“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” reads the inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City. This weekend in Queens, Uni Librarians delivered books and learning outdoors on Corona Plaza for several hours until we had to retreat from our trickiest enemy: rain showers.
We were back in Corona on invitation from the Queens Museum of Art. Our goal: help continue the discussion about the future of this newly pedestrianized plaza right under the 7 train. We showed off our favorite use of public space: reading and learning. Even as a light rain started, kids kept pulling books off the shelves while Uni Librarians sprinted, packing us up in record time to keep the collection safe and dry.
Thanks to Uni Volunteer Librarian Leigh Hurwitz, the Queens Museum, and Alex Garcia. Special thanks to Eleanor and Malcolm Davol. We’ll be back to the Plaza in a month, and we’re using every experience to improve our next design. We’ve got some great ideas for sun/rain canopy solutions, so stay tuned to the Uni as we battle the elements!
(Look back at previous Corona visits here and here.)
Step one: slap a level on the Uni baseplate.
There is internal debate about a ramp vs. lift gate for loading in the Uni. Either way, we’re designing the next Uni to work with both.
Uni Librarian Leigh brings out the umbrellas to keep reading, but the rain kept coming. At this point, even the photographer had to stop shooting and start packing books, and fast. See you next month Corona!