New York Public Library Books at Noon

Here are some images of the main branch of the New York Public Library.   I come here as a mid-week, mid-day respite from work, and occasionally in the evening.  It is a truly beautiful place physically, as well as in its mission.

On this day, there was a fundraising event, so there were candles burning on the steps in the dusk, while people in cocktail attire trickled in.

Here is an image of one of the main halls. 

Here is an image of the reading room containing all the beautiful and rare art books.  I came here to study the work of David Gentleman, a British illustrator. 

Here is an image of a stairwell with a gently-lit chandelier.




Here are some drawing from the NYPL Books at Noon Event:

http://www.nypl.org/events/booksatnoon

Here is Richard Dawkins, the author of The Blind Watchmaker and many other books.

He told a beautiful story about his daughter, who was 7-years-old at the time.  Richard volunteered at a Library reading for children.  He was joking around with them.  He brought out a huge epidermic needle and syringe  and asked for volunteers.  No one raised their hand.  He was just about to say he was kidding about the shot, when he saw the trembling hesitant hand of a 7-year-old girl raise up.  It was his daughter who raised her hand out of loyalty to her father and trust that he would not harm her, as she saw that no other kids volunteered. 

This story was in response to a question on what makes him, an atheist, happy.  He said that what makes him happy is really very personal. 

Here is Yusef Komunyakaa, a poet, who wrote Dien Cai Dau, for which he won the Dark Room poetry prize.  He read from The Emperor of Water Clocks  which is his newest book.

Someone ask Yusef, why did you change your name?  He said that when people ask him that question, he usually tells them to go read his books.  But he added that he was going back to his origins, as his new surname is that of a grandfather he never met.

Here is David Hare.  He signed my sketchpad.  He is an English playwright, screenwriter and director. He is well known for directing The Hours.   He was promoting his new book of memoirs. 

He spoke about The Hours, saying that he broke a Taboo in depicting a mother who leaves her small children.  He mentioned that he can relate, as he left his family when his children were very small, because he felt it was something he needed to do.