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The Kid Should See This

The Temple of Knowledge and what it’s like to grow up in a library

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Ronald Clark’s father was custodian of a branch of the New York Public Library at a time when caretakers, along with their families, lived in the buildings. With his daughter, Jamilah, Ronald remembers literally growing up in a library, creeping down to the stacks in the middle of the night when curiosity gripped him. A story for anyone who’s ever dreamt of having unrestricted access to books.

From StoryCorps, enjoy this animated journey through Clark’s unique childhood in The Temple of Knowledge. His father Raymond Clark was the custodian of NYPL’s Washington Heights Library for over 30 years. In the New York Public Library video below, Ronald Clark and his daughter Jamilah Clark reminisce on how Raymond was The King of the Library.

Next, more videos about books:
• A bookshop comes alive at night
• Book Domino Chain World Record at the Seattle Public Library
• Marta Minujín’s ‘Parthenon’ of Banned Books in Kassel
• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

via @nypl.

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