I have a terrible confession to make

[Azrael]

Do you go to the main branch of the NYPL? Such a beautiful building, and reading room, though I haven't seen it since the renovation.

Nice thread about the room, and it's services:

I do! And I work in the archives in the room behind this one sometimes, as well.

The renovation is spectacular.

I work at our branch downtown occasionally, and I work in libraries a lot when I'm traveling.

The best of these is the main branch British Library in London, which has great wifi and - wait for it - terrific coffee.

 

[Small Town Guy]

David McCullough's writing shack is sweet.



Love writing in the library. For big projects, if I need just like a day or two with no distractions, I'll head to the Rose main reading room at the main branch of NYC public library. Hard to top. Unfortunately it was closed for a few years reopened a year ago or so. But I'd also a few times just go to the library in our northern Manhattan neighborhood. Small, but if you were there before school got out, still pretty calm. And just a soothing environment and easier to concentrate.

EDIT: YF and Az have shown the beauty of the NYC library.

 

[YankeeFan]

Yeah, if that were my library, I'd work in it.

The Library of Congress reading room is also spectacular, and all you need is to sign up for a library card. Would recommend it if you're ever in D.C. for a story.

 

[Azrael]

The Library of Congress reading room is also spectacular, and all you need is to sign up for a library card. Would recommend it if you're ever in D.C. for a story.

Agree 100%.

I'm down in DC several times a year now, and this is one of the places I work. A remarkable experience.

 

[YankeeFan]

I live in a one-coffee-shop town.

That's troubling. I guess I thought you lived closer to Toronto proper.

You could open a second one! I know a guy who can supply you with equipment.

 

[da man]

The Library of Congress reading room is also spectacular, and all you need is to sign up for a library card. Would recommend it if you're ever in D.C. for a story.

My daughter says the Library of Congress is her favorite place on the entire planet. She was worried about being able to get a library card -- apparently to get one you have to show you are involved in some sort of research or something like that -- but because she was there as a Congressional intern and she had to write a paper to get her course credit for it, she got one. When she entered the reading room she was in heaven.

 

[Azrael]

Ah! The hut!

The shack! The cabin! The tiny shed!

Famous Writers' Small Writing Sheds and Off-the-Grid Huts

Every writer's dream.

 

[typefitter]

David McCullough's writing shack is sweet.



Love writing in the library. For big projects, if I need just like a day or two with no distractions, I'll head to the Rose main reading room at the main branch of NYC public library. Hard to top. Unfortunately it was closed for a few years reopened a year ago or so. But I'd also a few times just go to the library in our northern Manhattan neighborhood. Small, but if you were there before school got out, still pretty calm. And just a soothing environment and easier to concentrate.

EDIT: YF and Az have shown the beauty of the NYC library.

It's not fair that he gets to write the way he does and also have that speaking voice.

 

[YankeeFan]

My daughter says the Library of Congress is her favorite place on the entire planet. She was worried about being able to get a library card -- apparently to get one you have to show you are involved in some sort of research or something like that -- but because she was there as a Congressional intern and she had to write a paper to get her course credit for it, she got one. When she entered the reading room she was in heaven.

I think they make it sound a little harder than it is. In reality, I don't think they can turn you down.

Reader Registration and Access to Library of Congress Reading Rooms (Research and Reference Services, Library of Congress)

The Rose Reading Room and the Library of Congress Reading Room are two of my favorite spaces in the world. Almost makes me wish I had a reason to go them.

 

[typefitter]

Ah! The hut!

The shack! The cabin! The tiny shed!

Famous Writers' Small Writing Sheds and Off-the-Grid Huts

Every writer's dream.

There was a giant old house for sale in town, a beautiful nightmare that would have destroyed me. But I almost bought it because it had an ancient red-brick ice house that would have made the most perfect writer's hut.

The equivalent of buying an expensive mistress of a car because you like the hubcaps.

 

[Azrael]

I often do the same - look at the root cellars and garages first.

Hey! I could make that tool shed/outhouse/lean-to/barn/carport/barbecue pit into my writer's room!

Friend of mine wrote one of his best novels in a converted chicken coop.

 

[TigerVols]

Good news, @YankeeFan...soon enough you'll have a wonderful little library of your own, where you can go and write your, well, all you write are SJ posts, correct?

New Renderings of Chicago's Obama Library Released

(yes, I know it's highly controversial. Of course).