Lifelong Student: Hi. I know people don’t really do this anymore, but I was
hoping to get some help finding a book. I’ve looked for information online,
but I’m struggling with understanding what it is I’m trying to research. I
get a lot of results, but none of them is what I’m looking for.
Librarian: Not a problem. You came to the right librarian for help. I hail
from the old guard, so I still remember what it was like before the internet
gave everyone all the answers. I’ll try to find you that one perfect book.
Let’s start broad, and whittle our way down from there, shall we?
Lifelong Student: Okay. Uh...space.
Librarian: All right.
Lifelong Student: And Time. Space and time. Is there a difference?
Librarian: I think..maybe not. But they both fall under astronomy and
astrophysics. What would you like to know about space and time?
Lifelong Student: Well, I guess I’m less interested in learning the physics
of it all, and more about the relationship between people and spacetime.
Librarian: Okay, give me a second to think. Yeah, 527 is Celestial
Navigation. That will help you understand how seafarers traveled the oceans
using the stars.
Lifelong Student: No, that’s not it either.
Librarian: Oh, okay. Well, if you’re talking about space travel, you may be
more inclined towards the social aspect of space. Water, air, space
transportation can be found in 387. If you need to know about space law,
like who owns the moon, and whatnot, you’ll wanna go to the 340s. Though, to
be honest, I’m not sure how to get more specific than that. Space law isn’t
in my personal brain archives as its own decimal classification. It may be
more history.
Lifelong Student: It doesn’t matter anyway. I guess I could get into some
ethics, but I don’t care much about the actual laws. That’s too particular.
I’m thinking more broad space and people, and what we think about it.
Librarian: Oh. Philosophy of space and time.
Lifelong Student: Yes! That’s it. Philosophy. Why didn’t I think of that
word?
Librarian: That’s okay, I got you. Metaphysics are in the 110s. Let me think
again...space is 114, and time is 115. Maybe they are different? Anyway, I
assume you’re looking for something introductory?
Lifelong Student: Actually, now that I finally know what it is I’m actually
looking for, I think I can take it from here. I can probably find better
information on the internet. No offense.
Librarian: It’s okay. I understand that times have changed. I’ll keep
helping until the day the last person ever leaves my library, and then one
day after that.
Lifelong Student: Thanks so much. You really have been a big help.
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