This Is Not Your Average Library!

I have library envy. The good part is that this is MY library. And yours. It belongs to the American People. It is the Library of Congress. Look at this fabulousness! I will stack it up against ANY library in the world!

(All photos courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, photographs by Carol M. Highsmith. Above Photo reproduction number: LC-DIG-highsm-01908)

Is that not breathtaking? Psst, wait until you see this!

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Yes, there is a fountain! (Makes me want to jump in on a sunny day! I'm sure some Washingtonians felt the same way!)

Let's go inside. Did you know that the Library of Congress has sculptured bronze doors, marble columns and bas reliefs, stained glass windows, painted cantilevered ceilings, grand staircases,, murals depicting myriad subjects like printing, zoology, etc, Pompeiian panels of the virtues like courage and fortitude, renderings of Greek mythology like the Muses (a favorite!) and bronze statues?

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A marbled staircase...

 

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Imagine the grand entrance you could make here! Note all the carvings and sculptures. Then, there's this:

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This is an aerial view of the Main Reading Room. You are surrounded by priceless art, history, knowledge. How could anyone NOT be inspired?! Let's go see more books! 

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Wonder where they have Sirenz? 

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This is the African-Middle Eastern Reading Room. One of just so many...

But it's more than just a beautiful place- these librarians are masters at their craft- all forms of knowledge and its safekeeping. Need to find an obscure article? Have to find a photo? Question about a book? These are the people to go to:

www.loc.gov

If the world's population perished, except me of course, this is where I'd head too. (First raiding every Starbucks on the way for Chai Latte supplies.) It would be a writer/reader's dream. 

So check it out! Visit! Surf its site! Ask a question! Get the best research help in the world! This is the People's Library.

Char

One of My Favorite Things....

Is the Raritan Public Library. It's old world elegance, harkening back to a time when reading was looked upon by almost everyone as a precious gift.

The library is  lodged in the former General John Freylinghuysen House. Originally built by an early Dutch settler in the 1700's, it has been a tavern, public meeting hall, jail, home and finally the library. Several additions have been added and the Federal style architecture appeared around 1810. Peter Freylinghuysen bought the property in 1970 and shortly thereafter donated it to the Borough of Raritan. In 1971 the building was placed on the National and New Jersey Register of Historic Places

See the light of wisdom shining on it? Wait, it gets better....

Here's a reading room:

Handmade reproduction period furniture makes it all cozy and inspirational. Somehow I imagine the Founding Fathers arguing over the grammar in the Declaration of Independence with a pint of ale (although the house in this form wasn't built until the 1780's).

Here's the children's room:

Now what kid wouldn't want to pick out a book and read it in the carriage, or at the tables, or near the fireplace?

And for the serious readers, look at these glorious stacks, packed with tomes of delight:

Need a break from reading? Meander upstairs to John Basilone room where you can see artifacts, documents, and photos of the decorated hero, and a even a small scale model of the USS John Basilone Destroyer.

If that's not enough to tempt you, the front reading room (there are bookshelves in every room!) is a cozy place to curl up with a book.

Director MaryJane Paese is one of the many helpful, friendly and knowledgeable people. This library offers a newsletter of events, staff picks, program descriptions and other information. There are crafting, knitting, yoga, family film and 1-on-1 computer classes, in addition to many special programs for children like a Lego party, storytime, and crafts. MaryJane and staff are working on expanding their Teen and Pre-Teen programs; they even have a teen blog: http://rpl.blogspot.com which will list new acquisitions, book discussion groups and other events. I will be there in mid-late May talking about Sirenz and Sirenz Back In Fashion, and answering writing/publishing questions. (Natalie is may be there as well, dependent upon schedule constraints).

Interested? Visit them at 54 East Somerset Street, Raritan, NJ, or hop over via www.raritanlibrary.org

Char