A Few More Thoughts About Libraries

TU Delft Library - Netherlands

Most people have a "bucket list" of places they'd like to see or visit before they die.  It's usually mainstream travel destinations like: Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, or the Eiffel Tower.  However, I am not like most people.  One thing I have always enjoyed checking out on vacation is their local library.

I have lost count on all the different libraries our family has visited over the years.  Whether it was just to have internet access (in the days before mobile data phones), a place for a kids to play, or even just a place to make photocopies, we have enjoyed visiting libraries.

However, I must admit that there are a few special libraries I would like to check out someday.  Here are some of them:


Cardiff Public Library - Wales, UK

Unfortunately, I don't think I could actually see this place, even if I did make it all the way to Wales.  This cool structure served as a temporary library space, used by Cardiff Central Library from 2006-2009 while their present building was under construction.  However, it sure looked cool.  Consisting of two separate buildings the (20 ft) tall structure illustrated a number of books identified as those most commonly borrowed from the library.

 

Library of Picture Books - Iwaki, Japan

What’s cool about this library is that it is full of picture books.  It is also the work of a famous architect, Tadao Ando, whose goal was that green hills of Fukushima and the Pacific Ocean could be seen from nearly every point in the library.  What I especially like about this library is that it was designed to be 100% kid friendly.  Inside the building are play spaces and reading nooks for reading. Furthermore, children are encouraged to plop down with a book where ever they feel like.  My kids would have loved this library when they were little.

Kansas City Public Library (Kansas City, MO)

This library is a lot closer to home,  not too mention, in a city I have relatives, so I actually may get to visit this place one day.  Referred to as "The Community Bookshelf", this library book feature runs along the south wall of the Kansas City Central Library's parking garage. The book spines, which measure approximately 25 feet by 9 feet, showcases 22 titles reflecting a wide variety of reading interests. 

New York Public Library (New York, NY)

I think that it's the history of the New York Public Library (NYPL) that has always made me want to visit this place.  With  nearly 53 million items (that's a lot of books), the NYPL is the second largest public library in the United States.  What's so interesting is that it's not really a "public library", since it is independently managed and is funded by private and public funding.  As a matter of fact, the NYPL is one of the few libraries in America that was not created by government statute.   Even today, the research libraries in the system are largely funded with private money, while circulating libraries are financed primarily with city government funds.  The NYPL has appeared in many feature films - most notably was one of my all-time favorite movies - Ghostbusters.

Library of Congress (Washington, DC)


If the NYPL is the second largest library in America, then the Library of Congress (LOC) must be first.  Yep.  With a tally of 147,093,357 total items, the LOC is definitely the largest library in America.  According to their website, they have 32 million cataloged books and other print materials in some 470 languages; and the largest rare book collection in North America, which includes a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutenberg Bible (one of the four perfect copies known to exist in the world).


Much like the NYPL, the LOC has an interesting history.  It was built for Congress in 1800, but much of the original collection was destroyed during the War of 1812.  (Darn those Canadians!  Which I can freely say since I am one of them.)  To get the jumpstart the library, Thomas Jefferson sold 6,487 of his personal collection to the library in 1815 and it has continued to grow ever since.  I think it might have been better if he had actually just donated them... but then again... that's just me.


Currently, the LOC receives some 22,000 items each working day and adds approximately 10,000 items to their collection daily. The majority of these acquisitions are received through the Copyright registration process, as the Library is home to the U.S. Copyright Office. Materials are also received as private gifts and/or acquisitions from a slew of government agencies (state, local and federal).

Recently the LOC has come under fire in the press as they are now the official repository of all Twitter messages.  To be honest, I don't really see the value in cataloging millions of public domain tweets.  It just seems like a little "Big Brother" like.


 

Well, those are just some of the cool libraries I'd like to visit one day.  However, to be honest, since I am such a lover of books... no library is ever to small or ordinary for me either.   As long as I travel across the country and the world, I will continue to check out as many libraries as I can.

Finally, I recently came across this cute video - a modern day tribute to the New York Public Library scene in Ghostbusters.  This live "performance" was a joint project between the NYPL and a group called Improv.  The goal of the film was to help boost awareness and support for the library as it was facing potential funding cuts.  I believe the film was a success and the NYPL was able to keep on... keeping on.

Hurray for libraries!



Improv Everywhere:  Who You Gonna Call?