Librarians and barbarians 

Glenn Harper

Gloria Towne | All Around Towne Photography

The Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest, richest, and most famous research institutions and libraries of the ancient world. Established around 283 BCE during the Hellenistic period by King Ptolemy I. 

The goal was to collect all the literature and knowledge of the known world, covering works from Greece, Egypt, Persia, India, Assyria and beyond. Huge sums were spent collecting and copying manuscripts from all over the world, and many exceptional scholars of the time were given lodging and taught classes on many subjects.

Some examples are: 

Eratosthenes of Cyrene: A polymath and chief librarian who surmised the Earth was spherical and calculated the Earth’s circumference with remarkable precision, founded scientific geography, and developed prime-number screening methods. 

Euclid: The renowned mathematician who authored "Elements," the foundational text of geometry. 

Hypatia: A prominent female philosopher and astronomer, who proposed the sun as the center of the solar system hundreds of years before Copernicus, and a mathematician remembered as one of the last great scholars of Alexandrian intellectual life.  

But after Christianity became the one and only religion acknowledged throughout the Roman empire, Emperor Theodosius I in his zeal to wipe out all vestiges of paganism issued a decree in 391 sanctioning the demolition of temples in Alexandria.

Empowered by the imperial decree, Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, led an attack on the library. His frenzied followers ran amok in the temple, destroying and plundering. When the destruction was complete, Theophilus ordered a church to be built on the site. It is impossible to know how much science, mathematics and the arts were set back by its destruction. 

This is an early example of a place of learning being attacked and destroyed as an enemy of the “truth.” There have since been many regimes who have attacked universities and conducted book burnings and bans through the ages. It seems whenever an authoritarian government assumes power, they try to ensure their propaganda narrative is the only one available.  

 Currently, we are in the midst of a dumbing down of our entire country. Highly educated experts in all cabinet and agency positions have been replaced with plodding, incompetent, unqualified sycophants, while our media outlets are owned by billionaires. News and entertainment shows are threatened with sanctions if they present facts or opinions contrary to the interests of the ruling class.  

There are few local media outlets who are not controlled by large conglomerates promoting the interests of their ultra-wealthy owners. The JOLT is a proud exception. 

While we have little say in how our taxes are spent at the national level, we have a say regarding our local libraries. Our taxes can support our local libraries as outposts of unbiased information and education, even as our national leaders are actively engaged in doublespeak, calling climate science a hoax and factual reporting fake news. 

Our local libraries are oases where residents young and old, rich and poor can go to access information, technology, entertainment and come together in community. They even serve as cooling stations during extreme heat. 

A portion of local property taxes funds Timberland Regional Library through a library levy. On Nov. 3, voters will decide whether to approve a levy lid lift that would help support 29 libraries and library services across five counties: Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor and Pacific. 

 Some of you may remember recent talk of cutting staff and hours of operation due to budget shortfalls. The levy lid lift would help address those issues.

From the TRL website: 

 “Why are we voting on this now? Washington State law limits annual property tax growth to 1% per year. As a result, TRL’s levy rate has declined from the legal maximum of $0.50 to our current rate of $0.22 per $1,000 of assessed value. While we have made adjustments to control costs, TRL has not had a full levy rate in 25 years, and revenue growth has not kept up with rising costs.”    

You can find further details about the levy lid lift by clicking here. 

An ancient library was destroyed by angry religious zealots, flat-Earthers who believed the universe revolved around them. To their modern day descendants, I say, "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, instruction and understanding" from Proverbs 23:23 in the Old Testament. 

Learning comes at a price, but there is a greater cost attached to ignorance. 

This week, we have three free Death Cafes: 

Monday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. at Olympia Library. Click here for details. 

Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at Vert Chiropractic. Click here for details. 

Thursday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center. Click here for details. 

Glenn Harper provides support in aging and end of life. He is Chair of the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council and board member of the Senior Action Network. He facilitates several free Death Cafe and Elderhood Roundtable gatherings in the area where Elders are invited to talk about difficult topics in a nonjudgmental space. Learn more about these events here.