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The Library

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We visited the New York Public Library on Friday.

It really is the most gorgeous building, one of my favorite places in the city.

Reading, books, gorgeous architecture and those ceilings!

Happy Wednesday.

Comments

  1. Claudia, I’ve been out of town, so I’m just getting caught up with your blog. I’m so sorry about the show! and so, so sad. We are going to be in NYC in Sept and it was on my list. There’s nothing I can say that others haven’t already, but know that my heart breaks for you and Don. Sometimes things just suck.

    I loved the pictures of you and Meredith in the city. She’s a doll, that one. And the photos today of the library.

    Stay strong.

    • Thank you, Karen. We’re just plain devastated.
      It helped enormously to have Mere here with us.

  2. I just love that building—always a favorite. I am in awe of the way they were able to build with such opulence back then. Treasures, these old buildings. Let’s be protective of them and remember their sisters who were torn down in the name of progress.

    • I can’t even go there. We’ve lost so many amazing buildings. Thanks, Shanna.

  3. My daughter was fortunate enough to have an internship at the Library while she was getting her Masters in Museum Studies at NYU. Such a beautiful place!
    We were so hoping to see the show later this summer…we will keep are eyes and ears open about the National tour.

  4. wow; what incredible design and beauty … they truly don’t make them like that anymore! i love to read, but would find it difficult to do anything there other than look at all those fantastic architectural details, the beautiful ceilings and woodwork! glad you can get there on a regular basis. thanks for the photos.

    kathy in iowa

  5. Beautiful pictures of the library! Thank you for posting them today . Made my morning.

  6. That building! Just iconic. Even in a city like NYC that has absolutely every type of architecture known to man. Always beautiful to see it. Makes me wonder if we’ll ever build structures like this again? I suppose we will. Guess I have to take the long view here – after all, everything comes around again eventually, doesn’t it? Gulp – I guess that means we’ll be dealing with leisure suits, hot pants & Nehru jackets again at some point. Eeww, yuck. Hey, treat yourself well today.

    #Resist
    #ProtectMueller

    • I don’t know if we’ll ever build something like this again. There seems to be less and less interest in this kind of opulence.

  8. The NY Public Library is on my bucket list. It reminds me of the Doe Library on the UC Berkeley campus, where I spent many hours studying when I attended university. I just love the architecture of old libraries. The San Francisco main library was wonderful. The “new” one is too modern for me, but at least the old one was retooled to become the Asian Art Museum. The reading rooms and stacks were modernized to house the art, but at least they left the grand staircase alone.

  10. Libraries!!!!!!!! Even our tiny little one in town here, built in the early 60’s, and has only 3 rooms and a basement, thrills me. And, I just heard they are doing an addition. That one in NYC is beautiful!! As kathy in iowa said, I don’t think I could do much but wander and stare in that library!

    Library Science was my Minor in college, and I worked in the UW-Platteville library for 3 years as part of the work-study program. That was back in the day of memorizing the Dewey Decimal system and filing and typing up and adding cards to the card catalog. I don’t remember any computers in the library back in the early 1970’s. If there were, they were obviously many pay grades above my meager 16 hours per week.

    Hope you have a good Wednesday. We had about 1/2 hour of rain early this morning. I am hoping that means no watering tonight!

    • I love all libraries – I agree. Our little library is small, but that doesn’t matter.
      I miss library card catalogues and all of the things that were part of libraries when I was young. Thanks, Chris.

  11. Oh…those ceilings. They are wonderful. They sure don’t make them like that anymore, do they? I’m sure it would be quite cost prohibitive. So glad they are being preserved. I haven’t been to NYC since the 1964 World’s Fair. Maybe it’s time to revisit and see them for myself. Enjoy your day! ;)

    • The ceilings are exquisite – everywhere you look, there’s something extraordinary. Time for you to visit the city again, Donnamae!

  12. Claudia, That library is fabulous. I love all the intricate moldings. Seems such high ceilings, must have been for the big windows for more light. You have been on my mind. I could not leave a comment a few times…now it seems that I am able. Blogger woes ! Blessings, xoxo, Susie

    • Sorry you couldn’t comment. I think it has to do with individual browsers and servers. Thanks, Susie.

  13. What a beautiful building. This looks like a glorious space to study in for hours at a time. I bet it had that awesome “book smell”. I love libraries and miss how they use to be a prime location for information finding and sharing.

    Hope you enjoyed your visit.

    • I miss that, too. Many, many hours of my life were spent in libraries, Audrey.

  15. The architecture is beautiful. A great place to spend an entire day exploring and admiring everything there. Thank you for sharing the lovely photos.
    Marilyn

  16. Was it 10 years ago or so(?) that a movie was spun off from the HBO series, Sex and the City, and the main character of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) makes plans to be married at the New York Public Library and, as I’m recalling it, or was my impression, she felt it was akin to a beautiful church, or maybe cathedral-like atmosphere.

    How stunning. I enjoyed your photos today, Claudia. The nation’s largest public library system, 92 city/neighborhood locations; wow. I decided to read about it after I saw your pictures of the ‘flagship’ building (over 100 yrs old) in Manhattan. 52-ft high ceilings. 3-ft thick Vermont marble on Fifth Avenue. Inside, “massive windows and grand chandeliers, and furnished with sturdy wood tables, comfortable chairs, and brass lamps. .” (I’m drooling; what a gift from Lord Astor and Andrew Carnegie, among others). Bronze flagpole bases cast at Tiffany. But I think I’m confused as to what is the Main Branch and which is the mid-Manhattan branch? Oh, to go there, though, any of it!

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