"Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection, we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience. Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often seek their mirrors in books." - Rudine Sims Bishop, The Ohio State University. "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" originally appeared in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vo. 6, no. 3. Summer 1990.
Windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors apply to more than just books - the concept also applies to library activities. Palm Beach County Library System staff work diligently to ensure its members see themselves reflected in the myriad of activities offered year-round. These activities also serve as a window for members to explore other cultures, religions, nations and ideas. When it's executed just right, an activity can envelop and immerse us in a world of unlimited possibilities.
Palm Beach County is home to individuals from all walks of life, and each has a unique perspective that is, in part, informed by age, race, national origin, education, religion, culture, class and so much more. "Windows and mirrors" activities are created to teach children and families about the cultural expressions of faith traditions found in Palm Beach County and across the world and to celebrate the rich heritages of residents that make our community a vibrant place to live.
