As many of you know, I have been working (forever, it feels like) on Book 2 in the Libraries of the World Mystery Series. In the first book, Trudy’s Diary, protagonist Daisy Carruthers uses collections from the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, to solve the mysteries. In Book 2, Dutch Treat, Daisy has taken a sabbatical from Global Human Rights Journal in Washington to work for one semester as an associate professor at a small college in New York City. As you might expect, the New York Public Library collections play a key role in this book.
I’ve done a great deal of research for Dutch Treat and a lot of that research has been about the main branch of the New York Public Library (the one on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street).
But the New York Public Library has more than just the main branch. In fact, it has 88 branches. And many of these are old—old enough to have been heated with coal in the early part of the twentieth century.
And how do you think the heating system worked when the library was closed?
Easy. Custodians were employed to keep the heating systems running overnight and on weekends. Those custodians and their families lived in apartments on the top floor of each library.
How cool would it be to live in a library??
This week, I’m sharing an article from Atlas Obscura that highlights one of the old custodian apartments: the one from Fort Washington. There are some interesting photos and some anecdotes from people who remember the custodians who took care of the libraries.
Enjoy!
Click here to be redirected to the article.
Until next time,
Amy
Reade and Write 
What a great place to have lived in… if they were refurbished I would love to live in one 🙂 x
LikeLike
Huge research goes into the book, I’m sure, Amy! I hope off-hour is not working hour when living in a library. It’s interesting though!
LikeLike
Hi, Miriam—I love research, so it’s been fascinating for me to delve into some of the amazing history of the New York Public Library and of New Amsterdam during the mid-1600s. We think we have it hard in 2020, but early settlers to the Americas had a pretty tough time of it…every year. Thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
I understand, Amy. We’ve come a long way as far as science and technology. The devastation of pandemic is new to us. Most of us have no knowledge of the same or worse happened in the history.
Your research is fascinating.
LikeLike
Thank you, Miriam. I could get lost in the research and have, on many occasions. So much fodder there for new stories!
LikeLike
I like research and I get lost also, Amy. I ended up getting far away and diverted from where I wanted to go in the beginning! I have too many folders.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many folders!!!
LikeLike
Yes, Amy. I have to leave them on the desktop to be visible!!
LikeLike
Wow! Not sure I’d want to live in one, but fascination nonetheless. 🙂 xx
LikeLike
I would love to visit one. The old pre-war buildings have such high ceilings and real plaster walls and elegant touches (…and asbestos…). They’re works of art in and of themselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh definitely I’d love to visit, but not stay in lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great concept, Amy! All of the time that you are putting into your project will make it all the more fulfilling when your book is ready.
LikeLike
Thanks, Pete. I am always reminding myself that only about 10% of everything you know about a subject should go into a book of fiction. I wish I could use everything!
LikeLike
What a brilliant concept! Well done and good luck! Katie
LikeLike
Thank you, Katie. Wouldn’t it be amazing to live inside the NY Public Library? If those walls could talk…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating! Good luck with this book. xo
LikeLike
Thanks, Darlene. The Lions of Fifth Avenue was a book I read recently and part of it was set in the Main Branch apartment. I would have loved to see it!!
LikeLike