ANNOUNCER: ON THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, WE HEAD TO THE HISTORIC MERCANTILE LIBRARY TO JOIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN FAHERTY AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND EXPERIENCE AMY HUNTER.

TOGETHER, THEY EXPLORE THE LIBRARY'S NEARLY 200 YEAR HISTORY, ITS REMARKABLE COLLECTION, AND ITS CONTINUING ROLE AS A PLACE FOR LITERATURE, LEARNING AND COMMUNITY IN CINCINNATI.

STAY WITH US.

SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

KELLAR: HI.

WELCOME TO SHOWCASE.

I'M BARBARA KELLAR AND WE HAVE A REALLY, REALLY GREAT SHOW TODAY AND AN INCREDIBLE SETTING, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN A SECOND.

AND FIRST, I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS, AMY HUNTER AND JOHN FAHERTY.

AND WE ARE AT THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI.

AND AMY AND JOHN ARE WHAT MAKE, THE TWO OF THEM MAKE THIS ALL HAPPEN.

AND SO WE WANT TO TALK TO THEM.

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY HAS BEEN RENOVATED.

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IT WAS FINISHED.

AND YOU'LL SEE SOME SHOTS, BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IN PERSON.

BUT FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS HERE AND HOW AND WHY.

SO YOU'RE THE LE GRAND FROMAGE.

FAHERTY: I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE THAT.

PEOPLE ASK HOW TO SPELL IT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

FAHERTY: I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY.

I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT TEN YEARS.

AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN AMAZING PLACE TO WORK FOR A DECADE.

IT'S, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PLACES IN THE CITY THAT ARE THIS LOVELY AND THAT ENCOURAGE THIS MUCH HAPPINESS.

KELLAR: RIGHT.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY, WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW IF YOU'RE NEW IN TOWN OR WHATEVER.

FAHERTY: I'LL TELL YOU OUR HISTORY AND I PROMISE I'LL TELL IT BRIEFLY.

KELLAR: YES, WE WANT READER'S DIGEST VERSION.

FAHERTY: VERY BRIEFLY.

WE WERE FORMED IN 1835 BECAUSE LIBRARIES DID NOT EXIST YET, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND ACCESS TO BOOKS WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

SO THERE WERE 45 YOUNG MEN WHO LIVED REALLY UP AND DOWN FOURTH STREET, THEY HAD SHOPS AND THEY WERE MERCHANTS.

THEY WERE GROCERS AND MERCHANTS AND TRADESMEN.

THEY SOLD THINGS, AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST AS SMART AS THE RICH KIDS WHO GOT TO GO TO COLLEGE AND HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS.

SO THEY SAID, "ALL WE NEED TO DO IS FORM OUR OWN LIBRARY.

BECAUSE IF I HAVE FIVE BOOKS AND YOU HAVE FIVE BOOKS AND YOU HAVE FIVE BOOKS, WELL, NOW WE HAVE 15 BOOKS."

AND THEIR GOAL WAS TO DEMOCRATIZE KNOWLEDGE.

AND THAT ALL STARTED IN 1835.

AND IN THE FIRST TEN YEARS, THE LIBRARY BURNED TO THE GROUND TWICE.

WE WERE RENTERS THE WHOLE TIME, AND WE'RE STILL RENTERS.

KELLAR: AND WHERE WAS THE LIBRARY THEN?

FAHERTY: THE LIBRARY, SINCE 1840, HAS BEEN RIGHT HERE AT 414 WALNUT SINCE 1840.

PROBABLY THE OLDEST ADDRESS IN THE CITY.

AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE OLDEST PHONE NUMBER IN THE CITY.

BUT AFTER THOSE TEN YEARS, THE BUILDING OWNER SAID, "HEY, THIS STINKS.

WE DON'T WANT TO OWN BUILDINGS ANYMORE.

WE'RE BROKE.

WE'VE LOST ALL OF OUR MONEY."

AND SO THE LIBRARY RAISED $10,000 IN 1845, IN ABOUT A WEEK, WHICH WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT.

AND THEY GAVE IT TO THE BUILDING OWNERS AND SAID, "THIS IS A GIFT.

YOU BUILD YOUR OWN BUILDING.

ALL WE WANT IN RETURN IS OUR LIBRARY BACK.

