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Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers
Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers: A Little Book of Whimsy and Wisdom from the Files of the New York Public Library | New York Public Library
7 posts | 4 read | 5 to read
The New York Public Library staff answers questions remarkable and preposterous, with illustrations by Barry Blitt. If you had a question before Google existed, how did you find an answer? In New York City, the choice was simple: Ask the Library. The New York Public Library has been fielding questions since its founding in 1895, first through its general reference desk, then with Telephone Reference and now with Ask NYPL. Whether in person, by phone, or by email, you can connect with a research librarian who can help you find an answer. Of course, some of the questions have left the librarians scratching their heads. A sampling of the questions the Library has received and collected (since records were kept) over the last 75 years include... In what occupations may one be barefooted? What time does a bluebird sing? What does it mean when youre being chased by an elephant? What is the nutritional value of human flesh? ...and many more. In Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers, librarians and their staff across the NYPL system and the Ask NYPL desk today have answered 107 of the oddest, funniest, and most whimsical questions the Library has received. Ranging from questions about the life cycle of an eyebrow hair to where one can rent a guillotine in NYC, the librarians have dug through the archives to find thoughtful and often witty answers no matter how preposterous the question. Barry Blitt, one of The New Yorkers best-known and beloved illustrators, has created twenty watercolors that bring the questions hilariously to life. Whether or not youve ever wondered if you can keep an octopus in a private home or how much Napoleons brain weighed, youll certainly want a copy.
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Abe
Pickpick

Great question and answer book from the New York public library system!

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RiaWritten
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First day of a new job! Guess where. :)

alisiakae Congrats! That is exciting! 😍😍 3y
slategreyskies Wow! So excited for you!! :) 3y
tpixie Congrats! 🥳🥳🥳 I spy Leo Aster- North & Leo Lennox- South
Or: Patience & Fortitude 🦁
(edited) 3y
See All 6 Comments
TrishB How cool 😁 3y
CaitZ Congrats! 3y
Chelsea.Poole Oh so exciting! Congratulations!! 3y
17 likes6 comments
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Michollio
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Pickpick

An interesting little book, mostly because of what people asked their librarians in the 1940s to 1970s. Some of them were based on events happening at the time, and some of them seemed completely random. The premise intrigued me, and as a librarian I wanted to see the difference in what was asked then and now.

#Pop20: Bird on the cover
#AtoZ

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WanderingBookaneer
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These are all from the bookshop‘s entrance! I want them all.

Crazeedi Nice!! 5y
58 likes2 comments
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Shel.f
Pickpick

Questions asked of the Reference Librarians of the NYPL. Some of them just made me want to shake my head. But the sly snark of some of the answers made me laugh.

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Mitch
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Love these questions.....I think my husband might have been the person that asked... ‘ do you have an inspirations book on grass and lawns?!‘

https://lithub.com/the-strangest-questions-ever-asked-of-new-york-city-librarian...

AmyG Ha. My NJ neighbor had a lawn obsession. We were good friends and after he would seed his lawn every spring, and it would rain, he would text “my seed is dancing”. 🤣 5y
Mitch @AmyG haha - don‘t give him any ideas! 🤣 5y
AmyG I would never! 🤣 5y
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BookNAround
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Doing the happy dance for this book mail made up of tantalizing ARCs.

Trashcanman Hmm. No Hairspray and Lighter needed 5y
58 likes1 comment