Let’s talk library!
Caroline Marie (class of 2023) sat down for a conversation with Kandace Clifton (MA Fashion Studies class of 2020) who manages the Parsons Paris library.
What are you studying at Parsons Paris and how did you come to manage the Parsons Paris library?
I am an MA Fashion Studies student, in my second year. I’ve always been interested in the libraries since getting my first library card in elementary school and checking out the maximum of 75 items (needless to say, I did not read them all but I got through a good chunk!). I’ve been a librarian since 2014, and managing the Parsons Paris library for a year now.
How is the library organized?
The library is organized by the Library of Congress Classification, which means it is categorized by subject and not author. It’s a pretty simple system to understand once you get used to it, and if you are looking for a subject such as architecture or fashion the surrounding books will more often than not be within that same category. To find a breakdown of how each subject is labelled, you can go to the Library of Congress website or follow this link http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/.
How many books can we borrow and for how long?
You can take out a maximum of three (3) books or DVDs for two (2) weeks at a time with one (1) renewal.
What categories can we find?
Of course we have books, but we also have, magazines from different parts of the world, art journals, exhibition guides and DVDs.
What are the opening hours of the library?
The library is open Monday-Thursday from 2pm to 4pm.
When are the best times to come in?
The best time to come is definitely during open hours if you need help looking for a book or navigating the library. Since the library isn’t open to undergrads outside of opening hours, it’s a good place to study for graduate students that are in need of a quiet work space and easy access to books.
What’s your favorite book or magazine at the moment?
My favorite book or actually series at the moment is The KingKiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss, but I am in search for a book or series to read while I wait patiently for the third book.
Tell us 1 or 2 fun things you discovered in our library!
Among all the academic text there are quite the few odd titles in the library such as Letters from a Cat and Pirates: with a foreword and sundry decorations that are just interesting to peruse.