AND FOR THOSE $10,000, WE WOULD LIKE A 10,000 YEAR LEASE."

SO WE ARE IN YEAR LIKE 170 OR SO OF OUR FIRST 10,000 YEAR LEASE.

BECAUSE IT IS A RENEWABLE LEASE, AT THE END OF 10,000 YEARS, WE CAN RENEW IT AGAIN.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WELL, AMY, YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

HUNTER: I'M A LITTLE BIT, YES.

I STARTED OUT AS BEING IN CHARGE OF MARKETING.

MY, WHAT NOW I'M REALLY, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND EXPERIENCE, WHICH I JUST TAKE TO MEAN THAT IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WHO COMES IN FEELS WELCOME AND HOPEFULLY THEY DO.

AND ONE THING PEOPLE ASK US A LOT IS, "DO I HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO VISIT THE LIBRARY?"

AND NO, YOU DON'T.

ANYONE CAN VISIT THE LIBRARY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY HOME TO THE OLDEST PUBLIC ART COLLECTION IN THE CITY, SO ANYBODY CAN COME IN AND LOOK AT BOTH FLOORS AND ADMIRE ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL ARTWORK THAT CAME TO US, SOME FROM THE 1840S AND 50S AND BUT USE OF THE LIBRARY IS WE LIKE TO SAY FOR MEMBERS AND THANKS TO THAT 10,000 YEAR LEASE, MEMBERSHIPS ARE STILL VERY AFFORDABLE.

KELLAR: YES.

HOW MUCH ARE THEY?

HUNTER: INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS START AT $65 A YEAR, AND YOU GET A LOT WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, WHAT'S LIKE SOME OF THE PERKS.

HUNTER: WELL, WE DO YOGA THREE TIMES A WEEK.

KELLAR: OH, NO.

HUNTER: WE DO.

IT'S REALLY FANTASTIC.

PEOPLE COME AND WORK IN THE SPACE AND STUDY.

WE HAVE ALMOST 40 BOOK GROUPS OR BOOK CLUBS.

WE HAVE, SO DISCUSSIONS, WE HAVE AUTHOR TALKS, WE HAVE CONCERTS, WE HAVE SOMETIMES BOURBON TASTINGS, WINE TASTINGS.

THERE'S REALLY, TRULY SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE HERE AT THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY.

KELLAR: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS RENOVATION?

IS THAT YOU?

FAHERTY: WE REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

THE BUILDING HAD BEEN PURCHASED AND WAS BEING CHANGED FROM OFFICES TO APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND TO APARTMENT SPACES.

AND MODEL GROUP, WHICH BOUGHT THE BUILDING, COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS FLOOR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T RUN -- THEY COULDN'T BUILD APARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE RUN PLUMBING STACKS THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL 11TH FLOOR.

KELLAR: NO, NO.

FAHERTY: SO THAT WAS NEVER AN OPTION.

AND SO THEY ASKED IF WE WERE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING AND WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE PRETTY LOCKED IN HERE.

SO WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME FOR US TO EXPAND, WE SAID YES RIGHT AWAY.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD BECOME A BIGGER, BETTER LIBRARY.

WE THOUGHT WE COULD SERVE MORE PEOPLE.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DEMOCRATIZE KNOWLEDGE, IT'S NICE TO HAVE MORE SPACE TO DO IT.

KELLAR: AND IT'S TWO FLOORS.

PEOPLE DON'T -- I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT'S TWO FLOORS.

AND HOW IS IT DIVIDED?

FAHERTY: OH GOSH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

AND BECAUSE I'M THE DIRECTOR, I KNOW ALMOST NOTHING.

KELLAR: THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO TRY YOU.

FAHERTY: YEAH.

THERE'S BOOKS AND STUFF UP HERE, CERTAINLY.

AMY?

HUNTER: THE ROOM WE'RE IN IS THE ALBERT PIO CLUB ROOM.

IT'S THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION MEMBERS' LOUNGE.

AND THEN WE HAVE A HAIKU ROOM UP HERE, SO WE MOVED OUR ENTIRE POETRY COLLECTION TO THE 12TH STORY.

WE HAVE AMERICAN HISTORY ON THE 12TH STORY.

WE BUILT NEW STACKS ON THE 12TH FLOOR, AND THERE'S ALL SORTS OF SURPRISES IN THOSE STACKS, WHICH IS REALLY FUN.

