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The Public Library
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
52 posts | 17 read | 14 to read
Many of us have vivid recollections of childhood visits to the public library: the unmistakable, slightly musty scent, the excitement of checking out a stack of newly-discovered books. Today's libraries also function as de facto community centers, and offer free access to the Internet, job-hunting assistance, or a warm place to take shelter along with the endless possibilities that spark your imagination the moment you open the cover of a book. There are more than 17,000 public libraries in America. Over the last eighteen years, photographer Robert Dawson has traveled the nation, documenting hundreds of these institutions, from Alaska to Florida, New England to the West Coast. The Public Library presents a wide selection of Dawson's photographs, revealing a vibrant, essential, yet seriously threatened system. Essays, letters, and poetry by a collection of America's most celebrated writers -- including E. B. White, Isaac Asimov, Anne Lamott, Amy Tan, Charles Simic, Dr. Seuss, and Philip Levine, as well as the voices of dedicated librarians working today -- are woven with photographs of the majestic reading room at the New York Public Library; the one-room Tulare County Free Library built by former slaves, in Allensworth, California; the architectural wonder of Seattle's glass and steel Central Library; and the Berkeley, California tool lending library; among many others. A foreword by Bill Moyers and an afterword by Ann Patchett bookend this important survey of a treasured American institution.
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Chelleo
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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The library had a cool display about libraries and librarians in celebration of National Library Card Sign Up. I picked up a couple of titles from the display, including this one. I‘m a sucker for photo books.

IamIamIam Oooh, gorgeous!!!! 2y
90 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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kyraleseberg
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Never fails. Every time. 🤦‍♀️

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MaleficentBookDragon
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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#bookmail!
Plus a set of new pens for the next round of #LMPBC

61 likes1 stack add
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Blueberry
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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I just watched this. It's about civil disobedience in the public library. Not bad.

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kyraleseberg
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Pickpick

I thought this was a fantastic collection of photographs and essays celebrating libraries across the country. It really confronts both the importance of the public library system to communities and the dangers they face.

SW-T Lovely book 😊 4y
29 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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GypsyKat
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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I just filled two bags for $5 each at a library book sale, I made out like a bandit! #BookHaul pics to come! 😁📚📚📚

squirrelbrain Ooh exciting! 5y
SarahHarts_books That's awesome!!! 📖 📚😍 5y
106 likes2 comments
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taylor_etc
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Pickpick

I enjoyed having this as a coffee table book over the holidays! Robert Dawson does a beautiful job of documenting libraries across the US. Mixing those with essays about the importance of these vital public institutions, makes this book a pick for me.

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SW-T
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Almost forgot this was #bannedbooksweek Must update my current reads to include a banned book 📖 📚

#bannedbooks

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booksandsympathy
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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My birthday presents. I renewed my library card today and plan to go to the bookstore later.

TK-421 Happy birthday! 6y
booksandsympathy @TK-421 Thank you! 6y
29 likes2 comments
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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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My floating book shelf is whimsical fun.

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Took a walk to my local library with my youngest son. And the homemade ice cream across the street was just a bonus!

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SconsinBookyBadger
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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📕Overdrive/Libby app tends to get used a lot more often, but I do try to visit the library at least once a month.

📗Vasconcelos Library, Vancouver Public Library, and Trinity College Library

📘Ready Player One

📙Late bloomer patron. I couldn‘t get a card until high school. This was around the time my family relocated from countryside into town and new home was 4 blocks away from the local library.

