bibliothèques

What have I been up to this week? Sometimes going to the library, sometimes hiding from the rain, sometimes wandering about.

When I got my library card it gave me access to all of the specialized libraries in Paris, as well as a little list of where they all are. I resolved to check out as many as I can, as a means of visiting different areas and ensuring that I don't melt of boredom. Results have been mixed. Of the four I've tried so far, it turns out that the first one I found, the nearby Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris, is my favorite. To be fair, one of them, the Bibliothèque administrative de la Ville de Paris, is closed until next year (being randomly closed is a favorite pastime of sites all over Paris) which is sort of an automatic disqualification. The Bibliothèque Forney (named after a wealthy industrialist and housing texts on fine arts and architecture) was okay but forbids me from taking pictures, which annoys me. The Bibliothèque Marguerite-Durand (named after a feminist journalist and housing texts on feminism and women's history) was in a big shiny new building, always a shocking sight in Paris and sort of an unwelcome surprise. It reminded me of my high school library, which is... certainly not horrible but not a good thing either.

I wanted to check out the Bibliothèque des Littératures Policières (the library of detective books!) today but it's closed on Mondays. Curse them. I think I will go to the Centre Pompidou, which is close (good because it's going to rain) and has free wireless and is a cool work environment. In the meantime, here is the Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris, just down the block and around the corner:

Here's the view when you first enter the courtyard from the street-- and I swear this looks ten times better on a sunny day!



And then if you do an about-face and look at the door from which you just entered:



Books:



On this particular day I decided to try a smaller reading room than I did o my first visit. Maybe I'll get a picture of the other one next time, but this one will do:

  ¶