LET'S SEE, AMERICAN HISTORY.

KELLAR: WHAT SORT OF SURPRISE?

HUNTER: WELL, THERE'S INTERESTING THINGS TO LOOK AT IN OUR NEW STACKS.

AND THEY'RE SORT OF WORKS OF ART IN AND OF THEMSELVES, AND WE HAVE BUILT IN SEATING AREAS IN THE STACKS.

WE WANTED PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT WHEN THEY ARE EXPLORING AND LOOKING FOR BOOKS, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN A BOOK, THEY CAN JUST SIT RIGHT DOWN, OPEN IT UP AND TAKE A LOOK.

WE HAVE -- WE'RE WORKING ON -- WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BEST AND BIGGEST AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL BIOGRAPHY SECTION COLLECTION IN THE COUNTRY.

WE DID A SEVEN YEAR BOOK CLUB OF PRESIDENTIAL BIOGRAPHIES.

WE STARTED WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ENDED WITH JIMMY CARTER.

SO, JUST REALLY FUN STUFF UP HERE.

WE HAVE COOKBOOKS UP HERE.

WE HAVE SOME NEW NONFICTION.

WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF GREAT STUFF.

AND ON THE 12TH FLOOR ALSO ARE REALLY BEAUTIFUL WORKSPACES AND STUDY SPACES.

AND THERE'S ROOMS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO DISCUSSION GROUPS OR GET A LITTLE PRIVACY IF THEY NEED TO.

KELLAR: IF SOMEONE CAME IN THE DOOR AND WALKED UP TO THE DESK AND SAID, "WHAT IS THIS PLACE?"

FAHERTY: IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

KELLAR: IT DOES?

FAHERTY: YES.

HUNTER: YES.

KELLAR: AND THEN DOES SOMEBODY TAKE THEM AROUND?

FAHERTY: WE SHOW THEM AROUND, WE EXPLAIN IT AND -- KELLAR: YEAH.

FAHERTY: PEOPLE LOVE IT.

THEY DO.

KELLAR: HOW DO THEY STUMBLE INTO IT?

FAHERTY: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THERE IS A SIGN OUTSIDE.

HUNTER: THERE'S THE HISTORICAL MARKER ON WALNUT STREET.

AND THE BUILDING IS CALLED STILL THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY BUILDING.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HUNTER: BUT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID, "I'VE LIVED IN CINCINNATI MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS HERE."

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO PUT AN END TO THAT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

AND SO WE'RE ON WALNUT STREET BETWEEN -- HUNTER: FIFTH AND FOURTH.

SO WE'RE HALF A BLOCK FROM FOUNTAIN SQUARE.

WE'RE RIGHT ON THE STREETCAR ROUTE.

WE ARE IN THE THICK OF EVERYTHING, I THINK BY DESIGN.

LIKE THOSE, THOSE YOUNG MEN IN 1840 REALLY WANTED TO BE IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, I'M SURE YOU HAVE THAT LIST OF THE ORIGINALS.

DID -- WERE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE EVER BIG NAMES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CINCINNATI?

FAHERTY: OH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

OVER THE YEARS, YES.

LIKE BOTH PROCTER AND GAMBLE WERE MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY.

KELLAR: OH, OKAY.

FAHERTY: SO PEOPLE LIKE THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY.

THE ROSTER IS LITTERED WITH NAMES OF PEOPLE YOU DEFINITELY KNOW.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HUNTER: STREET NAMES AND PARK NAMES AND CAREW AND AULT AND MCALPIN.

FAHERTY: TAFT AND PROBASCO, THEY WERE ALL MEMBERS.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, I KNOW YOUR PREDECESSOR, ALBERT PYLE, WAS VERY WELL KNOWN, AS YOU ARE.

SO YOU'RE IN A HIGH PROFILE POSITION.

AND BECAUSE YOU OWN -- DO YOU ACQUIRE MORE BOOKS?

FAHERTY: OH, YEAH, ALL THE TIME.

KELLAR: AND DO YOU PURCHASE THEM OR -- FAHERTY: YEAH.

KELLAR: THEY'RE GIFTS?

FAHERTY: NO, WE ORDER NEW BOOKS IN ALL THE TIME.

