Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
… as the next major pop-culture it-spot?
That’s the question this NPR story tries to answer. Because libraries give items away for free, are “green and local” (cue: eye-roll), and are chock-full of information, they will be “the thing everyone wants to do happy-fuzzy pop-culture stories about.”
Do you think libraries have enough oomph to replace cupcake bakeries on the cultural it-list?
I’m personally skeptical. First of all, the cupcake craze is a fad. And libraries, with their spirit of permanence, don’t exactly have “fad” spelled all over them. Second, cupcakes deliver instant satisfaction, while books require more patience.
Still, I hope my skepticism is proven wrong, because I’ve always had a thing for libraries.
During my childhood, my house was always full of books—and my dad was always building bookshelves for them as we moved from house to house. Once we settled in New Jersey, during my high school years, my dad built a proper home for all those books—he built a beautiful library (pictured on the right, with my brother during his shaggy, hockey-hair days! The books on the left are religion, the books on the right are philosophy).
When I attended college at Dartmouth, I spent more time reading and writing in the library than I did my own room. But now that I no longer live at home, and am no longer at college, and don’t work out of an office, I’ve been on the hunt for a perfect spot to work and write.
Starbucks is too noisy. Borders is the homeless hangout. And DC libraries are either monstrosities of modern architecture or have oppressively strict and rigid rules, like no water, no snacks, no coats, no bags, no laughing, no pens, and on and on.
Maybe this is just me, but shouldn't libraries make you feel at home in the world of books?
I’ll resume my search for the perfect library in NYC next month, when I move down there—does anyone have any tips and ideas about good places to work? What's your idea of the perfect study or work spot?
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Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
Have you spent any time at MTV's Silent Library?
(Your dad's library project is quite impressive, by the way.)
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
StickerShock, hi! I'm afraid I'm not familiar with MTV's Silent Library--what exactly is it? Thanks for the kind words, by the way--I'll be sure to pass them along : )
Jun '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
I don't know where you'll be able to bring in food and drink, I'd give up on that, but if you're looking for peace and quiet, and are close to a university, try a medical library. Very quiet.
Jun '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
Silent Library is a big hit with my family. I guess we're a bunch of low brows. Actually, I don't have to guess --- we are a bunch of low brows. Essentially, it's a really silly game show where a group of frinds must perform really silly tasks together in a library. They must remain silent (or close to it) in order to advance and collect a payout. It is hosted by a very stern young man whose ability to stay in character as the stock wise-Asian-martial-arts-master delivering terse sarcasm and scant praise is hysterical (to us.) It's based on a Japanese game show. Need I say more?
May '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
Is Cupcake Bakery a metaphor? I think I missed this one.
May '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
Cupcakes is a fad I wish I had been caught in.
The perfect spot for me is a back deck or the balcony of a beach condo. Libraries are too full of people and I'm too curious.
The house I grew up in has bookshelves galore, but they were scattered around and nowhere near as neat and organized as that. In fact, half of them had books hidden behind other books. Despite the complete absence of any categorization, I could generally remember the location of a book. But when some fiend moved it...!
Jul '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
I live in San Francisco.
One of these days I really must check out a city where public libraries aren't just homeless shelters with book-themed decor.
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
John -- cupcake bakeries are very real! Magnolia is a major one in NYC, Georgetown Cupcake is the DC-version, and Crumbs is a chain. And I'm also told--though I've never seen for myself--that trucks in Soho and Greenwich Village sell miniature cupcakes to hordes of skinny shoppers.
The basic idea behind these places is to sell overpriced designer cupcakes. These bakeries are so popular that they have become tourist destinations. I've never been to Magnolia when there wasn't a long and winding line leading outside of the bakery (it's embarrassing that I know so much about this--chock it up to my sweet tooth!).
StickerShock--Silent Library sounds hilarious! I'll have to check it out. My hunch is that the stern Asian man MAKES the show--right?
Aaron, do you still have any of those books from the house you grew up in?
May '10
Re: Will Libraries Replace Cupcake Bakeries…
Most of those books are still there. I have two big bookcases that are overflowing and disorderly as ever. The books range from theology and histories to fantasy and spy novels. Churchill's recounting of WWII is disapprovingly glaring at the back of my head right now.
To be honest, I don't read books as often as I used to. Instead, I mostly read online articles and Ricochet threads.
One of these days, I'll get back into writing. My reading interests will then either flourish or cease entirely. For now, I'm enjoying the wit of a game called DeathSpank and lamenting the appalling lack of comedic novels.