#trivialthursday @GarthRanzz

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BethwithBooks
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Thank you so much to all who have shared and tagged and taken they survey ❤️❤️❤️ I appreciate you all so much and can not wait to return in full force to this community in the summer. There is still plenty of time to take the survey of you haven‘t yet but would like to! Love Love Love and thanks 🙏❤️📚

Survey can be accessed here: https://worcester.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dilnfQB6kXSVCwl

Copwithabook I can‘t wait to see what you discover! I‘d be very interested in reading your paper. 6y
20 likes1 comment
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TheBookHippie
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Pickpick

Can't have a village with out a Library! Our towns Library is one of our very favorite places to be! #library #librarylove #book #books #librarybooks

Clwojick Awe! I love this. 😍😍😍 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Oh this is great! I have my Dickens houses up but no library. I need a library ❤️ 6y
GripLitGrl What a wonderful village piece to have!!!😍😍😍 6y
75 likes3 comments
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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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One more vintage library poster...♡

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Vintage library poster of the olden days

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Vintage library poster...♡

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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West Bend library WI circa 1940. Started by the Women's Rotary Club and located at city hall.

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emtobiasz
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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#librarylove #loveyourlibrary is our county's September fundraising campaign. It's so fun to see the buttons and yard signs all over our neighborhood, and as a public librarian, I definitely feel the love.

Olive, however, mostly loves the library because of the box of milkbones behind the holds pickup desk. Why do you love your library?

CocoReads So many reasons. I love the selection and that we can have things sent from any branch to one closest to us and turn around and return it at any branch. Unlimited checkouts, we can have books for 3 weeks with option to renew for another 3 unless it's on hold, great programs I don't take advantage of enough, the list goes on and on 7y
batsy Olive 💚 7y
DivineDiana I agree with all of @CocoReads reasons and add the fabulous used book sales and the free Eclipse glasses! 😎 7y
CocoReads I just discovered we now have the power to renew twice! I'm feeling dizzy.... 7y
53 likes4 comments
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Serotonin
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Achievement unlocked!

Finally made it to my local library since moving to this area 👍 Also got my library card 😁 And seriously, I can wander a library for hours ❤ 📚

#publiclibrary #librarycard

LauraBeth This is a beautiful library! 7y
WarpedSweetness I like the front of that library! Getting a library card was one of the first things I did when I moved. Lol I didn't even have an updated license yet, but I had to get that library card. 7y
19 likes2 comments
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vivastory
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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I've posted pictures about this Kansas City library before, but I was happy to see it included in the tagged book.

goodbyefrancie It really is beautiful. The building with the book spines is actually just the parking garage! 7y
vivastory @goodbyefrancie It has the largest collection of open stacks in KC MO too. I lived in the apartments (library lofts) right across from the parking garage when it first opened. 7y
goodbyefrancie Lucky! We saw David McCullough there a couple of years ago. Beautiful building, inside and out. 7y
See All 13 Comments
vivastory @goodbyefrancie I was there on a library run on Friday. I love it. It's also just a few blocks away from my favorite movie theater (Alamo) & my favorite concert venue (Midland) 7y
LizzyM I need to go there more often - the MidContinent branch 4 min from my house always sucks me in! Every time I visit KCPL I am awestruck😍 7y
vivastory @LizzyM I also go to midcontinent a lot 🙃😬 I live within walking distance of a branch #libraryjunky I also love the woodneath location in liberty 7y
Daisey I still need to visit this library! 7y
vivastory @Daisey It's beautiful and they have an amazing collection. I was fortunate enough to see the Shakespeare first folio there a couple years ago 7y
Suet624 I might have to take a road trip just to see this in person. (edited) 7y
vivastory @Suet624 You should!! The area around it is a lot of fun too. 7y
Caryl I love that library! I saw the Shakespeare first folio there last summer; we've taken several family trips to Kansas City. 7y
vivastory @Caryl The Shakespeare first folio exhibit was pretty amazing 7y
Caryl Yes, it was! I love the Nelson-Atkins Museum, too. 7y
74 likes1 stack add13 comments
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JoyBlue
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Day 25 of #riotgrams : Library stories and photography. Human stories and photography. What's not to like? #truestories #booklover #photographer

1 like1 stack add
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elkeOriginal
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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nonononononononononono

