Cuyler,

Very nice and brings back my memories as well.

Though I did not mean to imply a put-down of the Cornell library if it 
came across that way. I did not have the depth of your experience but it 
was only after I left Ithaca and realized how constricted the majority 
of library systems are in the country that I came to truly appreciate 
that county residents could get a University library card, take out all 
sorts of odd books, and were given relative freedom to read in the 
libraries. A good deal of my time if not working (12 hour days 6 days a 
week at that time busting stone) was spent between poetry, art and the 
architectural library looking at books about stonework. It was that very 
access to such an excellent library that put it in my head that one can 
educate themselves if they have a mind to it. But it was that thirst 
that led me to spend as much time at the Library of Congress asking for 
obscure books when I had the opportunity.

Nowadays in this community of Spastic Beach in the unHamptons where it 
is remarkable to see anyone reading a book in public, outside of the 
library, it is an odd quirk that we have a very active and vibrant 
library. Very little in old books, in fact, none.

The Ketchum Inn on the East side of Moriches, a skip & throw from here, 
is a restoration from the 18th century that is held together by a local 
hero who appreciates the authentic as best as the economy of his 
non-profit will allow. Every summer they have a used book sale in the 
barn. Nothing spectacular in the selection, good readable materials. I 
like the cheery ladies that run the shop and I enjoy the gossip about 
folks that I do not know and that I overhear when I visit.

I was in the Borders bookstore the other day and saw a Sony e-book 
reader on display. I picked it up and was wondering how it would handle 
my laying on the couch and reading it while falling asleep. Noticed that 
the screen was gray and the letters not black black.... possibly harder 
to read I felt than a book. Without, sometimes with, the reading glasses 
I strain and tend to fall asleep. The toy might have been broken. I 
thought how defective floor models don't speak well for merchandise. A 
young fellow behind me that looked to be an informed geek consumer said, 
"The newer one is better." I turned, looked at him, "Yeah, but this is 
the one that is here." I put it back on the little stand. It fell over. 
I was off to smell real books.

The adventure of the rarity of access to old and odd books is somewhat 
alleviated by the internet... but it is not quite the same kind of a 
sensual experience.

I had a friend in Silver Spring, MD, north of DC who was a used book 
seller. I spent a good bit of time with him talking about the 
merchanting of used books. There are books that folks buy to read, and 
those that are bought to collect. In this histo presto business I did 
work at one time for the ad man Ed McCabe (the guy that put Mr. Perdue 
on the TV). He had an autographed Huck Finn first edition on his couch 
table. It was the only book I ever saw that he had. I have books to 
collect, but the majority are for the reading.

][<en

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