Tag Archives: Rochester

Things to do Tuesday – Get a library card

I’ve had the same library card since kindergarten, messy signature and all. I haven’t attempted to get a new one in any of the other various cities I’ve inhabited in the last four years because I didn’t anticipate a long-term stay, and while at Syracuse I simply didn’t have a lot of time for leisurely reading.  However, even with uncertain future plans, I couldn’t resist Rochester’s huge, beautiful Central Library.

centrallib(photo found on flickr.com)

Located smack on the edge of downtown on South Ave, the Central Library actually takes up two buildings, chock full of books to suit anyone’s fancy. And as someone who appreciates the little things, I was especially excited to find the underground tunnel connecting the two buildings, which was built into the abandoned Rochester subway (which has a fascinating story behind it in itself).  To add to my delight, there is no limit on how many books you can take out at a time (!!! I was used to the 10-book limit at my hometown library) AND you can take out DVDs, free of charge (they cost $1 at my home library). Recently, they added GPS devices into the mix (yes, you can check out a GPS at the library to take on your road trip)… call it a sign of the times. If you need a break from browsing, you can hop into the library’s branch of Simply Crepes for some scrumptious eats. How can a girl go wrong with this set up?

But there’s more. After an afternoon spent in the library, I went home to gush to my roommate about how excited I was to have discovered this Rochester gem. And then she told me the library has a secret room.

A SECRET ROOM?!?

(Can I just tell you—one of my fantasies as a little girl was to discover a secret room in a building and spend hours in it reading books and playing with dolls. I even used to write stories about it…thankfully my grandmother has these stashed away where no one can read them.)

So, you mean to tell me that not only can I go to the library, eat crepes, check out as many books as I want AND run back and forth in an underground tunnel, but I can fulfill one of my childhood dreams too?

I’m going back this afternoon.