In The Lord of the
Rings, Gandalf suspects that Bilbo’s handy invisibility ring is in fact the
(gasp!) Ring of Power worn by Sauron who used it to almost conquered Middle
Earth. But Gandalf wants to be
sure. So, like a good wizard, he does
his research. He leaves instructions
with Frodo
Gandalf
leaves Frodo to find out about the ring and returns nine years later (in the
book). (In the movie he returns in time
to miss all the action and just catch up with the hobbits in Rivendell.) During
those nine years of researching, he eventually winds up in the archives at
Minas Tirith (aka the White City, the one with the very epic battle in the
final movie). Denethor begrudgingly
gives Gandalf access to the scrolls and books, and that, my friends, is where
Gandalf learns the world-changing truth in Isildore’s description of the Ring.
When I watch the movie version, my librarian heart shares the thrill of research to see Gandalf in the archive, but my librarian heart also quavers because he is smoking his pipe in there. Smoking! Next to all the paper!!)
Anyway, just
think--proper Library Science could have saved Middle Earth!
How
to Commemorate:
- Visit a library
- Wear an extra ring
- Stroke prized possessions, calling them "My Precious"
