On my way to UT’s Perry-Castañeda Library today, I was shocked to discover that the main southern street entrance to the campus no longer exists. It’s been replaced by 100 cedar elms framing the view of the Capitol, right next to the Blanton Museum of Art, which has replaced the parking lot outside my old dorm. Score one for paradise.
Inside the library, I was in for another surprise: the sight and sound of an actual typewriter in actual use. It looked just like the ones we used in my high school journalism class (before we replaced those with late-’80s technology) and is apparently still the fastest way to get patrons’ names onto temporary library cards.
Besides my renewed card, I got what I went for — three books to aid in my Pasta research. And it occurred to me that I’ve gotten tons more use out of the UT libraries these past few years as a children’s writer than I ever did when I was in school there. In fact, the only book I can remember checking out while I was a student was — I kid you not — the autobiography of singing drummer Levon Helm.
Wow! A Typewriter! I still LOVE typewriters even though I use the computer keyboard now (I own a Blue portable Royal!) Wonder what system they are using, though. At my library branch, for new cards, they pulled out this little plastic thingie, zip, zip, zip through some other little thingie, and there it is, a brand-new library card WITH a second little one for your keychain! I almost wanted to be a new patron, so I could get the new kind of card, too!
Wow! A Typewriter! I still LOVE typewriters even though I use the computer keyboard now (I own a Blue portable Royal!) Wonder what system they are using, though. At my library branch, for new cards, they pulled out this little plastic thingie, zip, zip, zip through some other little thingie, and there it is, a brand-new library card WITH a second little one for your keychain! I almost wanted to be a new patron, so I could get the new kind of card, too!
Wow! A Typewriter! I still LOVE typewriters even though I use the computer keyboard now (I own a Blue portable Royal!) Wonder what system they are using, though. At my library branch, for new cards, they pulled out this little plastic thingie, zip, zip, zip through some other little thingie, and there it is, a brand-new library card WITH a second little one for your keychain! I almost wanted to be a new patron, so I could get the new kind of card, too!
Levon Helm! Cool!
Levon Helm! Cool!
Levon Helm! Cool!
Ahhh, the sound of a Selectric is still music to my ears. Someone in my household actually showed me how to make my computer have that sound as I type. I only use that power in creative emergencies, however.
Greg, up on Cripple Creek
Ahhh, the sound of a Selectric is still music to my ears. Someone in my household actually showed me how to make my computer have that sound as I type. I only use that power in creative emergencies, however.
Greg, up on Cripple Creek
Ahhh, the sound of a Selectric is still music to my ears. Someone in my household actually showed me how to make my computer have that sound as I type. I only use that power in creative emergencies, however.
Greg, up on Cripple Creek
When I was in engineering grad school at UT, I didn’t use the PCL for my course-related books (because those were in the engineering library), but I did visit the PCL to check out children’s books. Hmmm… Maybe I should have taken that as some sort of sign regarding my chosen profession. Thanks for the reminder!
When I was in engineering grad school at UT, I didn’t use the PCL for my course-related books (because those were in the engineering library), but I did visit the PCL to check out children’s books. Hmmm… Maybe I should have taken that as some sort of sign regarding my chosen profession. Thanks for the reminder!
When I was in engineering grad school at UT, I didn’t use the PCL for my course-related books (because those were in the engineering library), but I did visit the PCL to check out children’s books. Hmmm… Maybe I should have taken that as some sort of sign regarding my chosen profession. Thanks for the reminder!