Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, England

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One library to rule them all. J.R.R. Tolkien Day

It's time to bust out the furry feet and pointed ears because today is J.R.R. Tolkien Day, which celebrates the literary legend who spun the fantastical tales of 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' On this day, the Tolkien Society continues the tradition of toasting 'the professor,' like Frodo toasted his uncle Bilbo on his birthday. Tolkien's roots run through Oxford, where he studied English literature, joined the Officer Training Corps during World War I and later became a professor of Old English language and literature at both Leeds and Oxford universities. Since 1979, Oxford's Bodleian Library has been home to the Tolkien Archive, a precious collection of manuscripts, artwork and even a Middle-earth map with Tolkien's handwritten notes. His legacy shows us the power of boundless storytelling, which encourages us to seize each day and make the most of the time that is given to us!