- Damon
- Pilgrim
- From: enzed
- Registered: 2001-05-31
- Posts: 10651
- Website
The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Wedged between all the other buildings you may be lucky to notice the two burnished Oak doors…the stonework above them bears the legend ‘LIBRIUM’…though the space seems hardly adequate. Go on, push open the doors and see what lies beyond…
The oak-panelled walls of the corridor, and the soft-carpeted floor, seem strangely out of place, but all is forgotten on your first glimpse of the library…
Bookshelf upon bookshelf, rising high towards the vaulted ceilings, stand before you, awash with the soft light that filters down from the glass-domed roof. One would expect the usual hushed atmosphere in such a place, but this room is awash with the gentle murmur of many conversations. As you round the corner of yet another towering column of tightly bound scrolls you see an alcove, set around with ancient, plump-cushioned sofas. On the tables that nestle between the seating there are mugs of steaming coffee and chocolate…
As you go through the double doors you notice that the front desk dominates the view…mainly due to the high piles of books and scrolls that obscure the space beyond. This is the home of the librarians: the caretakers of this wondrous space, who are often seen struggling under towers of tottering volumes as they attempt to keep the archives in some sort of order…
It should be mentioned here that The Southmarch Library is no ordinary accumulation of written material. Several hefty volumes are bound to their stands with chains of a rare alloy most often used to restrain magical fields. The place is never entirely quiet, even when nearly empty. Pages rustle as if in a soft breeze, and one can hear faint, squeaky voices, if one listens closely enough.
Yes, we have book gnomes, and how!
Some of the scrolls tend to migrate to sections of the stacks in which they seem to be more comfortable (a treatise on the ancient civilizations of Erkynland, for instance, refuses to stay put in the same area as a hand-written volume describing the care of Witchwood groves). The librarians will be happy to help you locate your selections, just ask at the front desk.
First-time visitors to The Library are requested not to venture into the stacks beyond the sight of the Librarians. More than one visitor has emerged hours, even days, after entering the depths of The Library. The stacks seem to encourage the loss of one's sense of time and space.
Welcome, friends. Sit, be comfortable. Learn, discuss, debate, even argue if you wish. There are, happily, no rules regarding noise levels in the Southmarch Library!
Damon.co.nz: Where the homeless come to bathe"Pardon me while I have a strange interlude."
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*Pulls open the doors to let a little fresh air in*
Whew. What with all of the books and scrolls in here, we seem to create our own dust storms.
Ladies and gents, we're open for business.
Giggling Lady of Doom
- Jaime
- Pilgrim
- From: Wilmington, NC
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 11443
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Yield to temptation; it may not pass your way again.
-- Heinlein
- Sarah
- Pilgrim
- From: Nottingham, England
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 4510
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*Is awed by the wonderousness of The Library*
So, do I need a card to borrow books? How many can I have at once? Where are the biscuits?
:D
- Sarah
- Pilgrim
- From: Nottingham, England
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 4510
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*(belatedly) offers a potted rose as a library warming gift*
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Biscuits are on the low table between the sofas over there.
*points to the center of the room*
The rose is lovely! Thanks so much. We'll just set it on the front desk, since that's where Qan and I will be able to enjoy it the most.
Giggling Lady of Doom
- Sarah
- Pilgrim
- From: Nottingham, England
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 4510
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Glad you like it :)
*makes a beeline for the biscuits*
- Tad
- Hierarch
- From: California
- Registered: 2001-05-30
- Posts: 6981
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Happy Librarywarming!
Happy Biblioday!
Huzzah!
Since it only just opened, this will be the only library in the known universe to which I do not owe overdue fees.
Huzzah twice and thrice!
"God bless your crooked little heart."
- Tom Waits
- Sarah
- Pilgrim
- From: Nottingham, England
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 4510
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
So is this a magical library, like the Dreaming's library off out of Sandman? Or the UU library off out of Discworld? Maybe I'll bring a ball of string next time, just in case...
- midge
- Pilgrim
- From: BC
- Registered: 2001-08-15
- Posts: 8624
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
What a lovely rose Angel...please help yourself to the Jammy Dodgers...Oh, I see you already have :-)
We don't meed to impose fines Tad...not with our friendly team of book collectors...you can just spot them in the corner...yes, thats them, rattling their chains...
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Angel Sarah wrote:So is this a magical library, like the Dreaming's library off out of Sandman? Or the UU library off out of Discworld? Maybe I'll bring a ball of string next time, just in case...
Brilliant girl! It's just like both of those, hence the recommendation not to wander far without the assistance of a Librarian.
L space gets a bit tricky, you know...
