Tag Archives: boston-public-library

Starting the Year Off Right

05 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in Learnin', Readin'

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One of my surprises at the conclusion of 2016 was, despite being devoted to so many jobs and efforts and recurring piles of laundry, I read over 50 books!* How I managed this is a mystery . . . and yet not. I truly cannot keep myself from checking out a book or magazine or CD whenever I visit a library. I visit often.

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Then there’s my life-long penchant for padding my numbers with picture books (this proto-cheating behavior was inspired by Summer Reading Challenges at my local libraries wherein every ten books or so won a certificate for a ‘personal pan pizza’ at PizzaHut.) Also, I happen to love picture books and keep my own collection, despite the noticeable lack of children in my house.

So. Here we are in 2017 and I discovered I already had a sizable stack of library materials on loan. (Pictured above.) Way I see it, startin’ the year off right.

*You should see my fanfiction numbers. We’re talking 100s!

Researching for the WIP

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Bloggin Noggin, Librarytour, Writing Life

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For the first time in my (admittedly selective; and I don’t manage the selecting) memory, I’m juggling four major writing projects and this blog, which is a long-term effort in its own right. It’s a curious feeling like, at any moment, one project will tumble, ripe from the tree, and some force will pluck it up, cart it off. Well . . . one can hope. And work. And see what happens.

Library books in black and white

Learnin’ from the good ‘uns

Librarytour: East Boston Branch, BPL

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by in Librarytour

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This rainy week in Boston reminds me of another rainy week.

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It was fall. My partner and I had the day off and what better way to spend it than exploring the library? Particularly a new branch. Not just new to us, but new to the network.

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Walk through the community garden, up the stairs, past the porch, and enter East Boston Public Library‘s spacious, one-room(ish) affair with clever, moveable elements and variety to appeal to all types of users.

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Gray thought it may be outside, inside this fresh, welcoming branch is sun and surprises.

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New Book Dangers

08 Friday Feb 2013

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I pity the book that is checked out first to me.

As a former library employee, a current library-frequenter, and one who deeply respects books, it shames me to admit this. But it’s true, if you want your book returned unmolested -no salad dressing stains, no rumpled page edges, no unsightly scratches on the new dustcover- don’t lend it to me!

How surprised I was when this beauty turned up.

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Nope. Wasn’t me.

Not only did I expect not to lay eyes on this paperback by the much respected researcher Brené Brown anytime soon (I was number seriously-double-digits on the library’s wait list),  I also didn’t expect it to turn up rumpled, stained, and just plain dirty.

Yes! I can read it while eating pb&j. 

Wait. BPL, you didn’t read me write that.

Librarytour: Hug A Goose

06 Friday Apr 2012

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One of my favorite quirks of the main branch Boston Public Library is how items move around within -appearing and disappearing seemingly on the whim of the library staff. For example, there’s a little nook (vestibule, foyer?) where statues reside, just outside of Bates Hall in the McKim building. I’ve seen many different statues there.

Most recently, this one:

Library statue with swan

(Please excuse the dark photo; new point-n-shoot! Just getting adjusted.)

So what is happening here, you ask?

1.) The child appears to be either teasing or feeding the swan.
2.) Is that a swan, or perhaps it’s a goose?
3.) Why is the clothing so loose on this child? Any moment, to the floor!

In a world filled with decorative items, I suppose statues aren’t required to make sense. In any event, I’m curious to see what will replace it when the time comes. Whenever that is.