KELLAR: SO YOU HAVE ALL THE NEW, NOT JUST THE OLD?

FAHERTY: CORRECT.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A MODERN LIBRARY.

IT'S JUST THAT WE'VE BEEN A MODERN LIBRARY FOR 190 YEARS.

KELLAR: DO YOU STILL SEND BOOKS TO MEMBERS?

FAHERTY: YEAH, WE DO.

YEAH, WE -- KELLAR: OKAY.

TELL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I REMEMBER THAT VERY CLEARLY.

FAHERTY: WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO, SOME WHO HAVE MOVED, SOME WHO DON'T LIKE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

AND WE WILL MAIL YOU BOOKS AND YOU MAIL THEM BACK WHEN YOU'RE DONE.

YES.

KELLAR: WHAT OTHER LIBRARY HAS -- FAHERTY: THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT ARE STILL DOING THAT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

DID LIBRARIES DO THAT A LOT IN THE OLD -- IN THE OLDEN DAYS?

HUNTER: I WOULD THINK SO BECAUSE THE POST OFFICE HAS IT'S MEDIA MAIL.

LIKE IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC THING FOR SENDING BOOKS FOR MAIL.

KELLAR: A PRICE, A SPECIAL PRICE.

HUNTER: YES, IT IS.

FAHERTY: CORRECT, IT IS CHEAPER.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HUNTER: AND POSSIBLY SLOWER, BUT I DON'T -- I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A THING UNTIL I STARTED WORKING HERE.

KELLAR: I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE MY HUSBAND, YEAH, WE WERE MEMBERS MANY, MANY YEARS.

YEAH.

MY HUSBAND LOVED BOOKS.

HE READ ALL THE MOST BORING BOOKS, OH, ALL ABOUT -- FAHERTY: WE HAVE ALL THOSE BOOKS.

KELLAR: OH, YEAH, I'M SURE YOU DO.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WHO WERE THE DESIGNERS THAT YOU WORKED WITH FOR THIS?

FAHERTY: OH, WE USED, UM -- HUNTER: THE DRAWING DEPARTMENT WERE OUR ARCHITECTS AND WE HAD TWO BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A VERY LONG TIME WHO SPEARHEADED A SMALL COMMITTEE FOR THE DECOR AND FURNISHINGS.

BUCK WAS A PART OF IT, YES.

KELLAR: WHO'S BEEN ON SHOWCASE MANY TIMES, WELL KNOWN.

YES.

HUNTER: YES, BUCK NIEHOFF, WHO'S ACTUALLY HIS SON PETER IS OUR CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT.

KELLAR: OH, OKAY.

HUNTER: MULTI-GENERATION NIEHOFF GROUPS.

BUT TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, DEBORAH GINOCCHIO AND NAOMI TALEB, SPEARHEADED A SMALL COMMITTEE FOR PICKING OUT ALL THE FURNISHINGS.

AND BECAUSE ON THIS FLOOR WE HAD A BLANK SLATE.

AND SO THEY -- JOHN AND THE TEAM WANTED IT TO SORT OF LOOK LIKE IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

KELLAR: YES, AND IT DOES.

IT DOES.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

FAHERTY: WE WERE JUST -- WE GOT LUCKY.

KELLAR: IT DOES.

FAHERTY: WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE ALL THESE WOOD FLOORS.

KELLAR: OH, I KNOW.

FABULOUS.

YEAH.

FAHERTY: THEY'RE GORGEOUS.

THEY'VE BEEN UNDER CARPET SINCE 1904.

KELLAR: YEAH.

FAHERTY: AND AS SOON AS THEY -- WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT IN NEW WOOD FLOORS.

AND AS SOON AS THE GUYS PULLED THEM, THEY WERE LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, THESE FLOORS ARE GREAT."

KELLAR: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

FAHERTY: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABSURDLY EXPENSIVE.

BUT YEAH, THINGS LIKE THAT WERE TERRIFIC.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO YOU HAD A COMMITTEE FROM HERE, BUT THEN THE PROFESSIONALS.

HUNTER: YES, THE DRAWING DEPARTMENT, THEY JUST DID AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB.

KELLAR: THAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY?

FAHERTY: YEAH, THE DRAWING DEPARTMENT.

YVONNE AND ROB WERE, TWO OF THE THREE OWNERS, AND THEY WERE OUR PRIMARIES.

