The room was far bigger than any room Lenora had ever seen. All along the walls, going up and up, were thousands of maps of every possible description. Patrons were walking about on walkways, stairs, and ramps, studying the maps. Far, far above what must have been miles of maps and walkways was the hint of a ceiling hung with twinkling lights. A journey across this room would be no small undertaking. But even this space was nearly filled by its simply magnificent globe, which could really be described as a small world, floating with great dignity in the center of the room and rotating slowly.

There was a huge sign beneath it: WORLD’S LARGEST GLOBE.

Underneath, in smaller letters, it said RAISED RELIEF.

Lenora hardly had time to admire any of this. She spotted the Help Desk right away, with a long line of desperate-looking questioners waving library cards and shuffling impatiently. She hurried over, having no doubt the line might move a little faster if only the globe were a little smaller. How could she be expected to make use of such a globe when she couldn’t even reach it?

She soon found the answer. Behind the Help Desk bobbed a gas balloon, with a basket beneath it into which one librarian could nicely fit. It drifted back and forth, tugging at a rope that anchored it to the floor. A small set of steps led up to the basket. Next to the steps was a sign: LIBRARIANS ONLY.

She felt a tug at her arm. It was a forlorn-looking young man with a tricorne hat in his hand. Sadness and regret came off him in waves.

“Hello,” said Lenora. “How may I help you?” And she did really want to help this poor, sad man.

“P-P-Please, librarian,” stammered the patron, turning the hat in his hands. “There was a girl I loved, and I never told her. Now she has moved far away, and I want to tell her, but I don’t know where to send the letter. All I know is that she moved to the place with the longest name in the world. And I don’t know where that is.”

Lenora pondered this. She didn’t know, either. But it was her job to find out. She looked around, but none of the maps in her vicinity looked like they would help with this question.

She turned toward the gas balloon with great trepidation. She had absolutely no idea how to work a gas balloon, particularly not this one, which had attachments like sails and wings connected to ropes connected to dozens of levers on a control board in the basket. It looked unimaginably complicated. She searched for instructions but couldn’t find a thing. No wonder the previous librarian quit in a huff! thought Lenora. But there was nothing for it. She certainly wasn’t quitting the best job she’d ever had. She had to figure it out.