Andrew Carnegie Library In Our Back Yard

Natural Register of Historical Places. 

I like to start my search there. 

When we get the "bug" and want to hit the open road, we like to search for cool and interesting places. We live pretty far out from the nearest town so we expect a minimum of an hour drive. 

Not this time. 

I learned that just 20 minutes from where we live, in Jennings, LA. there are actually TWO libraries. Say what!! 

You read that right! One is the parish library and the other is the state library. I didn't know that was a thing until I did some research. 

Believe it or not I don't always go to a library to read. 

Sometimes, I just want to look at old books and let my imagination run! Can you imagine what was going on during the time these books were published?

Of course, when I walked into the Andrew Carnegie Library in Jennings, my lover- of- old- books self had found her unicorn! 
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National Geographic. Census Index. Cemetery Logs. There was SO MUCH history here! 

I really can't describe how OLD these books were, but a picture should help:

These are books you DO NOT TOUCH. 

I would LOVE to devour the information inside, but I rather just admire their beauty from afar. 

Beautiful is an understatement. 

I am sure if you have wondered to the "Unschooling Fun" section of my website,  you are waiting for the " that is genius" moment where I tell you I planned this trip for days, strategically set out what we were going to learn about and had a grand presentation to give after. 

But, my dear friends, that would be a lie! 

This day was spontaneous. Yep. We hopped in the car and decided to stop. Nothing preplanned. Nothing set in stone. We were after history! 

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So the long awaited question... what did we learn on this trip to the Andrew Carnegie Library?

To appreciate the beauty of books. 
To appreciate the beauty of history. 
To appreciate the preservation of history.
To appreciate the preservation of books. 

To enjoy using the libraries resources.
To enjoy the spontaneous trip.
To enjoy the time together. 
To enjoy learning.

To appreciate. This is a skill even some adults struggle with, so why not expose children to the idea of just appreciating something at it's face value and taking the long way home :)