KELLAR: AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO PRIMARILY?

HUNTER: YES.

THEY'RE AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM BASED IN OAKLEY.

THEY DO NEW CONSTRUCTION.

ONE OF THEIR MOST FAMOUS PROJECTS WAS REDOING THE OLD MAISONETTE INTO BOCA, SO IF THAT -- SO THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT MODERNIZING BEAUTIFUL SACRED OLD SPACES AND STILL MAKING IT FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WALKING INTO THE SAME SPACE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER.

FAHERTY: WE DO HAVE AN ANNUAL, WE HAVE ONE EVENT PER YEAR THAT IS A FUNDRAISER.

WE CALL IT THE NIEHOFF LECTURE BECAUSE WE USE MONEY -- KELLAR: BECAUSE BUCK.

FAHERTY: BUCK AND PATTY REALLY STARTED IT AND SUPPORTED IT AND CREATED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT PAYS FOR IT.

WE LOVE THE NIEHOFF LECTURE HERE.

IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT.

AND WE BRING IN REALLY THE BIGGEST WRITERS IN THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD.

KELLAR: OR THE WORLD.

FAHERTY: COLSON WHITEHEAD HAS BEEN HERE.

MARGARET ATWOOD HAS BEEN HERE, AARON SORKIN.

HUNTER: DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN, AMOR TOWLES.

KELLAR: WHEN DID THAT START?

WHAT YEAR WAS IT?

HUNTER: IN THE '80S.

IN THE MID '80S, MID TO LATE '80S.

WE ARE UM, I WANT TO SAY 1985 BECAUSE IT WAS TO CELEBRATE A LIBRARY ANNIVERSARY.

KELLAR: SO LIKE 40 YEARS.

FAHERTY: YEAH, PLUS.

HUNTER: YES, YES.

KELLAR: 41.

HUNTER: YES, SO, AND WE'VE ONLY MISSED ONE BECAUSE OF COVID.

SO IT'S ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE THINGS.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT NERD PROM, BECAUSE IT'S -- KELLAR: YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO MOST OF THOSE, YEAH.

HUNTER: YEAH, IT'S JUST A DELIGHT AND IT'S REALLY, IT'S THE DINNER AND THE LECTURE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST FUN TO SEE, TO BE IN A ROOM WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE -- KELLAR: WITH WRITERS WHO ARE SUPERSTARS IN OUR WORLD, IN OUR BOOK WORLD, IT'S NOT MOVIE STARS.

IT'S WRITERS WHO TAKE US TO THEIR WORLD AND THEY'RE THERE.

AND YEAH, TO ME, IT'S JUST FABULOUS.

SO YOUR JOB IS JUST TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT ABOUT IT, TO COME AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.

HUNTER: AND THEN TO COME AND JOIN AND THEN REJOIN WHEN IT'S TIME TO RENEW THEIR MEMBERSHIP.

SO IT'S, OUR MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS SINCE WE REOPENED AFTER RENOVATING, BUT, WE'RE A VERY SMALL STAFF.

THERE'S NINE OF US AND BUT WE STILL TRY VERY, VERY HARD TO GET TO KNOW ALL OF OUR MEMBERS.

AND WE DON'T, SO WE DON'T ISSUE CARDS WHEN PEOPLE JOIN.

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU.

SO IF YOU JOIN AND YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT A BOOK, YOU COME TO THE CIRCULATION DESK AND YOU TELL US YOUR NAME.

AND THEN USUALLY WE JUST START TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE READING OR WHAT YOU WANT TO READ OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

FAHERTY: OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE STAFF MEMBER KNOW YOUR NAME.

EVERY MEMBER WE WANT AT LEAST ONE OF US TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

KELLAR: OH, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

FAHERTY: A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS, WE ALL KNOW THEIR NAMES, BUT.

KELLAR: OF COURSE YOU DO.

FAHERTY: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE TRICKY THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE GAINED 2000 MEMBERS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

KELLAR: HOW DO YOU EVER GET ACQUAINTED WITH ALL OF THEM?

FAHERTY: THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STICK AROUND A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD AN INFUSION OF MEMBERSHIP LIKE THIS BEFORE.

I MEAN, WE'RE -- IT'S -- SO WE DON'T KNOW ALL THEIR NAMES YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR THING THAT PEOPLE COME AND WANT?

