Monday, June 08, 2009
My Neighborhood

Labels: Elizabeth NJ
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"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
I went to a seminar with a group of Dutch librarians. They commented on how different the American library philosophy is about food and drink in libraries- we're so worried about protecting the books. But, said the European librarians, what do you think the patrons do with the books when they get home? They're not kept hermetically sealed- we eat, visit the restroom, take them outside, etc.
A few stateside libraries do have coffee bars a la Barnes 'n Noble. It's a good idea (and a revenue generator in a lousy economy.) It would be nice if the DD could be attached to the library.
A few stateside libraries do have coffee bars a la Barnes 'n Noble. It's a good idea (and a revenue generator in a lousy economy.) It would be nice if the DD could be attached to the library.
Rahway's library was designed as one floor of a commercial office building, with a cafe & outside balcony as part of the library space, leased & operated independently. The mayor had Starbucks visions & talked of poetry readings, lectures, & book signings in which he himself had no interest, not being a literary-minded guy or, so far as I could tell, much of an espresso beverage type. & it was impossible to imagine the place open at midnight. Rahway at the time had a wonderful downtown coffeehouse that couldn't attract a strong local clientele, & there was no reason to think the library staff would grow to the idea. I loved the concept of the multi-use structure, but deemed the project impractical. It was built & it was. But by then I'd been exiled to Elizabeth.
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