A Typical Day in the Bookstore

There is nothing quite like actually going into a bookstore — especially if you have a little luxurious time on your hands and no particular task to accomplish. The first section you’ll come across is the new releases — stacked on tables and faced out on bookshelves. This is the perfect place to wander slowly. Go ahead and judge a few books by their covers. Read some the book flaps to decide which titles have to be added to the future stack of “must reads” on your nightstand.

Next, keep going into the store, past the displays and stacks of tempting new releases, to your favorite section — you know where it is. Maybe you love cookbooks with their inspirational photos, or memoirs, because getting into someone else’s head can be a journey or possibly you can’t read enough mysteries because you almost always figure it out right before the end. It feels indulgent and exciting to walk the aisle at a snail’s pace, pulling the books that catch your interest and paging through. In your favorite section, you likely keep a short list in your head of what you will buy when you get a chance. It’s hard to pick but in the best way — an embarrassment of riches.

Once you’ve decided which title has to be read right away, you can buy the book you just had to have this time and take it to the coffee shop right there in the store. A coffee shop inside a bookstore is probably one of the more wonderful things to have happened to people who love books. There’s almost nothing better than drinking coffee or tea within the pleasant din and hum of commerce and conversation and opening new book, full of all the drama, mayhem, history, crime or romance — full of all the promise of a book you’ve yet to read.

Before you go, you can check out the kid’s section with its own tables of colorful new releases and display of seasonal or holiday books. You can rediscover a classic book from your own childhood — because truly good children’s books have a particular way of living in the adult mind forever. The kids in your life probably have their own running list of books they really want to take home — whether they’re still reading cardboard books, picture books featuring their favorite characters or the newest graphic novel or chapter book. If you bring home a book, you’ll be a bit of a hero and you might get to read it to a kid in your life.


Originally published at yulkaseman.net.

Fun Facts About the Different NYPL Libraries

I think many know I love libraries. I love the look of them, the atmosphere, and just the endless possibilities I always feel when I walk in. I thought it was interesting to find out a few possibly unknown facts about just a few of the New York Libraries.

The Harry Belafonte 115th Street Library was designed by McKim, Mead & White and has been an important part of the Harlem community since 1908. It was renamed in 2017 after Harry Belafonte, the famous entertainer and civil rights leader who was born in Harlem. The 115th Street library is a national and city landmark with an elegant façade and wooden display cases on the first floor. Along with its historic appeal, this library has been updated with public computers and Wi-Fi. It also contains a children’s room and an area for after-school programs.

The 125th Street New York Public Library opened in 1901, thanks to a donation from Andrew Carnegie. It was renovated in 2000 and updated with new furniture and computers. This library also offers books and magazines in Spanish and English, a children’s story hour, Wi-Fi and an impressive African-American heritage collection. Situated on the eastern side of Harlem’s famous 125th street, this unique building contains two floors, a vaulted ceiling, a children’s room, and a neighborhood space that can be reserved free of charge.

The 58th Street Library is a modern and full-service library in East Midtown, offering TechConnect computer classes and more. This library has free Wi-Fi, computers, movies, a world language collection, and audiobooks. It was originally built in 1907 but was moved in 1969 to its current location within an office building. It also contains a community space and a collection of large-print books as well as some material for children and teens.

The 53rd Street branch is brand new, opening in June of 2016. This Midtown library was designed by TEN Arquitectos and has a superbly modern, light design. It houses collections for all ages, as well as DVDs, CDs, computers, and laptops. It contains new community spaces, a Teen Zone and a Children’s room. This library is also able to provide unique events and programs due to its collaborations with the nearby Museum of Modern Art.

Resembling the beautiful Yorkville Library, the 67th Street Library was designed by Babb, Cook & Willard. This Upper East Side gem opened in 1905 and was renovated in the 1950s and in 2005. The interior has been updated but architectural details such as the original staircase and mosaic floor remain. This 14,000-square foot library contains computers, a study area, and a garden. It offers baby storytime, adult ballet, and TechConnect.

Visit one of these or another library soon and see if you can find out something else interesting.

Originally published at yulkaseman.net.