HUNTER: OH, GOSH.

UM.

FAHERTY: DIFFERENT PEOPLE USE THE LIBRARY VERY DIFFERENTLY.

SOME PEOPLE ARE HERE REGULARLY, 9 TO 5.

KELLAR: REALLY?

FAHERTY: YEAH.

HUNTER: OR STUDYING.

FAHERTY: A LOT, A LOT MORE PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME NOW THAN EVER BEFORE AND SOMETIMES THEY WANT TO LEAVE THEIR HOUSE AND THEY COME HERE FOR HALF A DAY OR A FULL DAY.

KELLAR: AND THEY BRING A COMPUTER.

AND YOU DON'T MIND?

FAHERTY: NO.

THAT'S OKAY.

HUNTER: WE ENCOURAGE IT.

FAHERTY: WE SET UP PHONE BOOTHS FOR THEM SO THEY CAN.

I MEAN, THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE WE DID THE REMODEL, THEY HAD TO GO INTO THE HALLWAY, INTO THE ENTRYWAY TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

BUT NOW WE HAVE LITTLE, SO YOU COULD -- PEOPLE DO IN ZOOM AND PEOPLE DOING PHONE CALLS DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE.

AND OTHER PEOPLE NEVER COME DURING THE DAY.

THEY REALLY ONLY COME FOR OUR EVENTS.

THEY LOVE THE AUTHORS OR THEY COME EXCLUSIVELY FOR BOOK DISCUSSIONS.

SO THEY JUST KIND OF COME IN, THEY GO IN A ROOM AND THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR BOOK AND THEN THEY -- IT'S DIFFERENT PEOPLE USE IT VERY DIFFERENTLY.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO BUT WHAT -- IS THAT THE -- WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR MEMBERS COME TO GET THEIR BOOKS OR DO THEY -- FAHERTY: NO, I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY ARE PROBABLY HERE FOR OUR VISITING AUTHORS.

KELLAR: OKAY.

FAHERTY: BUT I'M GUESSING.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD COME IN, LET'S SAY ON AVERAGE IN A DAY?

FAHERTY: OH, DURING THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND IT MUST BE A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU.

KELLAR: I LIKE TO GIVE QUESTIONS THAT REALLY PEOPLE JUST FEEL VERY CONFUSED.

YES.

FAHERTY: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL THAT THAT IS.

KELLAR: MY GOAL IS TO FIND THE ONE QUESTION YOU CAN'T ANSWER.

FAHERTY: WELL, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

YEAH, WE DON'T COUNT.

HUNTER: WE DON'T MAKE PEOPLE CHECK IN OR, UM, YOU KNOW.

WE GREET EVERYONE.

OH, PROBABLY 30 TO 50.

KELLAR: 30 TO 50 PEOPLE A DAY AVERAGE.

BUT HOW WOULD I MEAN, IT'S SUCH A HUGE SPACE NOW.

FAHERTY: NO ONE'S EVER CROWDED.

KELLAR: THERE COULD BE LOTS OF PEOPLE MILLING AROUND THAT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW THEY'RE HERE.

HUNTER: I SORT OF DO A LITTLE WALKABOUT, A COUPLE TIMES A DAY TO SEE WHO'S HERE AND ALSO KIND OF SEE IF I ACTUALLY REMEMBER MEMBERS' NAMES LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO, I'M GETTING BETTER AT IT.

KELLAR: WHY DON'T YOU ASK THEM TO WEAR A NAME TAG?

HUNTER: SOME THINGS WE DO AT OUR BOOK DISCUSSIONS, WE DO AND THAT HELPS A LOT.

BUT, IT'S YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW OUR NAMES AND WE -- AND THEY UNDERSTAND, OUR MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THEM AND IT'S EASIER TO REMEMBER US.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW.

FAHERTY: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JOIN LIBRARIES CAN BE A LITTLE BIT FUNNY.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WANT -- THEY.

KELLAR: NOT FUNNY AS IN HA-HA.

FAHERTY: NOT FUNNY AS IN HA-HA.

FUNNY AS IN THEY COME AND WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

THEY DON'T WANT US TO WALK UP TO AND SAY, "HEY, HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

WHAT'S NEW?"

