in and out of the cases filled with pottery of all shapes, sizes, colors, techniques, and textures. Baskets woven with such intricate technique and expression sit amongst clay figurines painted with watercolor; as wooden instruments, toys, weapons, and buffalo fur find their place amongst these as well. I saw myself interested in the culture exhibited by these artifacts on the displayed pieces of work and took into account how hard people work in producing such simplicities in our everyday lives. Taking this concept into account I became intrigued with our local library and the kind of person it takes to help keep it in operation.