Bibliotecas

I was up at 4:50 this morning to get the 6 a.m. (and only) bus out of my pueblo, which took me to Acosta, where I caught another bus to San Jose, then walked to the National Library. My expectations were low.

The last library I visited in San Jose (which shall remain nameless, since I have to go back), kindly charged me 10,000 colones for a "card" which allowed them to "recoup" the expenses they would incur by allowing me to take a book off the shelf and read it in the library. I am not sure I quite understand where the cost comes in. There's neither soap nor toilet paper in the latrine. I don't get free copies of anything. I can't even check a book out of the library for crying out loud. I paid it anyway, but I hope the money goes to buying more books, because the libraries here need more books.

At this other library, the nameless one, when I paid for my "card," I was told I would receive an orientation. Of course, there was no orientation. When I asked when I would receive my orientation the librarian looked at me like I had six heads. I asked them if there was a photocopier in the library to at least copy books that were particularly important to my work.

She explained, "Yes, but you can't copy the entire book."

And I responded, "But what if I need the entire book?"

She replied, "You can only make complete copies of books at copy shops outside the library."

To which I responded, "Yes, I understand that, but you just told me that I can't take the book out of the library.

She snaps back, "Yes, that's right."

Finally, I pulled out the "I am working on my PhD line" and managed to get "special permission" to leave the library with two library books, in order to walk about 300 meters to ask someone to make a copy of the books for me.

In contrast, at the National Library, the librarian let me sit at her desk to search through periodicals and kept coming back to check on me. I was relaxed, at ease, happy. I wanted to walk right up and shake the hand of every libriarian on duty.

I had to go up a few floors to check into some older periodicals. I was struggling with the old card catalogs when another angelic librarian called out to me, "Muchacha!" I froze for a split second, wondering "Am I doing something wrong?" But then she said (in Spanish), "you know you can put that drawer of cards down on the table to make it easier for you." Aaaahhh, such a fine library. I can't wait to go back. Which is more than I can say for that other place.

The best part is, I did not have to pay 10,000 colones to read something that is contained within the walls of the library!

In other local news, apparently tomorrow is Children's Day and we must apparently be really nice to the kids here (which is not hard because they are clever and cute) and perhaps give them some candy or something. I thought that the United States was the only nation that had fallen victim to so many of what my Mother refers to as "Hallmark Holidays."

When my landlady told me that she was baking a cake for the Kid's Day tomorrow, I asked her if Costa Rica had an Anthropologist's Day coming up anytime soon. She didn't get the joke and responded, "No, but we do have Secretary's Day."