Temples of the Book

Oct 01

By Michael Kindness libraries. Add comments

RobAroundBooks, one of my favorite newly discovered book blogs had a recent post that linked to a Wired Magazine article about one of the most astonishing libraries I’ve ever seen. It’s modern, yet still filled with rare, old books and artifacts of all kinds including dinosaur eggs, a meteorite, Sputnik (yes… Sputnik), and a chandelier from a James Bond movie. Here’s the kicker… this is someone’s personal library. Yeah, he’s rich, but the thing that gets me is that he so loves books, he created his house around this elaborate space the celebrates the printed word. That’s my kind of millionaire.

I was raving to Ann about this library and she directed me to a photostream on flickr run by the folks over at Curious Expeditions. Their motto is “Traveling and Exhuming the Extraordinary Past,” and oftentimes that quest brings them to libraries like the one pictured here (It’s the Strahov Monastery Library in Prague, photo by Curious Expeditions). I have fond memories of my visit to the British Library when I was in London in 2000. I’ve already spent the better part of an hour poring over these photos on flickr, so I wanted to share them with all of you too.

I am very happy to say that my son loves to be read to, and, despite our massive collection of picture books, he sometimes get bored with our selection. Consequently, we have been visiting our local library quite often. Though it looks nothing like this, it’s still a pretty magical place.

Let us know: do your local librarians know you by name? Does your library have any programs or events you love to attend? Anything you wish they’d do more of? When you travel, do you visit libraries?
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http://www.rangersarah.blogspot.com Sarah

Ah, where to start? I have always loved libraries, but the one where I now live (a town of about 30,000 in the desert southwest) is quite unique. It’s a decent sized library… yet no one seems to go there to check out books. I know most libraries have become internet hubs, but perhaps only 3 or 4 times, in the five years I’ve lived here, have I seen people actually browsing the bookshelves.

This usually works out in my favor. That latest bestseller that others are 57th in line for at their library? I just go pluck it off the shelf. Because there is no way to reserve things or manage your account online, hardly anyone places holds. The library also does not host any programs besides children’s storytimes. I would love to see the library host more programs to encourage the community to be more involved. While always welcoming, the staff appears to be set in their ways, and perfectly content to sit at the reference desk all day doing reading of their own.

Ok, rant over!
http://www.rangersarah.blogspot.com Sarah

Ah, where to start? I have always loved libraries, but the one where I now live (a town of about 30,000 in the desert southwest) is quite unique. It’s a decent sized library… yet no one seems to go there to check out books. I know most libraries have become internet hubs, but perhaps only 3 or 4 times, in the five years I’ve lived here, have I seen people actually browsing the bookshelves.

This usually works out in my favor. That latest bestseller that others are 57th in line for at their library? I just go pluck it off the shelf. Because there is no way to reserve things or manage your account online, hardly anyone places holds. The library also does not host any programs besides children’s storytimes. I would love to see the library host more programs to encourage the community to be more involved. While always welcoming, the staff appears to be set in their ways, and perfectly content to sit at the reference desk all day doing reading of their own.

Ok, rant over!
http://www.subliminalintervention.blogspot.com Dreamybee

Libraries are such wonderful places! My librarians don’t know me by name, but they should, seeing as how I have to sign over a check to them almost every month for all of my late fees! (Oops.) I don’t usually visit libraries when I travel, but I do pretty quickly learn the locations of almost all the libraries wherever I live. Out of 24 libraries on O’ahu, I know where 14 are…ok, so maybe not as good as I thought, but still not bad. I worked with a woman once who had lived here 2 years and couldn’t tell me the location of a single library. I was shocked! I can’t imagine not immediately learning where your closest public library is!

I ran across 2 book-related posts on The Nonist blog a while back which I think would fit in nicely here.

The first is about the British Library’s collection of bookbindings-whenever you click on the link, it brings up a random assortment of old bindings, which are beautiful and fascinating to look at.
http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/fine_bindings/

The second is a collection of pictures of great libraries around the world which just made me drool for a while!
http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/hot_library_smut/

I hope you and your readers enjoy!
http://www.subliminalintervention.blogspot.com Dreamybee

Libraries are such wonderful places! My librarians don’t know me by name, but they should, seeing as how I have to sign over a check to them almost every month for all of my late fees! (Oops.) I don’t usually visit libraries when I travel, but I do pretty quickly learn the locations of almost all the libraries wherever I live. Out of 24 libraries on O’ahu, I know where 14 are…ok, so maybe not as good as I thought, but still not bad. I worked with a woman once who had lived here 2 years and couldn’t tell me the location of a single library. I was shocked! I can’t imagine not immediately learning where your closest public library is!

I ran across 2 book-related posts on The Nonist blog a while back which I think would fit in nicely here.

The first is about the British Library’s collection of bookbindings-whenever you click on the link, it brings up a random assortment of old bindings, which are beautiful and fascinating to look at.
http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/fine_bindings/

The second is a collection of pictures of great libraries around the world which just made me drool for a while!
http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/hot_library_smut/

I hope you and your readers enjoy!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael

Sarah- It’s great that you don’t have to wait for the hot books, but it’s sad that more people don’t take advantage of the library!

