Brooklyn Public Library

Where do I go to find books about horror, drama, science fiction, news, maps, media and information? Oh look a Public Library! I am quite sure this building was not around before 1950. It was in 1950’s that education exploded from the high demand of high school and college education. I remember learning about slavery and how slaves we not allowed to read nor write. They were severely punished if they were found with any learning materials. Presently there are numerous amounts of libraries found in each of the boroughs here is New York City and are readily available to everyone.

A bright, sunny, humid day and I could hardly keep my eyes from squinting in the sun. Sweat is running down my face and my hands, making the camera a bit slippery. I paced up and down the side walk looking for something to photograph, then ‘BAM’ the Public Library hit me in my face. It was a rather small and was being squashed between two other tall buildings, but do not be fooled, the vast amount of information found inside would have surely filled those two other buildings and more.

From the outside the building looks run down. It was built from some kind of brownish brick. The roof is some what curved in two different shades of brown with green highlighters around the edges. It has old fashioned glass windows with curtains peeping through them. There is a yellow board with the library hours plastered on the brick. There is a large front entrance and a small side door that is only used for emergencies. Directly in front of the library, there is a black and gray street light that looks as if it has just landing from out of space. Looking at it, the street light seems to be taller than the library itself and miraculously touches the cloudy, blue sky. How convenient is it that not more than twelve feet away from the library entrance is a bus stop? Look at the atrocious sight, the black pile of smelly garbage bags are lying right at the bus stop, maybe it is waiting for its ride.

I pulled on the library’s black front door and felt the blast of cool air coming from the air conditioner. A bit nervous, I entered the building and saw students of all ages, tutors tutoring, adults reading to their young children and bookshelves packed with books, books and more books.