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Memories of the old Central Public Library

The nostalgic scent of urine-infested sidewalks. Fear of getting mugged as a student trying to complete her research assignments. Wondering if I would be murdered in the basement of a Downtown building filled with old books bound to eventually fall apart in the hands of the next borrower. Or if not death, even worse...being stuck in an elevator that probably should not have passed inspection within the last decade.

Why, then, does it feel like a little piece of my heart is being taken, knowing that San Diego's brand new and improved Central Library is soon opening its doors to the public?

Guess it's time for the next generation to make their own memories. Things will be different. There will probably be more love for electronics than traditional reading material. The elevators will be fancier. Gone from these future researchers will be the feeling of a becoming a potential victim in a Hollywood horror movie.

One thing will not change. The memories associated with learning. Regardless of the chosen medium, pursuing our own knowledge is a rewarding experience. And that will not change--regardless of the building's standards, even as centuries pass.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/26/53757/

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/26/53758/

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The nostalgic scent of urine-infested sidewalks. Fear of getting mugged as a student trying to complete her research assignments. Wondering if I would be murdered in the basement of a Downtown building filled with old books bound to eventually fall apart in the hands of the next borrower. Or if not death, even worse...being stuck in an elevator that probably should not have passed inspection within the last decade.

Why, then, does it feel like a little piece of my heart is being taken, knowing that San Diego's brand new and improved Central Library is soon opening its doors to the public?

Guess it's time for the next generation to make their own memories. Things will be different. There will probably be more love for electronics than traditional reading material. The elevators will be fancier. Gone from these future researchers will be the feeling of a becoming a potential victim in a Hollywood horror movie.

One thing will not change. The memories associated with learning. Regardless of the chosen medium, pursuing our own knowledge is a rewarding experience. And that will not change--regardless of the building's standards, even as centuries pass.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/26/53757/

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/sep/26/53758/

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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