Barnes and Nobles: An Unexpected Treasure:

  After a week of late nights in Olin and Mann Library, I always get a little antsy by the weekend. So yesterday, when I came to the traffic light in the middle of Collegetown, instead of going straight onto College Avenue towards Olin Library, I made a left in search of a new destination in unfamiliar territory. I made a left onto 13, almost subconsciously turned into the Wegmans parking lot, but I made myself wave instead and keep on driving. The next parking lot I drove into was packed. Ithacans of all ages and sizes were walking to and from their car from what I thought was Walmart but little did I know the source of this crowd was Barnes and Nobles. Finally I got a parking spot, and lugged all of my books into the megastore. I naively walked from the front of the store to the back of the store in search of the source of the crowd but I couldn’t find it. Eventually I retraced my steps and went left at the front of the store, again nothing. It was only when I turned right in the front of the store did I discover the hidden gem. A large spacious, sit-down area with a huge café. I don’t’ know if it was the change of scenery from the Cornell libraries that made me so happy but I definitely was pleasantly surprised. What seemed to be an additional seating area was filled with rows and rows of chairs. I asked a store personnel why the chairs were arranged in such a way. He told me they frequently had book signings as well as visiting authors and that they were expecting one today. All in all, this quest for a work space turned into a great discovery. I got my physics problem set done, indulged in a great latte, sat in on my first book signing, knit two rows in my endless scarf project and found one of the best magazine selections in Ithaca. I am glad that I made that left instead of going straight. Lessons I learned today: Wegmans is always going to be there and it is healthy to try something new. Just because there is a Walmart near does not mean that the area has lost all hope.