Thanks for the links Dreamybee!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael

Sarah- It’s great that you don’t have to wait for the hot books, but it’s sad that more people don’t take advantage of the library!

Thanks for the links Dreamybee!
Lisa

My daughter and I both love going to our local library. The librarian does know me by name, but that could be due to life in a small farming town as well as my frequent visits. Everyone here knows everyone else at least by sight if not by name.
Our libray has a storytime for toddlers and pre-schoolers, and an advisory council with middle school/high school age kids which allows them to have a say in what books the library will get for them. In the summer they have a summer reading program for age 3-10 and then a separate program for ages 10-18. This past year they even had a program for adults with reading challenges, and prizes for all age groups.
When I travel back to my hometown in Virginia I sometimes visit my old library with my mom for old times sake.
Lisa

My daughter and I both love going to our local library. The librarian does know me by name, but that could be due to life in a small farming town as well as my frequent visits. Everyone here knows everyone else at least by sight if not by name.
Our libray has a storytime for toddlers and pre-schoolers, and an advisory council with middle school/high school age kids which allows them to have a say in what books the library will get for them. In the summer they have a summer reading program for age 3-10 and then a separate program for ages 10-18. This past year they even had a program for adults with reading challenges, and prizes for all age groups.
When I travel back to my hometown in Virginia I sometimes visit my old library with my mom for old times sake.
http://www.annhandley.com Ann Handley

It’s my dream to someday have a library in my house. I’d take that over a home gym or a pool room any day…

I’m on the Board of Trustees of my town’s public library, which pretty much tells you how I feel about them. Something I’ve become aware of is that the best local libraries are so much more than places to just borrow books. They are increasingly functioning as community centers, in a way, offering cultural programs, concerts, educational programs, children’s programming, teen movie nights, senior classes, and more. I urge anyone to check out their local library if you haven’t!
http://www.annhandley.com Ann Handley

It’s my dream to someday have a library in my house. I’d take that over a home gym or a pool room any day…

I’m on the Board of Trustees of my town’s public library, which pretty much tells you how I feel about them. Something I’ve become aware of is that the best local libraries are so much more than places to just borrow books. They are increasingly functioning as community centers, in a way, offering cultural programs, concerts, educational programs, children’s programming, teen movie nights, senior classes, and more. I urge anyone to check out their local library if you haven’t!
http://www.robaroundbooks.com Robert Burdock

Hi Guys,
Well not surprisingly you’ve taken a good story and made it even better. Thanks for the head’s up on the Curious Expeditions site (and its Flickr photostream). What an absolutely amazing place website that is. I love the library pics (who wouldn’t) but the “From the Voyage Vaults”, are just out of this world – quite literally.

Anyway, thanks for the credit, and the kind words, and give my love to all of the Reuters people )
Robert
http://www.robaroundbooks.com Robert Burdock

Hi Guys,
Well not surprisingly you’ve taken a good story and made it even better. Thanks for the head’s up on the Curious Expeditions site (and its Flickr photostream). What an absolutely amazing place website that is. I love the library pics (who wouldn’t) but the “From the Voyage Vaults”, are just out of this world – quite literally.

Anyway, thanks for the credit, and the kind words, and give my love to all of the Reuters people )
Robert
thomas

Hi Michael,
I love looking at pictures of libraries both public and the one’s in peoples homes. All of the librarians that work our check out counter know me by name because I am in the library at least 4 times a week, AND I make it a habit to say hello, smile and ask them how their day is going. Our library is hooked up to 62 other libraries and one can go online and request any book (that is owned within the system) and within a few days it is in my hands. So I always have a great book to read.
I do visit libraries when I travel because each one has a different way of displaying both new books and books that the library wants to feature.
I was just in the Princeton NJ Town Library and they have 1 large table of books that have won different Book Awards. One table of books for reading groups, and one table of staff favorites.
I wish our library would do something like this.
Thank you for also bringing to our attention RobAroundBooks blog.!
as well as some really good book suggestions.
thomas

Hi Michael,
I love looking at pictures of libraries both public and the one’s in peoples homes. All of the librarians that work our check out counter know me by name because I am in the library at least 4 times a week, AND I make it a habit to say hello, smile and ask them how their day is going. Our library is hooked up to 62 other libraries and one can go online and request any book (that is owned within the system) and within a few days it is in my hands. So I always have a great book to read.
I do visit libraries when I travel because each one has a different way of displaying both new books and books that the library wants to feature.
I was just in the Princeton NJ Town Library and they have 1 large table of books that have won different Book Awards. One table of books for reading groups, and one table of staff favorites.
I wish our library would do something like this.
Thank you for also bringing to our attention RobAroundBooks blog.!
as well as some really good book suggestions.
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael

It’s so great hearing about everyone’s Library Love!

Thomas, here in RI, we can also request books from other libraries in the system (not quite 62, but still!) and I love it too! As a matter of fact, I have to return two books tomorrow that I requested online and came from elsewhere.
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael

It’s so great hearing about everyone’s Library Love!

Thomas, here in RI, we can also request books from other libraries in the system (not quite 62, but still!) and I love it too! As a matter of fact, I have to return two books tomorrow that I requested online and came from elsewhere.