No one ever bothered me there. However, most libraries are not like the Troy Library. The beautiful old edifice, built in American Renaissance style in 1897, was quite impressive to this boy. With tiled floor, original Hudson River School paintings hanging on marble walls, braced by Ionic-capped marble pillars, curio cabinets of exotic birds and butterflies, an original Tiffany window at the checkout desk, and marble statues looking down on you from various locations, all made you realize this was a special place. But, mostly I had fun running up and down the wrought-iron book stacks and walking on their glass floors.
Libraries are one of the few public institutions that are worth their weight in gold.
They are special places for researchers. You can drop in and read the latest news from several different newspapers or magazines. Libraries are places for meetings and seminars where you can learn how to knit, discuss the latest city problems, or just take in a lecture on local history. When you ask the staff for help at the library, you get it. The folks who work there take pride in helping you find that bit of information you so urgently need.