Sunday, October 12, 2014

Study Hours

This is the Glickman Family Library on the campus of USM in Portland. Growing up I passed it a lot. It was factory of some sort with four sides of glass windows. These days when I pass it I just think legos. When it was bought by the University and remodeled, someone called it the 'lego building', and it stuck, at least for me. I have this thing about libraries. I'm attracted to them big time. We have had a long and dated history together. It all started on Pleasant Avenue at the Burbank Branch Library. I'd ride there on my bike and sign out 3-4 books at a time. At Lincoln Junior High, I'd sign out of any studyhall I could and head to the 3rd floor and that room of books. I found London's books The Call of the Wild and White Fang on the shelves there. In high school, Mom was always lugging me to the Portland Public Library. It where I discovered what a research project was all about. During my collegiate years, if you were looking for me, there was a pretty good chance you'd find me in my favorite study carrel. The huge windows in our middle school library that just let the sun pile in was a favorite hangout for me at work.
Lots of books.
Lots of quiet, thinking spaces there.
Oh, and yes, I must be perfectly honest now.
There was always coffee brewing in the back room.
Books and java, sort of a lethal combination for me.

10 comments:

  1. A great combo!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

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  2. Makes me wonder why they decided to convert the old building rather than simply leveling it and starting over.

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  3. i could think of worse addictions... :)

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  4. We didn't have coffee in our library, but there were always a lot o girls around...

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  5. I can see how this building got that moniker.

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  6. We share one addiction, and it's not java! I'm fond of libraries too, and yes, I can see why this one gets that name.

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  7. Legos -- yes! I share your love of libraries. We have a great one in Altadena -- a mid-century modern, with picture windows and skylights. But I also like the old timey ones that look like a church or someone's mansion from the outside. The Midwest has the coziest ones. But they're all good.

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  8. I would come home with a pile of books from every visit as a kid!

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  9. Ah, libraries! I just got off the phone with a friend, and we talked about the wonderful renovation of our neighborhood library (I've posted a few photos in the past of the stages of the remodeling and addition), and since we are considering downsizing, I mentioned that I could not leave this area because I couldn't bear to leave "my" library. I think it may be considered a little odd that one of my basic requirements for our newly considered move is access to a library? When I post a photo of the completed building after its opening in November, I know you will understand since we have similar attitudes about libraries!

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  10. I know. I LOVE the Burbank Branch. And the SP Branch where I worked. I have some wonderful library stories from my youth...And surprise: I'm now doing a long term sub thing at my local public library! Have to say, I'm not fond of the exterior of The Lego Library...

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