Check out these Libraries in Disney Parks, in the Walt Disney Company, and in your own Community!
Amanda Pemberton (Main Street Library) joins Eric to explore the fascinating intersection of Disney and libraries in Real Life. In honor of National Library Week, they explore Disney libraries and library-like spaces in the Parks, in the Studio, and of course, you can find Disney in Libraries in your own life! They discuss the rich history of Disney's storytelling and how the Walt Disney Company has curated and preserved its history through various library spaces. Amanda shares insights from her work, including her research on Disney parks and library-like spaces such as the Voyageurs Lounge at Riviera Resort and the Enchanted Rose. They also delve into iconic attractions like the Swiss Family Treehouse and the Haunted Mansion, highlighting their unique library aesthetics. The episode covers the history and significance of real Disney libraries, such as the Walt Disney Studio Research Library, the Animation Research Library, and the Walt Disney Archives. They also discuss how to build a personal Disney book collection and where to find Disney-related resources in public libraries. Whether you're a Disney fan, a librarian, or just curious about the magic of Disney's storytelling, this episode offers a deep dive into how Disney connects with libraries worldwide.
Check out Amanda Pemberton and Main Street Library: https://mainstreetlibrary.substack.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mainstreetlibrarian/
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00:04 --> 02:56 Synergy loves company. We have this coterie of rich franchises, the company now that people want to engage with. I came here to try and continue what Walt Disney and his associates set in motion 50 years ago, which is to experiment with every new and innovative kind of entertainment possible. It's what we hope to do here, to really develop something that, well, just more than an entertainment enterprise, it's something that contributes in many other ways. Who doesn't love a good story? Stories help us learn. They connect us to our past, and, of course, they entertain us. Storytelling is at the heart of everything Disney does. From the very beginning, Disney animation has brought timeless tales to life. Live action films helped expand the ways that Disney told stories on the silver screen. And the theme parks immersed us in the worlds of our favorite stories like never before. But over the years, we Disney fans have become especially fascinated by one story in particular, the story of Disney itself. The history of the Walt Disney Company is as rich and captivating as the stories it tells. In fact, Disney has dedicated more time and energy to. To collecting and preserving its own history than just about any other company I can think of. And where do you keep a collection of stories and histories and special artifacts when you want to preserve them and share them? In a library, of course. So in honor of National Libraries Week, we are exploring the many ways you can connect with Disney through libraries, inside the parks, within the Disney Company itself, and even in your own world. Hey, this is Synergy Loves Company, where we explore how Disney connects to everything so you can feel connected to Disney even when you can't be at the parks. I'm Eric, and keeping me company today I'm really excited. Is a Disney historian and writer whose current research focuses on Disney libraries. And that's probably no surprise because just like me, she's both a librarian and a Disney fan. Amanda Pemberton, welcome to the show.
02:56 --> 02:58 Hey, thank you so much for having me today.
02:59 --> 03:46 Yeah, I'm super excited to talk about this because, like I said, we're both librarians. It's something near and dear to our hearts. So, yeah, I think where I want to start talking is you have done a lot of work. Well, on libraries and Disney, of course, but on the parks themselves, you have your. Your substack Main street librarian, and you've done some work with WDW magazine, which, of course, is all about the parks. So let's. Let's start out a little bit with our favorite library spaces and even, like, library like, spaces in and around the Disney parks. So I want to hear from you. What's your favorite Disney library spaces?
03:47 --> 04:37 My favorite is probably. I don't know if you've been to the Voyagers Lounge before at Riviera Resort. That is probably my favorite library space. And it was something I actually discovered a trip in 2023. But it's a library inspired lounge. And they've got a cafe kind of outside of it, but inside the lounge. It's filled with books and memorabilia. And it all kind of pays homage to Disney's history and Walt's love of travel. But what's kind of interesting is that I feel like this little space holds more history than people realize, which I'll talk about in a little bit. But they've got tons of, like, books all on the shelf. It's a beautiful space. Have you ever been, Eric, to. To inside the Voyagers Lounge?
04:37 --> 04:45 I was gonna say I have never been inside Voyagers Lounge. My family, we love to go. So we're. We're skyliner people.
04:45 --> 04:46 Okay.
04:46 --> 05:01 And we love to go to. We love to go to the Riviera just in general. And I've been in Riviera tons of times. Tons of times. But we have never taken the chance to go to the Voyager Lounge.
05:01 --> 05:01 Okay.
05:01 --> 05:02 Isn't that crazy?
05:02 --> 05:04 That is crazy. Well, next trip.
05:04 --> 05:18 Yes. So, yeah, it's like one of those things that I'm like, I gotta make sure I do this. So, yeah, I want you. I want you to sell me on it a little bit. What makes it great for a library fan. Like what you.
