I took a right out of my apartment, a right onto 9th Avenue and walked the seven blocks south to 42nd Street, the whole while I had the 42nd Street song from the musical playing in my head. I sang along (to myself!), but could only remember the lyrics, "Come and meet those dancing feet, on the avenue I'm taking you too, forty second street", but that was enough to keep me happy as I headed into and passed Times Square.
I took a little detour into Bryant Park and stopped to take some photographs of some very speedy chess players, who were deep in concentration.
Now, New York Public Library actually consists of lots of different branches, which consist of 87 libraries altogether! They serve the New York boroughs of Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island.
The main library that was my destination that morning, was built between 1902 and 1910, and has 75 MILES of shelves!
Upon entering the library and a security guard giving a cursory glance into my bag, the first thing I noticed was an unattended empty cloak room. I love old buildings and began to imagine the people who must have handed in their coats to the attendant over the years; the academics and the students. Perhaps grand events were held there and society ladies would undrape their furs and hand them in to the cloak room in return for a ticket.
Not knowing the layout or having any particular plan, I just followed my nose along a corridor and found myself in what I think would be called a reference room. One side of the room was filled with metal shelves of heavy reference books, the other side hosted tables with lamps and studious looking people with their noses in books.
I started to take some photos with my DSLR which makes a clicking sound as the shutter opens and closes. This noise managed to raise a few heads from books and I was given some annoyed glances. Hmmm...
....I switched over to my Canon G9, my more compact, and quieter camera.
Now I must reveal my ignorance! When all the immigrants from other countries arrived in Ne York, I had no idea their details were so meticulously recorded! But here was the evidence, before my eyes.
I was more or less just looking at these records randomly, though with hindsight I wish I had spent more time in this section of the library.
With Strunks being such an unusual name, I though I would see if I could find some possible ancestors.
But with no luck! I'm sure if I had of delved into a few more books, particularly the German immigrant books, I would have found a Strunks or two.
Moving on, and up a flight of stairs I found this sun drenched area.
And looking up, this hand painted ceiling.
Further exploration made me stumble across a photography gallery. I imagine this space is always reserved for photography. Near the couple standing to the right of the photo is a water fountain. There seemed to be a few of these dotted about the corridors.
I was trying to find the reading room, but didn't want to ask for directions. There is a certain pleasure to be gained from getting lost from time to time!
Eventually heading in the right direction, I stopped to capture this message engraved above the door that lead towards to the reading room.
"A good Booke is the pretious life blood of a mafter fpirit, imbalm'd and treafur'd up on purpofe to a life beyond life"
Actually, there are two reading rooms, though one is marked 'no photography'. Perhaps the reading room that does allow photography attracts a less shy library user!
Although the room is lined with reference books, the main thing that people were looking at were their laptop and computer screens.
As you can see, the room is lit my some beautiful chandeliers, as well as the light that streams in from the window. Floor to ceiling it measure 52ft!
I tried a little time lapse photography.
Click to view video on youtube.
And I put the photos to music, if you like that sort of thing!
It was certainly worth a visit, I just wish I had allowed myself a little more time there to explore all the books!
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