SOME PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEY'RE LIKE, "THIS IS MY QUIET TIME.

PLEASE GIVE ME A LITTLE SPACE."

AND WE KNOW WHO'S WHO.

KELLAR: GOOD, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT ANY UNPLEASANT.

FAHERTY: YOU CAN TELL PRETTY QUICKLY LIKE, "OH, THIS PERSON IS NOT HERE," RIGHT?

HUNTER: YEAH, BUT BOOK PEOPLE ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

KELLAR: YEAH, I WOULD SAY SO.

HUNTER: AND SOME OF US ARE INTROVERTS.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HUNTER: WE GET THAT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WELL, THE SILENCE IS WHAT I THINK IS SO PRICELESS.

IT'S ABSOLUTE SILENCE, PLEASE.

FAHERTY: WE HAVE A SILENT READING NIGHT WHICH HAS BECOME SO POPULAR.

KELLAR: REALLY?

FAHERTY: AND THERE'S BOURBON.

KELLAR: OH, WELL, THAT MAKES PEOPLE NOISY, NOT SILENT.

FAHERTY: BUT THEY -- IT'S VERY POPULAR.

IT'S IN THE EVENING AND PEOPLE JUST SPREAD AROUND THE WHOLE LIBRARY WITH THEIR BOOKS AND THERE IS NO TALKING.

YOU CAN HEAR PAGES TURNING.

IT IS REMARKABLE.

KELLAR: AND HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

HUNTER: IT'S TWO HOURS WHEN WE DO HAVE IT.

YEAH.

KELLAR: YEAH.

FAHERTY: IT'S USUALLY FROM LIKE 5 TO 7, SO.

KELLAR: IT'S EASY TO READ FOR TWO HOURS.

HUNTER: MM-HMM.

FAHERTY: SOME PEOPLE YOU CAN JUST SEE THEM SITTING.

KELLAR: DO THEY PICK A BOOK HERE OR DO THEY BRING THEIR OWN.

HUNTER: IT DEPENDS.

FAHERTY: SOME BRING, SOME PICK ONE UP.

BUT IT REALLY SPEAKS TO SOMETHING: PEOPLE COME HERE LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF SOLACE AND QUIET.

IT'S LOUD OUT THERE.

KELLAR: IT SURE IS.

FAHERTY: AND IT'S LOUD IN OUR PHONES.

IT'S LOUD IN OUR COMPUTERS.

IT'S LOUD IN OUR CARS.

IT'S LOUD IN OUR OFFICES.

IT'S LOUD EVERYWHERE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

FAHERTY: THIS IS A PLACE YOU CAN STILL FIND SOME QUIET WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IT.

KELLAR: YEAH, IT'S PRICELESS.

ABSOLUTELY.

FAHERTY: IT'S VERY VALUABLE.

KELLAR: I'M A SILENCE PERSON.

I DON'T LIKE CONSTANT TALKING.

I DON'T LIKE CONSTANT NOISE.

YEAH.

IT'S -- THAT IS -- I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU HAD THAT.

FAHERTY: YEAH, IT'S REALLY, REALLY GREAT.

KELLAR: IF SOMEONE COMES THROUGH THE DOOR AND GOES UP TO THE DESK AND SAYS, "UM, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?"

HOW DO YOU START?

YOU START, YOU SAY, "WELL, WHAT AREAS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?"

WHAT DO YOU DO?

FAHERTY: WELL, I MEAN, IF HILLARY IS HERE.

KELLAR: AND SHE'S ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES?

FAHERTY: YES.

HILLARY COPSEY AND HER TITLE IS BOOK ADVISOR.

KELLAR: BOOK ADVISOR.

FAHERTY: AND SHE, BETTER THAN ANYONE I'VE EVER MET OR HEARD OF, SHE HAS READ EVERYTHING.

AND IF YOU SAY -- SHE'LL SAY, "OH, TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE READING OR TELL ME A COUPLE OF BOOKS YOU'VE LIKED OVER THE YEARS," AND SHE -- YOU CAN TELL HER A COUPLE OF BOOKS YOU LIKE, MAYBE THAT YOU READ A LONG TIME AGO, AND SHE'LL SAY, "OH, I KNOW THAT BOOK.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS ONE.

IT'S SIMILAR AND IT'S NEW, AND YOU'LL LOVE THIS AUTHOR."

