Making copies at the library

If you've ever tried to make copies here at the library, you know that our equipment is...how shall we say it...a little outdated. Here on the 3rd floor of Mid-Manhattan Library, we have three black and white copiers and one color copier. One of our copiers, the one located near the ladies restroom, accepts bills and change. The other copiers require a copy card, which you may purchase here at the library. This is the tricky part: the copy cards must be purchased with cash, and you must first insert a one dollar bill to purchase the copy card. We know this is weird, but you can get singles for your Jacksons at the Picture Collection circulation desk. The card itself costs 30 cents, but your copiers will be cheaper -- 15 cents each with a copy card as opposed to 20 cents each when you use cash.

If you need to make lots and lots of copies, you also have the option of checking out books and bringing them to Kinko's or Staples. The closest Kinko's is located at 58 West 40th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, along Bryant Park and is open 24 hours a day. Their phone number is 212-921-1060. The closest Staples is located at 1065 Sixth Avenue at 40th Street and is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm. Their phone number is 212-997-4446. If you want to make copies from a reference book, you may check out most reference books with proper identification for a duration of two hours. You may not check out reference books overnight and there are no exceptions, no matter how hard you bat your eyelashes at us or how much chocolate you lavish on us.

You also have the option of taking digital photos of the book pages. Please keep in mind, however, that you are responsible for researching and adhering to intellectual property laws governing the reproduction of books and images. Personal or educational use is usually allowed, but commercial use is usually not allowed.

One final tip about using our copiers: please plan ahead and leave yourself plenty of time to make copies. We often have lines at the copiers during the hour before closing. You are allowed to bring materials to other floors in the building to make copies, but you must bring the materials back to the third floor when you are finished. Our color copier is the only one in the building.

We realize that it's not easy to make copies here. The Art Collection and Picture Collection have heard your suggestions (pay with copies with credit cards, more color copiers, more paper sizes, cheaper copies) and we will try to get them heard whenever plans for new equipment are being considered.

Renew your creativity

Every artist gets stuck at times. We have books here at the library that can help you get back on track (or off track?). The most popular one is Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way: a spiritual path to higher creativity. Now, normally anything with the word "spiritual" in it makes me run the other way, but the persistent popularity of this book makes me think that there must be something to it. We have many other books by Cameron including How to Avoid Making Art (or anything else you enjoy), which is a humorous look at the process of making art.

I'm not an artist but have thought about reading "The Artist's Way" just to see what it's all about. I imagine that it's something like Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, but for artists (I haven't read this book, either -- you got me). If you like books like these, you can explore the many books or videos -- art and non-art related -- that we have cataloged with the subject Self actualization (Psychology).