9/25/2023 0 Comments Old library books for a windowThere each window was disassembled, pane by individual pane, its hinges and hardware cleaned of eighty-six years of rust and grime, given a special powder coating, re-leaded, re-assembled, buffed and polished, and carefully packed up for shipping back to Durham. Over the last several months, Raynal and eleven of his employees removed all 356 casement windows throughout the library and transported them back to his studio in Natural Bridge, Virginia. But Raynal has more than three decades of experience and an artisan’s appreciation for things that were built to last. It is highly specialized work, the domain of a small group of skilled practitioners. That includes the old-fashioned windows that are so much a part of the “Gothic Wonderland” look of Duke’s West Campus. One of the major goals of the renovation, as well as one of the major challenges, is to preserve as much as possible of the building’s original character. He was brought in to refurbish the windows as part of the Rubenstein Library renovation project. Raynal specializes in the restoration of historic and stained glass. His firm specializes in the restoration of historic and stained glass. “This building was made in the time of true craftsmen,” says John Raynal. It’s hard to find glass like that outside of Europe these days. It was also of exceptional cost for the time, hand-blown to minimize the presence of bubbles and distortions. The glass is of exceptional clarity, considering its age (circa 1928). Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and another 490 tracery panels designed with varying degrees of ornamental flourish. There are 356 leaded glass casement windows in the David M. Too many and the materials on the shelves will whiten and wither in the sun. Too few windows and a library becomes a gloomy vault. Windows provide the natural light that suffuses a reading room with bookish warmth and radiance, as well as the inspiring views that invite the mind to wander. We are talking, of course, about windows. It has less to do with the size and richness of an institution’s holdings, or the knowledge and expertise of its staff-although these are essential-and more to do with a certain quality of light. Image courtesy of Sergey Furer, Duke Facilities Management.Īmong the things that separate a good library from a truly great one, there is one distinction so subtle we often fail to notice it. If you're in a smaller town, your local library might be partnered with Hoopla or OverDrive.Įditor's Note: This story was originally published on April 8, 2019.Detail from the original blueprints for the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library (originally called the “General Library”) on Duke’s West Campus, 1928. You need to have a card with the library before you can take advantage of the app though. Major libraries like the New York Public Library, the San Diego Library and the Brooklyn Public Library have their own apps. The apps, which often generate digital records of what you borrow, are generally available for Android and iOS with e-books and audiobooks available for rent. If you want the book without leaving your couch or risking a late fee, public library apps are a good alternative. Getting books from your local library isn't old fashioned. If no one has loaned the book or there is a long list of people who want the book, it could take longer to get the title. After the 14 days, the e-book will automatically return to the lender. Once the title becomes available, you'll have seven days to accept the loan and 14 days to read the book. To borrow an e-book, search and find the title you want, and tap the orange Borrow button. Almost every book is searchable, and it isn't just public domain material. Create an account and either request to borrow a book or offer to lend a book. In almost a dating app-style, BookLending "matches" users who can help out with someone else's literary needs. Why buy books when you can read them for free? Book of the Month BookLending
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