SHE HAS AN UNBELIEVABLE MIND FOR RECOMMENDING BOOKS AND SHE NEVER MISSES.

MY KIDS USE HER.

I HAVE MY BOYS IN THEIR 20S AND LUCY WHO'S 19.

THEY DON'T -- THEY'RE LIKE THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY AND THEY SAY, "THAT'S OKAY, DAD, WE'RE GOING TO GO TALK TO HILARY."

KELLAR: HAS SHE BEEN HERE SINCE?

FAHERTY: BEEN HERE -- HUNTER: SINCE 2018.

SO YEAH.

FAHERTY: SHE'S REMARKABLE.

JUST REMARKABLE.

HUNTER: SO IF SHE'S NOT HERE, WE HAVE A STAFF PICKS SECTION.

AND THEN EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN SORT OF AREA OF EXPERTISE OR THINGS THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN AND SO WE CAN PINCH HIT IF NECESSARY.

KELLAR: DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEST SELLERS?

FAHERTY: OH, YEAH.

WE ALWAYS HAVE THE MOST POPULAR.

WE ALWAYS HAVE THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST.

KELLAR: OKAY.

LOTS OF THEM SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE.

HUNTER: WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY COPIES AS, SAY, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, BUT, OUR WAIT TIMES ARE SHORTER FOR VERY POPULAR BOOKS.

FAHERTY: SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTER.

KELLAR: ARE YOU -- IS YOUR FUNDING MOSTLY FROM MEMBERSHIPS OR ARE YOU -- AND THE ANNUAL DINNER?

FAHERTY: THE ANNUAL DINNER RAISES MONEY.

WE GET A LOT OF GIFTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST VERY GENEROUS.

YOU CAN HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP.

THAT'S KIND OF BEEN A SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR US TO MAKE MONEY.

SO YOU COULD BE A MEMBER FOR $65, AND YOU ARE A FULL MEMBER WITH EVERY RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE OF THIS PLACE.

YOU COULD ALSO BE A MEMBER FOR $10,000.

KELLAR: OKAY.

FAHERTY: WHICH I WOULD ENCOURAGE.

KELLAR: WE WILL LET PEOPLE, IF WE -- SOME PEOPLE WILL ALLOW THEM TO BE $10,000 MEMBERS.

FAHERTY: YES.

KELLAR: BECAUSE YOU'RE SO KIND.

FAHERTY: YES, WE CARE ABOUT THEM SO MUCH.

KELLAR: YOU CARE ABOUT THEM.

FAHERTY: WE'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GIVE.

KELLAR: IT SOUNDS -- YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS IS THE MOST, THE SOFTEST, KINDEST, MOST BRILLIANT SPACE.

AND THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY INFORMATION, INFORMATION OF EVERY KIND, EVERY -- WHATEVER YOU WANT, IT'S HERE SOMEWHERE.

HUNTER: THERE REALLY, TRULY IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE HERE.

AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY OR IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, A WEIRD -- WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE A WEIRD INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEONE HERE WHO IS JUST AS INTERESTED AS YOU ARE.

KELLAR: ABSOLUTELY.

HUNTER: AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE ROMANCE AND HORROR.

AND SO THERE'S, IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT ENTIRELY SUPER INTELLECTUAL.

KELLAR: I KNOW.

HUNTER: SO YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING HERE.

KELLAR: YOU GET THEM ALL.

I HAVE THOUSANDS MORE QUESTIONS, BUT NO MORE TIME.

SO YOU GUYS WILL HAVE TO DO A SECOND.

FAHERTY: ABSOLUTELY.

HUNTER: WE HAVE TO COME BACK.

KELLAR: YEAH, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK.

IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S -- I CAN SEE IT'S IN WELL HANDS.

FAHERTY: THANK YOU.

HUNTER: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KELLAR: IT'S JUST FABULOUS.

AND THIS RENOVATION IS JUST ABSOLUTELY, IF THERE ARE OTHER SPACES, OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD LIKE THIS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.

FAHERTY: THERE AREN'T MANY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

HUNTER: IT'S A PRETTY MAGICAL SPACE.

KELLAR: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FAHERTY: HEY, THANKS FOR COMING.

WE LOVE SHOWING THIS PLACE AROUND, SO THANK YOU.

ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.