I will not leave the house on Saturday to buy books.
I will not leave the house on Saturday to buy books.
I will not leave the house on Saturday to buy books.
🙈🙊🙈🙊🙈🙊🙈

Julsmarshall Have fun on Saturday, buying books! 7y
Kalalalatja Well, it would be inhumane to expect you to stay inside a whole Saturday 😉 7y
See All 14 Comments
julesG @Julsmarshall 😂😂😂 7y
Cinfhen Hahahaha 7y
LeahBergen Ohhhh, yes you WILL!! 👏🏻👏🏻 7y
elkeOriginal @Julsmarshall @LeahBergen @Kalalalatja You people are the WORST! But I LOVE the enabling 📚📚 7y
kylienoele You know you want to!! At least you'd be buying books and not crystal meth 🤷🏼‍♀️ 7y
elkeOriginal @kylienoele Good point. 🤣 7y
mjdowens There was a huge book sale the day of my daughters baby shower. Yes I am horrible! For one brief second I thought about it and felt like the lowest piece of Sh$@. 😂😂 7y
elkeOriginal @mjdowens To paraphrase the wise words of @kylienoele : at least you weren't doing crystal meth. 7y
mjdowens 🤣🤣. This is very true 7y
BooksForEmpathy Oh man! I didn't realize you were so close to me! This looks amazinggggg!! 7y
elkeOriginal @BooksForEmpathy I work in SF but live up here - in the Far North 😉 7y
63 likes14 comments
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elkeOriginal
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Nice to be reminded how lucky I am to live in a beautiful blue bubble inside of a big-ass blue state where people read books 💙
Not that everyone here is #woke, but at least enough to make a difference 😁

#diversity #livinginabluebubble #Litsyloveslibraries

christineandbooks I love this so much. 💙💗 7y
elkeOriginal @christineandbooks Right? It makes me proud and teary-eyed 😿at the same time 💕 7y
MariaW ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
60 likes3 comments
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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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The patience of a librarian is sometimes like that of Gandhi.

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Because Librarians are comedic geniuses.

RealBooks4ever 😅 That's great! 7y
5 likes1 comment
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Autumnscribe
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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My share of the family loot collected at this weekend's annual Friends of the Seattle Public Library book sale.

LeahBergen I see 3 books about books that I have, too. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Autumnscribe @LeahBergen 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 7y
8 likes2 comments
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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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My libraries roof top garden and the view of the Mill pond beyond.

DogMomIrene Love a roof top garden! That's a nice looking view. I bet it's even more incredible when that garden blooms. 7y
Gina @ocdIrene It's really lovely. I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful library to daydream at. 7y
9 likes2 comments
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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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♡My hometown Library in the beautiful state of WI♡

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jessicareadsthings
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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My local library for #riotgrams Day 7. Carnegie library, 100 years old, Morrilton, Arkansas. I was the cataloger for two years and am still on the Friends of the Library board. Love this place!

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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♡•♡•♡•♡ I am so smitten with my town library.
The Jack Russell Memorial Library, Hartford WI

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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100 year old theater turned into a bookstore in Buenos Aires I'm (wishing) on my way.

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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The Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal built 1906... Hello bucket list add!

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Gina
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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I have had a crazy love of libraries since childhood. My childhood public library was the Wilder Mansion that was purchased by the park district of Elmhurst, IL in 1921.♡♡♡♡ pictured above

Since then no matter where I live or visit I check out any and all libraries I can drive my car to.

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Graciouswarriorprincess
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Priorities!! Found the local public library and got my library card!📚

Kathrin You made it to the South!! 7y
Suzze Yay! And Elephant and Piggie were there to welcome you! 7y
GirlMeetsBook Woohoo! Yay for libraries! 😍 7y
See All 10 Comments
intothehallofbooks (Pssst. I think I have that same library card.) 👏🏻🎉 7y
intothehallofbooks (I mean, I DO have that same library card. Proximity and all. I'm gonna be quiet now. Ha! 😳💁🏻) 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Libraries are the best!!👍🏽 7y
Cortg Yes!!! 7y
Graciouswarriorprincess @intothehallofbooks do you live near Raleigh and Cary? 7y
intothehallofbooks I'm actually in Fayetteville now, but I still pay for my Wake Co Card because I use those libraries so much and it isn't very far from me 😜 7y
46 likes10 comments
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shortsarahrose
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Pickpick

Beautiful photography and interesting essays - great for anyone who loves public libraries.

