So Much Nerdiness in One Entry

One thing my neighborhood is lacking is a great library.  Or any library, really; the branch of the NYPL closest to us has been closed for years for renovations.  I'm not entirely convinced it will ever reopen.  Sure, there's the spectacular main library in midtown, and there are branches within a reasonable distance of our area, but it's not the same as having easy, immediate access (not to mention that the branches are often cramped and lacking in ambience). 

I couldn't begin to estimate how many hours I spent in the local library growing up.  Our little Georgia town actually had two great libraries -- one that was public and one that was part of this social/educational association founded by the town's patron family.  The latter was called the Coleman Library, and aside from the countless weekend and summer days spent there, Allison and I used to walk there after school every Friday in fifth and sixth grade.

There was a 1950s-style drugstore across the street, where we'd sit on stools at the counter and order steam-heated hot-dogs, hamburgers off the grill, Coke floats and lemonade so sour it could turn your face inside out.  We'd also load up on Lemonheads and Nerds and gummy Cokes at a convenience store nearby.  Then we'd stroll back into the air-conditioned hush of the library, to the smell of paper and bindings and the high-frequency whine of fluorescent lighting. 

Between the two of us, we must have checked out every book in the junior and young adult sections.  I can remember exactly where my favorite books were -- the Little House series, of course (I had my own copy at home so didn't have to take those out, but I still liked to visit them); "Night of the Twisters" (kept me up nights in fear of tornadoes, but I read it about 50 times nonetheless); the Anastasia books; all of Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume's books, of course; the "A Very Young" set of photography books by Jill Krementz; the orange-bound biographies for young readers; "Freaky Friday" and some other weird book by that same author; "It Can't Hurt Forever", a novel about a young girl who has surgery on her heart; all of Paula Danziger's books; and so on. 

I remember, too, when the librarian suggested that I move to the YA section because she thought I'd read everything in the junior section.  It seemed to open a whole new world of possibility.  Then, later, there was my Danielle Steel phase in junior high (UGH) and, finally, the day as a teen when I became old enough to go to up to the mezzanine to poke around -- there wasn't any smut up there or anything; they just didn't want small kids running around unsupervised.  I'd sit on the cold linoleum floor and page through the big, colorful books about ballet, the afternoon light slanting in through the high windows. 

This weekend, we went out to Brooklyn to the Botanical Garden (I'd never been -- it's small but lovely, plus we had one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten at the Terrace Cafe there: avocado, cucumber, watercress, goat cheese and pesto on whole-grain bread -- yuuuum), and meandered through the Brooklyn Library as well. 

It's an airy, modern space with lots of light.  I usually like my libraries a little dimmer and more academic feeling (the Grad Library in college -- oh, how I loved to wander through the stacks, especially the labyrinthine North Stacks, where they kept the super-old books and there were colored lines painted on the floor to keep you from getting hopelessly lost), but this was really nice and not un-reminiscent of the Coleman Library, in fact.  The feel of a crinkling cellophane cover on a book about made me swoon, as did the thought of having access to all those books FOR FREE. 

As much as I love Barnes & Noble and buying books -- and I certainly do -- I'd be willing to take more literary risks (good God, has there every been a dorkier phrase uttered?) if I didn't have to pony up $15 every time I wanted to try a new author.  I'm not saying it's enough to uproot and move to Brooklyn for, but it's A reason, anyway.  Or at least a reason to get off my butt and go to the branch nearest me (you can request books online and they'll just, like, show up at your branch when they're available -- so awesome, right?). 

Here is one of the two thrilling photos I shot at the Botanical Garden:

Hey, on an unrelated note, here's a tip:  to make a 10K seem really short and doable?  Run a half marathon the weekend before!  Your legs will be a little mad at you, but that 6.2 miles sure does fly by when you know you don't have to go another seven after that. 

Today's race was all women, and the fun part about that is that Joe brings the dog out to cheer me on.  Evidently, I find this extremely exciting:

I'm not sure which is the most frightening:  the maniacal look, the abrupt  disappearance of my neck, or the fact that my hand looks like it might detach from my arm and take flight at any moment.

Here I am post-race, looking slightly more calm, but also reflecting light and sweating like a farm animal, and sporting the omnipresent frizzies (there are women who look nicely coiffed and perfectly normal while running, but I am not one of them):

Comments

[Elizabeth]

I have that same type of hair that refuses to stay flat the second that I walk outside.

I also LOVE libraries!

