Library Life
Things are underway at the Library!
My first day was awesome. I walked to the Metro stop close to my apartment, and rode it until I got to “Capital South”. I emerged from underground in the middle of it all: the capitol building behind me, and the library in front.
My first stop was the Library’s Madison building to get my reading card. When I got there, a security guard told me that the registration office didn’t open until 8:30, and it was only 7:00 am! So he directed me to the Dunkin’ Donuts downstairs, where I sat sipping coffee and looking over-eager.
When 8:30 rolled around I headed upstairs to get my card. Then I headed across the street to the Jefferson building.
The Jefferson building, built in 1890!
Quick FYI: The designers of this building wanted something big enough to hold everything that would be written in the next 100 years. The Jefferson is pretty big, but when publishing became more affordable, the collections quickly outgrew this space. The Library now spans three buildings and other offsite storage areas!
When I walked into the building, I wandered around the Great Hall for a bit, feeling like a tourist.
The Great Hall
I eventually made my way through the maze of hallways to the European Reading room. There are several specialized reading rooms where researchers (or “readers”) can access the Library’s collections. The room itself is beautiful. It’s a domed pavilion featuring the same intricate design seen throughout the library. The Murals on each side of the ceiling represent the four elements: Air, Fire, Ground, and Water. After taking it all in for a bit, I said hello to the reference librarian on duty, and told her I was a new intern. She said: “That’s what I thought; you have that new intern look”. She recognized my open-mouthed, confused expression!
The European Reading Room
My boss, Mr. Harris met me in the main room, and took me back to the office area. The offices are in a big hall area, which has had a two-story structure installed to house the staff. He walked me through the schedule for the day, and led me to my desk on the second floor.
He then introduced me to Aras, a fellow intern. Aras walked me around the library, showing me the “control room”, where we retrieve books requested by readers, the tunnels that connect to the capitol building, and the main reading room.Most importantly, he took me to the Library gift shop, where I chose a mug for myself: a welcoming gift from Mr. Harris!
After the tour, it was lunchtime, and Mr. Harris took me to his favorite Mexican restaurant for a “welcome lunch”. He then me some of the Library’s hidden spots: a chamber hall, the Gershwin brothers’ piano, and violins and violas made in the 1500s. Then we headed back and I got started on my first assignment.
When readers come into the European Reading room, they write their names and research subjects on a signup sheet. I have a binder full of those sheets from 2016, and I’m grouping the different topics under the European countries our department covers. I’ll then calculate the percentages to find which countries are the most researched: materials from the top 6 countries will be featured in the main pavilion, while the other countries will be relegated to the stacks.
Tomorrow I’ll start work on Romanian periodicals: organizing and categorizing the collection.
It was an awesome first day, and I’m so excited about the rest of the summer!
I’ll report again next Thursday!
