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intheflow

(29,653 posts)

9. Gorgeous library, but as a library worker, I want to note

Thu Jan 1, 2015, 05:53 PM

Jan 2015

it looks like a deathtrap for employees. Shelving was probably a nightmare, with those stacks so high. They may not have had elevators in the building which means carrying books to reshelve up and down those spiral staircases, and depending on when and how it was constructed, it might not have been able to be retrofit with an elevator, much less the electrical infrastructure needed to support elevators. Also, spiral staircases are pretty dangerous if used heavily, so patron and employee liability was probably high, and shoes on those metal steps probably echoed throughout the whole building, hardly conducive to reading and studying. A beautiful building, yes, but I can imagine some very real scenarios in which it's much better this library has been replaced by a more modern facility.

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Seriously though, how did the Most Beautiful Library in America get Demolished? [View all] ashling Jan 2015 OP

I would've loved to live there. Urban renewal destroyed a lot of beautiful libraries uppityperson Jan 2015 #1

Along with post offices, subway stations, old-style banks, etc... Blue_Tires Jan 2015 #53

This is what replaced it. rug Jan 2015 #2

Actually, no Android3.14 Jan 2015 #11

It's the building that replced the library building. rug Jan 2015 #12

What happened to the books? HipChick Jan 2015 #3

Knowledge lost...I'm bettin' not all made the move. Lars39 Jan 2015 #23

Americans have little reverence for architectural history. Throd Jan 2015 #4

Then there's the Detroit Train Station eggplant Jan 2015 #13

Washington DC's Union Station looked a lot like that SheilaT Jan 2015 #14

That is the East Grand Boulevard Methodist Church... demmiblue Jan 2015 #20

Not always. progressoid Jan 2015 #31

The worship of Mammon strikes again. WinkyDink Jan 2015 #5

Whoa... SoapBox Jan 2015 #6

What a gorgeous library! Too bad but at least there are pics. mackerel Jan 2015 #7

That's a shame. Mr.Bill Jan 2015 #8

Gorgeous library, but as a library worker, I want to note intheflow Jan 2015 #9

^^^^ mopinko Jan 2015 #17

I hope that the beautiful old Carnegie library can stay where it is marzipanni Jan 2015 #32

I hope all those books made it to other libraries' shelves ailsagirl Jan 2015 #35

Yep. GoCubsGo Jan 2015 #27

Really? 60 years later we are lamenting this? Android3.14 Jan 2015 #10

I was likewise wondering about the actual SheilaT Jan 2015 #15

The weight of all those books probably buckled the floors! femmocrat Jan 2015 #16

I wasn't "lamenting" anything ashling Jan 2015 #37

That is hideous. That old building was exquisite. bamademo Jan 2015 #50

If by "exquisite" you mean Android3.14 Jan 2015 #51

A library? What's that? Archae Jan 2015 #18

Well, Archae, that's your uninformed opinion. intheflow Jan 2015 #19

I'll add more: demmiblue Jan 2015 #21

I was being facetious. Archae Jan 2015 #22

Ooo, sorry. intheflow Jan 2015 #24

It seems nowadays we only hear about a library when... Archae Jan 2015 #25

Actually, the last election cycle was pretty good to libraries. intheflow Jan 2015 #28

Because newer = better to some people ailsagirl Jan 2015 #26

You'll have to pry my chamber pot out of my cold dead hands Major Nikon Jan 2015 #34

Conservatives never conserve. Those are some beautiful pictures, btw. nt valerief Jan 2015 #29

Seattle had an old yet interesting library HeiressofBickworth Jan 2015 #30

I'm too young to remember, but looking at these pictures, it seems there was a time... MadDAsHell Jan 2015 #33

Buildings like that are alive BubbaFett Jan 2015 #36

wow! what amazing pictures! my old library never looked like that! orleans Jan 2015 #38

There was a beautiful one in downtown Houston that was incredibly beautiful. One could sit on the freshwest Jan 2015 #39

I've used both the old Sam Houston library ashling Jan 2015 #40

Yes, you know the place! I'm glad it's still there. freshwest Jan 2015 #41

Plus you get piece o' modern art to boot ashling Jan 2015 #43

Yes, red steel mouse is a good description. I didn't find it people friendly, but that's just me. freshwest Jan 2015 #45

I always thought THIS was the most beautiful library in America DFW Jan 2015 #42

Not bad! Is that this one in NYC or one in D.C.? freshwest Jan 2015 #44

You know me all too well DFW Jan 2015 #47

That I do, I think. And it is indeed a beauty. freshwest Jan 2015 #48

LC is a magnificent building and library. I loved researching there when a grad student at GWU. appalachiablue Jan 2015 #52

Is that Patience, or Fortitude? Rhythm Jan 2015 #54

Maybe because it ridiculously impractical and dangerous. alphafemale Jan 2015 #46

This is the Union Station in Springfield Mass. Bombero1956 Jan 2015 #49

early large buildings were difficult to impossible to modernize Sen. Walter Sobchak Jan 2015 #55