What felt even better was taking my first trip to the "main branch" library in mid-Manhattan at 42nd Street! It's the third largest public library in North America! I can't imagine what the largest one is like, cause this one is HUGE. I've passed this branch countless times and dreamed about going inside, but somehow never made it by during business hours. Shame on me. I love libraries. I go about once a week on my own (not including with kiddos) to a branch in the West Village. Since I was little, anytime I entered a library I always felt an inner calm and sense of homecoming the second I walked through the doors. Maybe I was a librarian in a past life. The sexy kind, of course. ;)
Today my autobiography project took me inside my long-awaited dream, and although I was pressed for time I was able to spend a few minutes looking around. (Technically I got lost in the massiveness and seized the moment to enjoy it but, potato patato). I loved it. I felt like I had been "blinked" to another place. I want to go every day and cannot wait to take a full tour. I highly recommend making a visit, whether you're a local or a visitor. Make the time; it's totally worth it.
What brought me to this particular location was my search for the cover page of the New York Times from the day I was born. In an archive room down a few corridors and past dozens of other archive rooms (some lined top to bottom with physical newspaper archives--so lovely), there is a self-serve plethora of filing cabinets full of micro-film canisters with all the major newspapers and magazines dating back to the fifties up to 1998 at least. (Further back can be accessed by a librarian if needed--awesome!)
I felt like I was digging through a time machine to find this little gem:
And then I actually had to use a time machine:
The computer-projector-whatcha-ma-call-it you need to use to look at the film reels is ancient (aka a microfilm scanner in case you couldn't guess from my description). Luckily there were three or four "ancient" men using them and, like a teenager showing Grandpa how to use a cell phone, these Grandpa's showed me how to use their version of technology. They were super savvy, kind, patient and a great help to me. I loved sitting with them and looking through films of old newspapers, which in 1984 only cost thirty cents! I browsed movie times (none I've ever heard of) , looked at fashion ads (*amazing!*), caught up on sports (same old same old) and of course read all about the world wide issues and scandals that were happening when I joined the world. It was SO COOL.I couldn't help but think, "You must be a Mormon if... you're scanning through micro-film in your spare time and loving it". I totally understand how genealogy and searching for ancestors can be so captivating. It's really incredible to be able to physically look back in time, especially back in The New York Times.
Here's how my research and old-school tech support paid off:
Isn't it great?! I love it. It's a little piece of my life (or the events happening during my life, rather), even though I wasn't actually in the U.S. on this particular Friday...
It was a simple project that took me about an hour, but it was one of the most intriguing and exciting experiences I've had in New York to date. To be in New York City, at one of the most stunning and historical buildings in Manhattan, looking at old printed pieces of the City's history, and the world's, dating back to when I was born, wow! And here I am now, smack dab in the middle of all its continuing glory. Simple, yet divine.
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