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A kickboxing NYPL librarian? Believe it or not, it is true! Courtney Castellane, who is the Library Manager of the awesome Tottenville Library in Staten Island, was profiled in The New York Post this morning about her dual careers. As Courtney has said, by day she is working out people’s minds and by night she is working out their bodies! And just a little trivia about the Tottenville Library, did you know it is the oldest library on Staten Island?
Photo by Joyce Culver for 92Y: Moderator Caryn James interviews Mad Men” actresses January Jones and Jessica Pare, along with “Mad Men” creator Matt Weiner.
Before an amazing panel discussion about “Mad Men” at 92Y last night, Matt Weiner - the genius behind the hit AMC show - shared with the Library that he actually used our iconic Reading Room on 42nd Street to write an episode of “The Sopranos.” It was the 2004 episode “Sentimental Education,” during which Carmela has an affair. He even laughed out loud at something he wrote - who could blame him? He also mentioned that “Mad Men” often calls NYPL (mostly anonymously) to fact-check pieces of NYC history - for example, one of our reference experts remembers that the show once called to find out how New York taxis let folks know they were empty back in the 1960s (once mentioned in the New York Post). Keep the calls coming, Matt. We’re always happy to help! We’re mad for that show, after all (check out our Mad Men Reading List (s) by brilliant librarian Billy Parrott).
In honor of Earth Day, here’s the Earth … as depicted on our Hunt-Lenox Globe, one of the Library’s greatest treasures. Located in our Maps Division, the globe was prepared around 1510, and is the earliest surviving engraved copper sphere from the period immediately following the discovery of the New World, meaning it was one of the first cartographic representations of the Americas known to geographers. Of the two continents in the Western hemisphere, only South America is represented, appearing as a large island with the regional names “Mundus Novus” (the New World), “Terra Sanctae Crucis” (the Land of the Holy Cross), and “Terra de Brazil” (the Land of Brazil).
A Presidential love letter to Libraries during National Library Week. Pictured here is President Ford’s 1976 message honoring libraries and librarians.
“In the finest American tradition, our public libraries offer all our citizens a chance to improve themselves and to broaden their horizons.”
Some things never change.
Now this is a cute picture (and we ain’t “lion.” Get it? Ha ha ha ha). These adorable little library lovers are showing some love to one of The New York Public Library’s newest additions - two lion statues, donated by the Loews Regency Hotel, who will stand guard outside of our Riverdale Branch in the Bronx. We had a naming contest for the two “cubs” (who are, of course, reminiscent of our two famous lions Patience and Fortitude on 42nd Street) and we received over 300 submissions from all over the globe. The winning names, as chosen by our president Tony Marx and reported in The New York Times? River and Dale. “It was difficult to choose from such a wide range of creative names, but after looking over the finalists with much patience and fortitude, I couldn’t help but name the lions after their new home, a vibrant community with dedicated patrons,” Tony said. So welcome, River and Dale. And happy Caturday!!
The NYPL has been nominated for a 2013 WEBBY Award in the Social Education & Discovery category for its social web presence (like this Tumblr!) and creating projects such as the fantastic What’s on the Menu? site. But in order to win this wonderful category The NYPL needs your help and vote! You can click here to vote and don’t forget to spread the word!
The folks at JYHS Library made our lives easy today, finding a purrrrrfect picture for our weekly Caturday contribution. Yes, you should use your school library … AND your local neighborhood branch (we’ve got 91 locations)! Here in NYC, we actually work with public schools to supplement materials, so … go libraries!
Curiosity and the cat @your school library
(Source: suricatem)
Our thanks to fellow book lovers at Feiwel & Friends for sharing such a great quote. Bonus points that the great quote is from Nathan Fillion!
NYPL’s Morningside Heights Library has a fantastic exhibition on display featuring the artwork of students from PS 75 & 145, who participate in the program Studio in a School. Read all about it in today’s Daily News and stop by Morningside Heights Library tomorrow or later this week to take in the sights!
Libraries have also served as community hubs, places where the curious, the scholarly, and the intellectually excitable could gather in the company of one another, surrounded by untold information-wealth…
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Wise words from Boing Boing’s Cory Doctorow.
(we particularly enjoyed that he facepalmed an imaginary Mr. Blowhard, who believes the Internet has replaced the Library)
