From: Barnes, Lauren <lauren.barnes@credit-suisse.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Subject: FW: New York City librarian
To: "Barnes, Lauren" <lauren.barnes@credit-suisse.com>
For my Librarian friends . . .
Metropolitan Diary
Dear Diary:
In a world before search engines, the go-to source for instant information was the human mind. And no mind searched faster than a New York City librarian’s.
Two decades ago, I needed the source of an obscure hymn for a research project. When thumbing through old hymnals proved fruitless, I headed for the reference room of the public library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. I stated my mission to the young woman behind the desk, chanting “Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings.”
She lifted her eyes to some point far, far away and immediately said, “Sounds like Cowper.” Like a shot, the librarian led me past rows and rows of shelves and selected an antique book. Of course, she was spot-on.
Today, Google instantly tracks the same hymn. But can it hand me an elegant old volume of verse in half calf as well? I think not!
John Hazard Forbes
![New York Times]()
Monday, July 4, 2011
Dear Diary:
In a world before search engines, the go-to source for instant information was the human mind. And no mind searched faster than a New York City librarian’s.
Two decades ago, I needed the source of an obscure hymn for a research project. When thumbing through old hymnals proved fruitless, I headed for the reference room of the public library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. I stated my mission to the young woman behind the desk, chanting “Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings.”
She lifted her eyes to some point far, far away and immediately said, “Sounds like Cowper.” Like a shot, the librarian led me past rows and rows of shelves and selected an antique book. Of course, she was spot-on.
Today, Google instantly tracks the same hymn. But can it hand me an elegant old volume of verse in half calf as well? I think not!
John Hazard Forbes
Monday, July 4, 2011
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