In a room with 12,000 librarians all I can think about is furniture.
On Sunday SB convinced me I should join him at the American Library Association (ALA) convention in Chicago. It didn’t take much. He just had to mention free library stuff. My fascination with all things library started as a kid, when I would set-up my own library in my room and demand that my stuffed animals check out books. Now I have my very own librarian.
Secretly I was hoping the free stuff would mean free little “build your own home library” kits, with those little paper check-out slips and rubber stamps. Instead free stuff meant books, tote bags and posters.
We walked into the Harper Collins booth and I was handed a free copy of “Essential Manners for Couples” and told that Peter Post was available to sign it. As SB and I huddled over the book, commenting on how this could be useful for us, the bookstand people began teasing us about how it was a picture perfect couples moment. Sometimes it is fun to be one half of a cute couple.
There was quite a bit of furniture on display in the exhibit hall for librarians who may be purchasing new items for their libraries. I hadn’t expected to see so much lovely wood furniture, though I was quickly concerned by the overwhelming arts and crafts stylings. Every furniture stand seemed to feature the same Frank Lloyd Wright-esque designs.
Why? I finally broke-down and asked the guy at the Thos Moser booth. His theory on the abundance of arts and crafts in library furniture was that most librarians believe, falsely, that the straight forward designs of that era are more sturdy and will last longer under the heavy library use. He was emphatic that this wasn’t the case at all. Now that so many buyers believed it, the style had come to symbolize the traditional library style.
I’m not complaining, because there is a rhythm and cleanness to the style that is appealing, but the sameness of library furniture was a little disturbing.
After his explanation we went on to have a lively conversation comparing the classic Eames Lounge chair to a lounge chair in their collection. He was bemoaning the fact that his wife had told him that he could not have anymore chairs in their house unless he got rid of some…. That sounds familiar.
Eames Lounge Chair
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Thos Mor Lolling Lounge
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On the ride home I read sections of our new manners book. “When your SO really wants to do something, step up to the plate and do it. After all, you’re together because you have similar interests. So, go for your SO’s suggestion with an open mind and a willingness to enjoy. You’ll both have a better time for it.”
Such was my day in the world of librarians.
