Everything affects our perception of a book – our mood on that day, the quality of the paper, the time of day and, of course, the place of reading. What can be more important than that? When you are comfortable, even the most difficult constructions are read in one breath. It is easier for someone to concentrate in the deep silence of their own room, and someone can not read without a library atmosphere around. So many places to read, so many nuances!
Today we'll take a look at the most common places where readers prefer to immerse themselves in books – and, of course, we will find their analogues in the National Library. Now listen to your heart: what kind of reader are you?
Domestic Book Mouse
Every time you take up a new book, you follow Brodsky's message – "don't leave the room." After all, is there a place more comfortable? As soon as you turn off the sound on the phone, close the door tighter and tell the household not to bother you until dawn – and the room turns into a perfect reader's bastion.
The French philosopher Blaise Pascal once said: "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." And your reader's soul definitely agrees with him. What can be done, art requires solitude and silence, and you are clearly a creative person. Therefore, silence, book and self-reflection – that's your recipe for a perfect evening.
Where do you find it in the Library: almost everywhere. Each of the reading rooms of the National Library has at least one corner, where no one comes around. It's somewhere between the wall and racks, behind a flower pot or just in the far end of the room. For example, the Periodicals Reading Room is convenient and secluded from all sides. And if you are looking for maximum privacy, we recommend you to hide in the corners near the stairs. You can settle in an armchair in the privacy of your own mind and fabulous view from the window for certain – the meditative view of library scenes will help you concentrate during reading.
Coffee Person
A quiet rumble of chatter, tinkling of ceramic mugs, smell of coffee beans and fresh pastry – here is the atmosphere, able of set your heart on reading. And it is not unusual. Swiss scientists have proved that background noise plays a very important role in human perception and even influences decision-making.
But, of course, background sounds must be pleasant. A rattling jackhammer, howling alarm or screams of the builders outside the window have not been good for anyone. But a soft noise of a coffee maker mixed with the smell of cinnamon and spicy syrups is a real reader's bliss. Perhaps, it's your inner extravert that makes his presence felt in your reader's life. True comfort for you is not simply being able to escape from the real world but also feeling it around you.
Where do you find it in the Library: an armchair next to the library coffee shop or even sofas on the first and second floors next to the canteen. Here you'll smeel pleasant odour of coffee, hear subtle rhythmic noise, and, which most important, you can quickly buy yourself something delicious. After all, books are full of unbearably beautiful mouth-watering descriptions of food. It is pleasant to have a chance to still your hunger, without leaving the armchair.
Literary Passenger
In modern realities, readers like you are quickly becoming a rarity. You are Amur tigers from the world of book lovers. If once literary passengers could be found in every bus and subway car, then with the onset of the pandemic, many of them stopped going out and now are dying of boredom in their completely immobile houses.
For most people, the road to work is torture, but not for you. The book has become your pocket hideout, paper armor from the daily hustle and bustle, and now an hour in public transport flies by. Yes, other people are always trying to look over your shoulder at your book... But is this a big price to pay for the opportunity to escape from the harsh real world under the measured swaying of a subway car? At least for an hour.
Where do you find it in the Library: atrium. Let's face it – the National Library isn't moving (and that's probably for the best). However, this does not mean that there is absolutely no room for literary passengers in the National Library! Maybe the cozy sofas of the atrium won't take you anywhere, but there will be constant movement over your heads – right along the rails of the "Telelift" book delivery system. Containers for books are constantly in motion and humming tranquilizingly on the curve – as good as any subway ride.
Audiohound
Ignore the evil remarks of paper book adepts – you already know that there is nothing wrong with audiobooks. You can even argue that listening is a much more natural process for a person than reading, because people tell each other stories since time immemorial; books, on the other hand, are still new compared to that.
Besides, the audiobook is a different literary experience, a complete immersion in the atmosphere with the voices of storytellers, sound effects and appropriate music. No worse than a regular paper book! On top of that, audiobooks free your hands for other, possibly boring activities like cooking, driving, or jogging. All this combined makes the audiobook ideal for you, a person with a busy life, whose schedule allows absolutely no room for several hours of motionless sitting in a chair with a book in hand. Or, maybe, you are just better at listening?
Where do you find it in the Library: of course, in the Music and Audiovisual Documents Reading Room. Cozy booths embody privacy, headphones fit perfectly on heads of all shapes, and the range of audiobooks definitely won't disappoint. From Karatkievich to Heinlein, from audio performances to contemporary Belarusian poetry – whatever you want, it is already in the National Library. You just need to know where to look.
Book Walker
Welcome to the world of extreme reading. If you thought flipping through a book in a crowded subway car was a real challenge to your reading skills, just try reading a book while walking. However, if you are a book walker, then you understand what the point is. If reading a book while walking could be turned into a competitive sport, you would surely be on the Olympic team.
Perhaps, this is not about a specific setting that is familiar to you as a reader. But when you walk, the whole world is your reading room! Yes, from time to time we all become book walkers: you would read a book in transport or before leaving home, and the story would be so interesting that a break from reading even for a minute could cause a cardiac arrest. And you have to move! With one eye following the plot, and the other tracking pedestrians and the roadway. However, when joining the ranks of book walkers, be careful: the streets of the city are full of dangers for reading pedestrians. If you are already leafing through a book while reading, then let it be indoors.
Where do you find it in the Library: of course, circular corridors. An impeccable route to go around with a book in hand, almost without fear of knocking another such reader off his feet. We recommend choosing a less crowded third floor for walking. And take breaks! Otherwise, a head-spinning book will make you dizzy.
Whatever type of reader you are, or maybe each type suits you equally, there is always a place for you in the National Library.
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