Libraries, Hope, and New Pencils (Volume 811)

Earlier this week, I received the latest Blackwing Volume pencils, Volume 811 and I am very excited! In many other posts, I’ve written about my use of pencils and journaling and why you should have both. I’m certainly not trying to be vintage, but both writing in pencil (writing in general) and journaling force you to slow down and complete your thoughts in a manner that, I think, it more beneficial for an individual. I think we don’t slow down enough. Rather, we complain about not slowing down and then, ironically, speed things up in hopes to slow things down later on.

In short, grab yourself a couple of pencils and a moleskin and get to writing. If you don’t know where to start, check out my list of pencils and journals. Moving on to the Volume 811 pencil by Blackwing, as I mentioned, I’m excited because I love the back stories of inspiration behind all of these special edition pencils.

VOLUME 811

The Volume 811 pencil is a tribute to all libraries and their representation of hope. Blackwing goes on to quote Dr. Maya Angelou when she said that the library is a “rainbow in the clouds” so that “in the worst of times, in the meanest of times, in the dreariest of times…at all times the view can see a possibility of hope.” I think that’s a wonderful statement by the good doctor.

Libraries are certainly a beacon of hope in a variety of aspects; educational and relational. But before I jump in to talking about our beautiful libraries, the 811 has a unique design and color compared to other special edition volume pencils in that it has an emerald finish, a color that pays homage to the green desk lamps accompanying many study tables at libraries. Additionally, it has a special coating so that when you turn off the light, the emerald finish is visible in the dark, reminding you of all of those wonderful all-nighters.

Additionally, according to Blackwing (and I think this is great), the number 811 is a reference number to the Dewy Decimal System:

“The model number 811 is a reference to the section of the Dewey Decimal System that contains some of Dr. Angelou’s most famous works, along with the works of countless other inspirational writers.”

I’m very excited about this pencil and looking forward to covering my journals with memories of thoughts, confessions, and literary processing. Check it out and I hope you enjoy it.

All of this being said (or written), here are a couple of reasons as to why libraries are wonderful…

BEACONS OF HOPE

1.) Librarians
I’ll never forget my elementary librarians’ name—Mrs. Ziegler. She was also our public library librarian in the summer too. Mrs. Ziegler was such an inspiration to me growing up because she always challenged me with different books and showered my friends and i with encouragement. While she didn’t have to, she always set time aside for us in the summer when we visited and taught us about the wonderful world of books. She was the female version of Mr. Rogers. Librarians are a well of knowledge and if you find yourself visiting your public library or if you take your kids regularly, be sure to pick your librarians’ brains. They know a thing or two.

2.) Historical Books
in libraries, those who may have been forgotten in history are still alive and well. Further, books of the past are not simply informative, but transformative. Reading books from many who have gone before us is like studying the roots of a tree. Ernest Hemingway once say that “there is no friend as loyal as a book.”

3.) Community Development
I think one of the greatest thing about our libraries is the programs that they provide for the community. Programs are not necessarily designed to entertain (though there is some of that), but to educate. You should check out what your local library has available because chances are, there are a variety of programs that you could benefit from or that your kids could participate in.

4.) Free Resources
I LOVE the bar scene in Good Will Hunting where Matt Damon defends Ben Affleck by challenging a Harvard student’s intellecut (that he tried using to belittle Affleck’s character) by quoting the same book that he read in a library! Knowledge is power. I thought that was such a baller move:

“You dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a f**in' education you coulda got for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library.”

it’s what you do with that brain that matters, not where you drop the cash.

I’m sure that I could come up with more reasons, but I’d love to hear what you think about our libraries. Do you still hang out there regularly? Here’s a cool story that I’ll share: our public library closed in 2013 and was moved to what used to be Wal-Mart. Today, it’s considered, I could be wrong, the largest single floor library in the country. That’s really cool. But what I think is cooler is that our old library was later taken by our local Chamber of Commerce and converted into a incubator for artists, musicians, and start-ups. The church I pastor now worships at the Incubator (old library) on Sunday mornings, our offices are located there, and we offer a variety of programs along with our tenant neighbors. How cool is that!?

More importantly, Mrs. Ziegler’s desk is still right at the front.

Why Pencils? Which Pencils?

Aside from my career as an elementary student, I’ve enjoyed writing with pencils for a little more than a decade and since the evolution of social media I, on occasion, show off some crafted lead from time to time. Sometimes, I’m greeted with a “pencil nerd” compliment and then other times, I’m asked which pencils I use and why I used those particular ones.

I thought I’d share my top 3 pencils that I currently use on the daily (I may have a rotation, but you’ll never find out!) and each one is for a specific reason because that’s just how I roll.

THE NERDS

BLACKWING VOL. 24 (THE WRITER’S PENCIL)

This pencil is my go-to. I write in my journal almost every day and this is the pencil I use for that time. My favorite thing about this pencil is that it holds a firm point for a pretty decent amount of time and writes dark. My only gripe about this pencil is that because it does write dark, it can smudge on the paper.

TOMBOW MONO 100 PENCIL-F

This next pencil is simply a beast. I write a manuscript for each of my sermons and this is the pencil I use. I freakin’ love it. It writes really smooth and has good point retention, not dark like the Blackwing, and is a premium for writing in my opinion. The Japanese really know what they’re doing here. Before you check this one out, just know that it does NOT have an eraser.

ELEMENT 2 WRITING PENCIL BY VIKING

Much like the Tombow pencil, the Element is right behind in quality. It is similar in structure and quality. However, in my opinion, it doesn’t write as smooth as the Tombow (can fade a little) and it’s a little darker than the Tombow. Still, it’s a great quality pencil that I use for writing and note taking during meetings. And finally, much like the Tombow, the Element does not have an eraser either.

HONORABLE MENTIONS?

BLACKWING VOL. 33 1/3

I was really excited for this pencil and the design is slick. All of the Blackwing Volumes pencils are paying homage to something or someone historical. For instance, the Writer’s pencil is a tribute to the late John Steinbeck and they did a phenomenal job. The 33 1/3 is paying a tribute to vinyl records and again, they killed it. I absolutely love the grip on this pencil, however the retention point is weak so when it comes to journaling or writing a manuscript, I’m afraid it’s not the best one for that. But when it comes to note-taking, this one is my jam.

GENERAL PENCIL NO. 2 (CEDAR POINTE)

This was the first “fancy” pencil I started writing with and I love it. It’s a classic and the smell of cedar courses through it’s lead. If you’re looking to buy a couple of pencils for all of life’s essentials, then this is a great pencil to begin with. The retention point is fair, writes dark, and is very affordable.

I hooked you up with the links to these pencils and I hope you check them out. I will add that these aren’t exactly “cheap.” So, make sure you do some research, write well, and enjoy!