Giggling Lady of Doom
- jaded
- Pilgrim
- Registered: 2001-08-19
- Posts: 10900
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
wow!! nice place. and i do so love libraries. because i do so love books
*lugs in something carved out of ancient wood, waxed to a warm, deep-dark shine*
it's a card catalogue. but it's special...it never gets out of order, is always updated, and cards never go missing...
*smiles*
we so needed a library
*peruses*
- Sarah
- Pilgrim
- From: Nottingham, England
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 4510
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Qantaqa wrote:please help yourself to the Jammy Dodgers...Oh, I see you already have :-)
But of course!
Originally posted by Gigi:[b]Brilliant girl! It's just like both of those, hence the recommendation not to wander far without the assistance of a Librarian.
L space gets a bit tricky, you know...
*preens* ;)
I promise not to wander off by myself, Nice-Mrs-Librarian-Lady.
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Oh, thanks so much! We desperately needed one of these.
*pushes the card catalog into a handy corner next to a high table*
Oof. That's heavy. Please feel free to jot notes on the paper provided. We'll be more than happy to help you to find your selections.
Please note that cards annotated with a skull and crossbones indicate volumes to be read at your own risk.
[ October 21, 2001: Message edited by: Gigi ]
Giggling Lady of Doom
- midge
- Pilgrim
- From: BC
- Registered: 2001-08-15
- Posts: 8624
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Ooh yes, thats a good spot for it Gigi...Now we did mark ALL of the unruly ones didn't we?
- redNathalie
- Pilgrim
- From: ubiquitous
- Registered: 2001-06-01
- Posts: 9518
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Oh, how lovely! Congratulations, Qantaqa and Gigi!
*ducks back outside briefly*
*reenters, gesturing to the moving men who enter behind her, lugging an enormous beautiful cherrywood grandfather clock and manuvering it into a corner*
*smiles, and goes to stand in line for a library card*
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Oh, what a lovely clock! The movement seems a bit...odd.
Are those fairies on the hands? And pixies on the string-weights?
*mental note - do not rely on this clock for accurate timekeeping*
Qan, I think I marked all of the...unusual...volumes, but it's possible that I missed a few. After all, I'm so used used to dealing with literary oddities that I'm not quite sure what frightens people anymore.
Giggling Lady of Doom
- midge
- Pilgrim
- From: BC
- Registered: 2001-08-15
- Posts: 8624
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*hands Red her library card*
Now, its valid for all normal scrolls and books. We bear no responsiblity for the conduct of the books whilst they are in your keeping and cannot be held liable for any damage caused...Enjoy your reading ;-)
Thankyou for the clock...we'll be sure to remember to wind it...is there a key?
- midge
- Pilgrim
- From: BC
- Registered: 2001-08-15
- Posts: 8624
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*gives the counter one last polish and walks around the shelves*
Now, you books behave yourselves...no messing around and scaring the customers...
*with a satisfied sigh, she glances around the room and slowly exits*
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*notices the background noise increasing in volume*
I'm still here!
*a hush falls over the volumes of the library*
Now don't go all quiet. It's perfectly fine for you all to stretch your bindings, I just thought that my presence should be noted.
Carry on.
Giggling Lady of Doom
- hagrid
- Pilgrim
- From: Leicester, England, UK
- Registered: 2001-10-19
- Posts: 285
- Website
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Wandered in here from the Symphony Hall, tired and about to go to bed.
Oh what a wonderous place, so many books, so many free biccys. yum yum.
A magical place, full of the greatest spells ever composed- stories! Magical, mystical stories!
Please may I join your Library, I promise to take care of everything I borrow.
Finds a corner, and starts to doze.... can't quite make it to bed! This pile of books seems a comfortable enough place to rest my head.
Goodnight! Hope I'm not evicted during the night.
Snoooze.......
"How do you know you can’t swim until you drown?" (Ruth)
- Gigi
- Pilgrim
- From: dunno
- Registered: 2001-06-15
- Posts: 4214
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
*tucks a blanket around Hagrid*
Leaves a note on the table for him:
Hagrid,
Attached please find your library card. Please see earlier posted warnings regarding usage of the library and its materials.
Welcome, Friend Hagrid.
Sincerely,
The Librarians
Giggling Lady of Doom
- The Sixth Viking
- Pilgrim
- Registered: 2001-06-24
- Posts: 2026
Re: The Library (Qantaqa and Gigi)
Congratulations you two !
I will send you on a little present when my own shop opens, hopefully tomorrow.
In the meantime where do I get an application form for my library card ?
Do you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There's a frood who knows where his towel is ~ Douglas Adams - The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy.
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