[terriwc]

I was just talking today about needing to head to our library more. And, of course, when you made your weekly haul of books it require a U-Haul to get them all home!

[nodakotagirl]

you have a medal!!!

[Laura]

Oh I'm like you - I knew where every one of my favorite books were in the children's section. I almost cried when they moved the library to a new location in my town, and then I no longer knew where everything was - did I mention I was 23 at the time??

[ellbee]

Oh, I *loved* "Night of the Twisters". Although, I think it may be responsible for the fact I've had recurring bad dreams about tornadoes for about 20 years now...which is less than fun. If only I had read "Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library" as many times... And I'll see your Danielle Steele phase and raise you a Judith Krantz phase. Gah! I devoured her books when I was younger, and I'm really not sure why.

[daysgoby]

I loved my library. I've actually blogged about two of them - but while I love the library here, it's not the same - my growing-up library was slightly dimmer and smelt more of pages...
aah. What a lovely memory.

Thank you - and congratulations on your medal!

[K]

I loved our library. I would go there after baseball practice and wait for my mom to pick me up. To this day, there is nothing I love more than prowling the library. My only pet peeve is that libraries are no longer quiet.

[livlaugheat]

i spent so much time at our local library too! my mom would drop me off saturday morning and then run errands while i had hours to myself just to browse and read books to my heart's content. even after i was in jr high, i would take my pile of books to the kids section to sit in the "pirate ship" (kiddie play area) to read. i have such fond memories of libraries - thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[Heather M.]

We actually go to a little bitty library in Bullard instead of the Tyler Public Library..it's so tiny & country that it's like going back in time. I love that! As far as sweaty...I don't do sweaty well...I get all red & flushed looking...not a pretty sight!

Congrats on a great run!
Heather M.

[Swistle]

We read almost all the same books! I also went through an embarrassing Sidney Sheldon phase, and an excruciatingly embarrassing FLAT-OUT ROMANCE "NOVELS" stage--as in, bringing home a pile of 10 books with matching red covers, all featuring a steamy couple. I thought maybe my librarians (who'd known me since I was little) wouldn't notice.

[Jamie]

Oh, man. Whoever these women are that can run long distances and still look good...well, I just don't trust them. There's something fishy going on there.

(says the redhead with veins *just* below the skin, who ends all runs in a mask of eggplant blotches)

[willikat]

congrats on the race!

i just had to say, though, that night of the twisters was one of my ABSOLUTE faves and I thought no one else would remember it!

[AmyB]

OK. I've always loved your blog and thought you were pretty darn awesome, but those pictures just totally made me like you even more. Your HUMAN! And you get excited to see your husband and puppy while exerting everything you've got! What's not to love?

You depiction of going to libraries as a child so closely mirrors my own experience. My little sister and I would ride our bikes down to the little library on the Ohio River and sit in the quiet, cool sanctuary for hours. She was younger than me, so we would go from the children's section to the YA section, then follow it up with a visit to the Country Store for candy and sodas, risking dirty looks from the old man who owned the place and clearly hated children. It never bothered us, though. We had candy and new books to read!! *sigh* To go back for one day...wouldn't that be nice?

[AmyB]

GAH. Too early in the morning to be posting comments, clearly. Note to self: NEVER forget to re-read and edit before hitting "post!!" *blush*

[Lawyerish]

Elbee -- OMG, I loved "Help, I'm a Prisoner in the Library!" I can picture exactly where that was on the shelf, too. And I had a very brief flirtation with a Judith Krantz phase, but when my mom saw I had checked out "Princess Daisy", she said she would "prefer" I didn't read it. I actually did read about a chapter or so, but it was so raunchy I was thoroughly scandalized and stopped reading of my own accord.

K - I noticed that this weekend; the library wasn't quiet at all! What is that about??

Swistle - OH, I went through Sidney Sheldon TOO. Ahahahaha!

Thanks for all your comments, y'all. I knew you were good people all along, but the unbridled love of libraries goes to show that we'd all be fast friends.

[Carolyn J.]

You look surprisingly normal for someone who's just run a long way. I turn a shade of purple that makes others uncomfortable.

[Sara]

Mer- you need a running hat girl. :) I have get the same type of hair when I run.

[danielle]

You are such a loveable nerd-no worries! j/k
First, I LOVE the smell of books. I could get lost in libraries or bookstores. I wish I could go more often, but my husband has an irrational fear that I won't come back.
This made me remember getting lost for hours in an used bookstore just off campus, sitting on the floor between shelves....I may have to post about it.
ahhhh, thank you!