The aesthetics of bookstacks

I meant to post these a while back, but I got distracted, forgot, my lung collapsed, was busy with work, took too many Ex Libris breaks with Sam, and so on.

My friend from the journalism school at Columbia (not College) took these pictures a while back in their art library stacks. She named the album "Death in the Stacks." While I believe strongly that there could be death(s) in our stacks and that we can get that creepy effect the hands have, I'm not sure we could attempt a photo shoot this pretty and glamorous with our Harvard Yenchings and CJKs. The natural lighting, at least, is just too dull. The best we can get is the big "motion" effect with the compact shelving...woohoo!

Regenstein is for Lovers... for real

First we had an event called Love in the Stacks. (Am I dating myself? I worked here then.)

Soon after, Vita had its nude photo shoot in the bookstacks.

Then, the creation of this auspicious blog, with its oh so cheeky title.

Now, this article about anonymous sex on campus, which apparently happens in Ratner and the Reg, among other places. How anything happens in Ratner is beyond me, as its the most airy, open, pleasant building on campus. It seems that the great myth of the bookstacks department has been confirmed. At least I never confirmed it with my own two eyes while shelving. I avoided the useless 2nd-5th floor staircase.

Why, hello there.

During the summer of 2005, I worked as a Bookstacks Assistant and frequently said hello to the Circulation staff. (This was well before I realized the range of their evil--they not only make the busy Bookstacks Dep't crank the failed automated shelves on the B-level for patrons, but they destroyed us in what can only be called an unjust, criminal game of kickball.) They were nice to me, offering donuts, informing me of the Regenstein's purchase of "The O.C.: Season 1" and showing me the action figures that have item records in Horizon.

Then one day, I went to check on the bins, and what do you know! There's this weird creature sitting back there with them. It was a cute addition to the Circulation staff; what its responsibilities were, or even its name, I do not know.

[Photo by Dan the Circulation Man]

I was told it was a New Guinea Butter Vine. Apparently, it's a curly type of gourd that can be eaten, cooked like an eggplant, stuffed, or baked. There is only a scant amount of information on the New Guinea Butter Vine in cyberspace, so hopefully people will arrive at this blog when looking it up for images. I wonder what happened to Mr. New Guinea Butter Vine; I hope he was stuffed or baked well and enjoyed his time at the Regenstein. Clearly, he is a lover.