The other day I returned a book to a library outside of my neighborhood and work comfort zone. I am a big fan of the public library system and make good use of both the New York Public Library (NYPL) and the NJ libraries (mom and dad still live there…) Random chance found me with a book that was due and in the neighborhood of the Ottendorfer Branch on 2nd avenue and 8th street. Returning the book was no problem but for some reason I decided to take a minute and just check this library out. Now for background, I am not a stacks browser though the thought sometimes crosses my mind that I should see what new books might be out. But then again, I figure, all the good ones would already be taken so why waste my time? So I walked through one of the “old” stacks – meaning not the new titles, but the old dusty ones. And here was my surprise.
Right in the first stack, there were shelves and shelves filled with brand-new books. I’m talking books so brand, spanking new that when I ran my finger along the spine there wasn’t even the faintest break. No one had ever cracked these books open. A gold mine for lovers of books who actually enjoy the clean smell of never-before-read pages! I took a closer look and realized quickly why the masses may have turned their noses up at these volumes. They were Classics. All of these unbroken books were classics in world literature; everything from Jane Austen to Tolstoy to Ibsen to Proust. Wow. I felt so guilty seeing them just sitting there untouched. I almost checked one out just to check it out, but I just wasn’t in the mood for a classic…
So turning back to the NYPL… The other thing I found was a pamphlet of free programs, classes and exhibitions. For example, there’s an exhibit at the Bryant Park location of Children’s Book Illustrators and Authors, including illustrations from a book called Eight Days: A Story of Haiti. There are also sessions on job searching essentials, how to protect your assets for the elderly, how to use social media to promote your business, etc. And to round things out why not check-out concert pianists, a holiday concert put on by Broadway composers and lyricists, or hear the New York Opera Forum stage a concert version of La Boheme? And these are just the ones I earmarked out of personal interest, but do you get my point? All of these cool, amazing, educational and informative activities – and most just plain enjoyable – are FREE via the NYPL! So next time you’re walking by your local branch, or any branch for that matter, pop by and pick up a copy of the latest goings-on and maybe, just maybe, take a browse through the stacks. One of those unopened classics you always wanted to make time to read may just strike your fancy. Of course, you will need to have a library card to do so and New York residents can apply in person or online here to get one.
Happy Library-ing!
