Where DO librarians hang out?

Jan 29

SarahUncategorized , 19 Comments

So, TimeOut New York has given us a little shout out in this item about librarians.

While we were a little nervous about being “fetish”ized, we think the piece is pretty tasteful (although I would like to state on the record that “sensible flats” are not part of any wardrobe I would call my own), and we love any article that references The Desk Set and Ghostbusters on the same page.

However… we’re less than thrilled with the places TONY suggests its readers might find librarians. First, they gave no love to the Queens Public Library, suggesting perhaps that nobody lives (or reads) there. Then, we think, they kind of missed the mark with the night-time librarian haunts. They did include one of our favorite bars, Huckleberry, and Apotheke, recommended by Sherri Liberman, does sound pretty cool. But Public? Delicious, absolutely, and we love the vintage card catalog in their lobby, but what librarian can afford to eat there?

So we would like to share some of our favorite places to eat, drink and read. Places where we frequently run into other bookish types, and places that have been awesomely supportive of us. We want to hear from you too! Please leave us a comment mentioning your favorite spots in the city.

Enid’s in Greenpoint and Daddy’s in Williamsburg have hosted us countless times, and always with grace and style. The bartenders are super sweet, the drinks are affordable, and you are almost guaranteed to run into a librarian, archivist or writer every time you set foot into either joint, whether they are serving your drink, spinning the tunes, or reading at the bar.

Black Rabbit on Greenpoint Ave hosted our Library and Literature Trivia night last September, and we’re betting you might spot a librarian or two at their Smiths Speed Dating event tonight! That’s right: speed dating accompanied solely by Smiths songs.

On the other side of the river, the Great Jones Cafe has been known to employ librarians and library students, and they have incredible food, delicious drinks, and the greatest juke box in the city, no doubt.

Urban Librarians Unite, a group of New York City Public Librarians meet up frequently at the Creek in Long Island City – the neighborhood that’s close(ish) to every other neighborhood – to talk shop and have a few beers.

I happen to know that librarians and MLS students can often be found at Harefield Road in Williamsburg, especially on Thursdays.

And Pacific Standard in Park Slope is so dedicated to writers and readers, they have their own in-house Bar Librarian. (barbrarian?) (And the Desk Set is planning an event for readers and writers to mingle and swap books there on March 30th).

So what are we missing? Your favorite place to read a book and get a meal? To go for drinks after your branch closes? To spot a famous writer? To play trivia or scrabble or other wonderfully nerdy games? Spill it!

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