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sarah_tollok's review
5.0
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, otherwise known as the main branch of the New York Public Library, houses one of the most expansive and impressive collections of literature, photography, art, music, and other priceless ephemera on the planet. But if all those works and items weren't amazing enough, what is even more incredible is that the doors are not locked, but rather wide open to the public.
This collection, published by Penguin Classics as s celebration of the institution's 100th birthday, brings together creatives, intellectuals, and others from all professions and all walks of life, allowing each to pick one item from the archives and express what it means to them. It's heartening to see so many notable individuals turn into fangirls, awestruck by getting to hold the works of geniuses and legends. They revert to children who, upon their first ever visit to a library, walk through the stacks, speechless with the realization that everything on those shelves is there for them to hold, to read, to learn from, to be inspired by.
Libraries are magical places. This book captures a little bit of that magic on every page and allows the reader to feel it, even if they never get to pass between the twin, noble lions there at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.
This collection, published by Penguin Classics as s celebration of the institution's 100th birthday, brings together creatives, intellectuals, and others from all professions and all walks of life, allowing each to pick one item from the archives and express what it means to them. It's heartening to see so many notable individuals turn into fangirls, awestruck by getting to hold the works of geniuses and legends. They revert to children who, upon their first ever visit to a library, walk through the stacks, speechless with the realization that everything on those shelves is there for them to hold, to read, to learn from, to be inspired by.
Libraries are magical places. This book captures a little bit of that magic on every page and allows the reader to feel it, even if they never get to pass between the twin, noble lions there at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.
lizabethstucker's review against another edition
3.0
The centennial was in 2011. In honor of that and Penguin Books' 65th Anniversary, we've been given a collection of 100 notable figures who talk about what items mean the most from the many collections at the library. There is much more than just books at the New York Public Library.
This is a great glimpse into the many collections contained at the Library. My own love affair with the MYPL started very early. Between the guardian lions and the feeling when you step inside, it was a favorite place to visit whenever my New York relatives would take me to the City. When I became old enough to go on my own, I always took time to visit what was my favorite place downtown. 3.5 out of 5.
This is a great glimpse into the many collections contained at the Library. My own love affair with the MYPL started very early. Between the guardian lions and the feeling when you step inside, it was a favorite place to visit whenever my New York relatives would take me to the City. When I became old enough to go on my own, I always took time to visit what was my favorite place downtown. 3.5 out of 5.