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shortsarahrose
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Interior of the Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana alongside a bookmark from my local public library with the dates of the fall book sale (so excited!). I was working in southern Indiana earlier this year, but never made it over to Evansville. Lovely part of the country, though.

1 stack add
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Graciouswarriorprincess
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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My thrift store dollar find!

BookishMarginalia 💜💜💜 7y
Cortg Nice! 7y
49 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Fantastic mail day today! I can't wait to wear this for the National Book Festival next week!

Cortg I love it!!!! 8y
lean_rosey I have the same shirt 😃 8y
46 likes3 comments
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Spiderfelt
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library is house in a cool building from the 1940s originally built as a car dealership. It has free parking for volunteers, an amazing thing in the heart of downtown Seattle. The police station next door has an underground garage, which makes the building shake periodically. This has been a great place to use my sound editing skills, dormant since I graduated college in 1996. #librarylove

LeahBergen What a beautiful building 😍 8y
LauraBeth This is beautiful 8y
Chessa ❤️❤️❤️ 8y
See All 11 Comments
Carol I have so much love for the WTBBL! My public library refers many people, and when we had to do a huge large print weed they gave hundreds of books new homes. 💖💖💖 8y
ValerieAndBooks Nice! I love the Art Deco style of the building! 8y
Spiderfelt I was offered this helpful instruction today: never hold a door for a blind person as they can't tell where you or where the door is. 8y
Spiderfelt I've admired this building from the outside as long as I've lived in Seattle @ValerieAndBooks @leahbergen. It was only last summer, desperate to work in a library that I approached WTBBL as a volunteer. @carol they do lots of good work. 8y
ValerieAndBooks Being deaf myself I know a few deaf-blind people who say that there are never enough books in Braille-- almost everything is audio. BTW Seattle has a reputation for being a good place for deaf-blind to live (I have never visited so idk if true). 8y
Spiderfelt Sadly @ValerieAndBooks this is true at WTBBL. Most of their collection is digital audio cassettes. The collection of books printed in Braille is small. The director told me they don't have enough circulation to justify more funds in acquisition. 8y
ValerieAndBooks Curious -- are they loaned out locally only? @Spiderfelt 8y
Spiderfelt @valerieandbooks No, they will mail materials all over the US, and postage is free. I understand there are regional TBBL, so patrons can borrow materials specific to the WA library through interlibrary loan. But many patrons live in rural WA where hey have no local library. 8y
17 likes11 comments
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elkeOriginal
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
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Pickpick

For #librarylove #somethingforsept! Love this book. It's like going on a roadtrip visiting America's libraries and it has all kinds: from historic to humble, from fancy to funky, and a lot in between. The essays are inspiring. It's a total booknerd bible. Some libraries make me jealous, others make me feel lucky, all of them are awesome.
Yay for libraries!
#septemberphotochallenge

MrBook Added! 😁👏🏻👍🏻 8y
MrBook Added! 😁👍🏻 8y
MrBook Added! 😁 8y
32 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
elkeOriginal
The Public Library: A Photographic Essay | Ann Patchett, Bill Moyers, Robert Dawson
Pickpick

For #librarylove #somethingforsept! Love this book. It's like going on a roadtrip visiting America's libraries and it has all kinds: from historic to humble, from fancy to funky, and a lot in between. The essays are inspiring. It's a total booknerd bible. Some libraries make me jealous, others make me feel lucky, all of them are awesome. Yay for libraries!
#septemberphotochallenge