A Short Ode to the Library
On moving to Montreal there were several obvious essential things to be done — finding a long-term abode, getting a local phone number, learning how to use the metro and other highly sophisticated tasks. However, whilst I was still browsing the interwebs from the scorching heat of Thailand, I’ve found another thing that someone pointed out as important and to be done soon — registering with a library. Much amused, I’ve added that to my to do list.
As luck would have it, I had barely enough time to go through some of the tasks on that list after landing here before the manure hit the windmill, as it were, and COVID was upon us. I soon found a few bookstores that still functioned online, but the idea of a library kept resurfacing in my mind. Thus, when I found out that one can register and read some of the books online, I proceeded to do just that. In fact, I registered with two libraries (BANQ and Bibliothèque de Montréal) as there were some volumes unavailable in one or another. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using this service. Sometime later, as the number of new COVID cases diminished slightly the BANQ (Bibliothèque et archives nationales du Québec, combined library and national archives) was able to provide some of the services, one of which was putting a book on hold online and then drop for a visit to pick it up and I was finally let in. Even though browsing of shelves was not yet permitted, I couldn’t help but to be smitten. Thus went my affair with BANQ for a month or two.
So, when visitors were finally allowed to browse the shelves I was enraptured. The six levels of all sorts of knowledge! They even have video-games there! Now, this might be a regular feature of life in a big city for people who are used to it but I had to make a list and exercise restraint and not to borrow the maximum allowed number of books just because I can.
The variety is astounding to the degree that I’ve found books in Russian by rather popular, if not too sophisticated author (in Russian these type of books are called unkindly but somewhat truthfully “toilet read”). I’ve found everything I’ve wanted to read and more!
What had also surprised me, apart from multitudes of choice, was that it seems to be a popular establishment. There are always strings of people of all ages coming and going, with stacks of books, CDs or other material. The library provides small carts so that kids can carry their favourites themselves, which some of them even do. It pleased my book-besotted brain no end.
What do I read now? I’ve finally got my hands on “Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths.
