Margaret Atwood said being involved in the Future Library project is something you either immediately say yes or no to. “You don’t have to think about it for very long,” Atwood said of the literary time capsule.

Yes. I would say, yes.

However, unlike Atwood I am not a renowned author, so the likelihood of me having any involvement in the project, including enjoying its fruit, is extremely unlikely. Despite that, I very much support it.

Here is the skinny: 33-year-old Katie Paterson, a Scottish artist, announced the Future Library project last week. As a part of the project a forest has been planted in Norway, which will supply paper for a collection of books to be printed in 2114. Over the next century one writer every year will contribute a text to the project, with their contributions held in secret, according to the project’s website. The contributed texts will be held in a room in the New Public Deichmanske Library in Oslo, Norway.

The project has me enthused. Aside from being an avid fan of Atwood’s work, I think the whole thing has a romantic notion, which has been lacking in recent decades. Our generation has been notorious for not thinking about future generations. From our damage to the environment to racking up the national debt, we seem to have disregarded future populations. Which is why this effort, which is all about giving to the future, is so refreshing.

It is the whole concept of planting trees (in this case literally) whose shade (or fantastic works of literature) you will never enjoy.  I applaud Paterson for taking action on her idea and Atwood for being the first to be involved. I think Atwood, known for writing futuristic novels, is the perfect first author. She is well known and well respected which gives the whole effort credibility from the onset.

I am weary about what will happen in six, seven or eight decades time when Paterson is no longer around to foster the growth of the program. I am weary about authors continuing to selflessly write works, which will never be read in their lifetimes, but I am hopeful the romance of it all will appeal to their literary souls.

The true time commitment of the project became clear to me when I read Paterson’s statement in a Slate article, “it freaks me out a bit when I think that many of these writers aren’t born yet.”

People yet to enter the world will be in the presence of authors like Atwood in this project.

The whole thing, including its sustainability aspect, is an absolute treasure. However, fear the entire thing will be spoiled and the texts will somehow be leaked sometime in the next century, especially if more high profile authors contribute in upcoming years. Preserving the works will require either keeping the project and its contributors under wraps or our society respecting the project for what it is: a gift.

In short, I support it, I respect it and I thoroughly wish people such as Maya Angelou, Rachel Carson and Ernest Hemingway had been prompted to leave us such a gift.