FIQWS Work and Family

Professor Rodwell

October 9, 2018

Examining the Exclusiveness of the New York Society Library

The New York Society Library was founded in 1754 in the same year as Kings College, known as Columbia University today. The NYSL stopped serving as Columbia’s library in 1776. At first, it was formed by a group of 90 men who grouped together and discuss books. It did not have the class implication or socio-economic influence it has today. To become a member today you must be able to pay $335 per household, $260 per single household, $225 annually for teachers or full-time students. The NYSL maintains a very regal and periodic designed layout through the library. As I observed I took note of the type of people and atmosphere, and architecture which I feel was very unwelcoming if I compared this to what I am normally around.

The New York Society Library is located on 79th street between Park and Madison. The first thing I saw is a glass door with gold color outlining the edges. As I walked In I saw a low set of marble stairs leading to the front desk. On the right side of the front entrance, there was a table below a painting filled with books on sale. I eyed a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling above the front desk. I walked up to the wooden front desk where there were two receptionists located, Janet in her fifties, and Linnea in her forties. As I approached the front desk to inform the receptionist I was there to observe for the day I noticed Linnea raised her eyebrows and nostrils flared, I assume because I looked like I did not belong in this environment. I wore black skinny jeans, a t-shirt, and jacket unlike those present at the library who wore slacks, and more formal wear. I was given three reference books and started my observations. There is a flier compartment on the far right with events of the library on top of the desk, two computers and files behind the desk. Behind the desk are two doors with the sign Employees Only.  Right to that is a bookcase advertising a tote, reference books, and books by members of the Library. Next to that a room that an employee could enter.

Across from the front desk on the right side of the wall was a small desk with fliers regarding children events. Next to the small desk was a set of carpeted gray stairs with a sign to welcome members of the library. I was welcome to observe from the reference room where the public can access during the NYSL’s open hours. I was informed that this room had no available WIFI to visitors. As I walked in, there were four stacked wooden bookcases. To the left of the bookcase is a cart full of newspapers such as the WSJ and NY Times.  Next to the cart is a painting of one of the trustees of the NYSL and a copier that requires a key to utilize it. Across from the copier and painting wall full of card catalogs dating back to 1989 and Acer computers by the windows. In the middle of the room is an oval table with worn out wooden chairs. On the table are a collection of 8-10 books celebrating authors of the library. While I was reading the NYSL’s 250-anniversary book, a quote from the introduction caught my eye.  It stated, “But what truly brings the Library to life are the more modest happenings, stories told through the letters and minutes preserved in the archives: Trustees grumpily admonishing members about books “frequently blotted in, scribbled in, and torn by children”. Throughout my observation, I saw multiple middle age white men dressed in suits, women, and two young girls in ballerina attire who stood out.

A middle-aged man, and Linnea the receptionist, walk in to make a copy of a novel. Linnea asks if he wanted one page or two pages. She unlocks the printer and complains she does not know how to use the machine properly. The man started to assist her with the copier. Linnea first asked where the man is from and introduced the fact that she recently bought a house with her husband as small talk. The man states that he lives in a condo in the city. She agreed that she prefers homes on the upper west side also. I turn my head to the front desk and observe three white men in their 60’s wearing suits checking in. I notice that one of them turned their head and snickers in my direction as he looks at me before they all go upstairs.

Shortly after the interaction, I observed, I went up to the front desk and was offered a tour. The tour guide, an employee who has worked there for 10 years first led us into the elevator to the left of the stairs. We got off on the fifth floor where there were two half walls of lockers that led to the small hallway, reserved for the members of the library to place belongs while they studied. My tour guide quickly led us to the individual study rooms behind the wall of lockers and the Horn-blower reference room which hold reference books that were on reserve. We took the stairs down to the fourth floor, where three rooms were located. One room was for book conservation, Marshall room where cataloged books were located. On the third floor, where the children’s library was located. In the children’s library, there was about 4-5 low tables for children, walls of bookcases and a desk that took a small portion of the room for the head librarian of the children’s library.  On the second floor, the member’s room which had a set of royal blue, and red patterned armchair in each corner of the room. On the right side of the room was a display of Chinese vases and plates on top of a marble desk. In the middle of the room is a blue carpet with gold lining around it with a lamp on it. There are small study desks below a bookcase on the wall next to the plates. Across the display case, there are two bookcases built into the wall with periodic and worn out books. In the middle of these two bookcases are a mirror and a wooden fireplace under the mirror. Two white Identical comfortable chairs, one on the right and left to the fireplace. There is a standing light next to each of the stairs. Overall, I felt the NYSL had a very regal and elegant atmosphere for a particular type of people.

Self Reflection:

Professor Rodwell

FIQWS Work and Family

October 16^th ,2018

Self-Reflection Essay

While I was writing my descriptive essay, I had one place in mind. As I read over what I have submitted, I realize that I have not described the New York Society Library fully. I did not include enough sensory details but only an overlook. I did not know what to include but thought that a general overview of the tour I was given would be content. In the future, I will have to make sure to include more specific details, so the reader can imagine themselves there.

My motivation for this essay was because the NYSL was very intriguing and something I have never witnessed before. The purpose of my essay was to express my firsthand view of NYSL, but I did not do that accurately. I approached this essay with the intent to describe what I witnessed at the library, but I did not know how to insert sensory details into it. I attempted to put the events in order.

There are eight-course learning outcomes listed in the syllabus that should be achieved by the end of the course. In this essay, I have attempted to complete some of them. When writing about my observations, I gathered all I could remember about my surroundings and the people to analyze them in my essay. I put in what I assumed was important to the essay. I realized that I did not know how to properly welcome the reader into the NYSL because I did not know how to properly stack the events in order. I was given a tour of the establishment but did not know how to insert that into my essay. My strategies for this essay was to list what happened in my observations in order.

My peers and mentors mentioned that I should add more specific details, so someone can imagine themselves in the place, and include color, sound, size, smell, and touch.  When revising my essay, I did not know how to expand on those details or structure them into the essay. For example, I could only get a peak of the other floors, so I could not describe the smell or touch but made inferences in my essay. To improve this in the future, I have to remember the look, touch, smell and other sensory details accurately.