Before the old Hyattsville public library goes, a librarian decided to pay a final visit.
In an episode of “Hard Hat Librarian,” Prince George’s County library system manager Michael Gannon gives a deadpan tour of the historic library, set to be demolished soon to make way for a $32.7 million new library.
The unusually watchable three-minute video is highlighted by Gannon’s deadpan delivery and some interesting facts about what was once state of the art about the library when it was built in 1964. A few highlights:
• The library was first named for John F. Kennedy, but Robert Kennedy asked the library board to change it so JFK’s name wouldn’t be diluted.
• Among the state-of-the-art touches in 1964: heating elements in the sidewalk to melt snow, wall-to-wall carpeting and a book elevator.
• The flying saucer, which will be saved when the new library is built, will feature a “reading garden” underneath it.
• The new library’s children’s section will feature a castle, dragon, talking tree, troll bridge and a classic literature theme.
You can watch the video online here.
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