05:18 --> 07:34 You walk in and it is floor to ceiling bookshelves filled with books. Now the books, they are fixed to the shelves, so you can't take them off to read or anything like that. But the books and the different pieces that they have on display in some of their glass cabinets, like I mentioned, it all connects back to Walt's European travels. But the books that are on the shelves actually are. They're supposed to represent the collection that Walt brought back with him from his trip to Europe in 1935. So Walt did a trip to Europe, 1935. He bought tons of books. He bought. Actually, I have the number here, hold on. He bought about 335 books, and he was bringing them back to the studio. And actually at that time, they had just hired their first official librarian for their Disney studio research library. And they were hired just in time to catalog all of these books and receive them. And that's kind of what was added to that library collection. But what's neat about the Voyagers Lounge, some of the titles like, if you look at the spines, they have especially curated this collection to have titles within it that were actually some of those same titles that were purchased by Walt Disney. So you'll see Pinocchio, you'll see Robinson Crusoe, and there's even copies of the invoices for some of these bookstores on display in those class cabinets. Yeah. So you can go and have a look, and it shows you the list of book titles, and then again, you can correspond with what's on the shelves. So whoever designed this space. Space, I'm just in awe by all of the. The details from the book spines to those. Those book invoices as well. It's just such a beautiful space. It's. It's all done with dark wood for the shelving. And I honestly, I want to go and sit in the Voyagers Lounge one day and do some of my research because it's just such a. A wonderful vibe to it. It's. It's definitely, hands down, my favorite. My favorite library space. So it's kind of funny that we're starting with it. There's so love. But I have a special connection with this one, too, and kind of how it inspired some of my own research. So. No, it's. It's a lovely space, for sure.
07:35 --> 08:42 That's awesome. And that's one of those things, too, where, like, I wonder if that's. You talked about sitting in that space, kind of having that. That nice environment and wanting to even do your research there. It's like, I wonder if that's one of those things that, you know, our favorite library spaces can tell us a little something about what kind of librarian we are, what kind of researchers we are, because that. That's a. It sounds like a really awesome, nice space to work in. And it seems like it gets into that deep, rich history of the. Of the company of Walt and the stories he brought back, which. Let's. Let's talk. I want to. I want to shift gears within the parks areas in the. And let's talk about the stories, of course, because one of the stories, I think, like, if people see that this is a library episode, they're thinking, okay, one of the stories that, like, has a big library in it, of course, is Beauty and the Beast. And Beauty and the Beast has a lot around the park.
08:42 --> 08:43 Yes.
08:43 --> 09:35 That ties into kind of library spaces in. In the parks. All. All. Well, really all throughout the United States. So there's one that I will. I'll call out first and say that it is. It's gone. Pretty recently. A few years ago is the Beasts Library was actually part of. Part of California Adventures Animation Experience kind of area. And it closed in 2022, but it was like you could go and interact in the Beast's library. But then I realized later when you brought to my attention that it was really just kind of a similar ver. An attraction that's still at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, and that is Enchanted Tales with Belle. I totally forgot that this show, I guess you'd call it a show, it's like an interactive experience, takes place within the library.
09:35 --> 09:50 That's right. Yeah. I'm going to be honest. I was on my bucket list to do my last trip in March. I didn't get to it. March break. It's a busy time, so it'll have to be a next trip. But I did. Oh, sorry. Go ahead.
09:51 --> 09:56 No, I was going to say this is one where I can. I can tell you a little bit about it, because I have done it. Oh, no.
09:56 --> 09:57 Tell me.
09:57 --> 11:22 Yeah, I'll take. I'll take over a little bit. So I don't know. I don't know if this is. This is a spoiler or not, but. And I'll. I'm sorry if you're like, oh, no, you just spoiled it for me. But I'll go into it because it is an attraction, of course. So you go in. When you go in, you're not actually going into the castle, because the castle, of course, is the restaurant to be our guest restaurant when you're in that section of Fantasyland. So you go into Maurice's cottage and the coolest thing ever. And I still like, okay, I know in theory how it works, but I still don't know how it works, but the mirror on the wall magically transforms into a portal in through, like, space and time that you travel through. And you magically. Yes, you magically then find yourself in the castle, like during the timeline of Beauty and the Beast or like, just shortly after. Yeah, it's. It's the coolest thing. So then you kind of. You kind of go into the cottage, you have that experience, and then you kind of kind of like, second. That's like the pre show part. Then you kind of second cue through through the castle and you end up in the library where then Belle tells you a story. It's just like, you know, like good old going to your public library and it's, you know, story time with the children's library and. Except the children's librarian is Belle.
11:22 --> 11:23 That's so magical.
11:23 --> 11:25 It is really awesome.
11:25 --> 11:26 Yeah.
11:26 --> 11:37 And I totally. I can't believe it. I totally forgot that that was a. A library, that you'd see it in the library. Because the show's happening and you're watching the show. And I was like, wait a minute. That was the library.
11:37 --> 11:37 Yes.
11:37 --> 11:39 So now that's cool.
11:39 --> 12:02 Yeah. Very neat. Yeah. Like you said, I had seen pictures of the Beast Library at Disney's California Adventure. It looked very grand, like, very. Like the tall ceilings. It. It looked very impressive. So I'm sad that I'll never get to see it, but. No, this. Enchanted Tales with Belle, my next trip, like, it's. It's a must. I'm a huge Beauty and the Beast fan. It's all about the library.
12:03 --> 12:03 Yes.
12:04 --> 12:25 I have to make it to the show. Do you know why? Actually, when we were. I was kind of looking through and seeing. Because, like you had mentioned, Belle is one. Or Beauty and the Beast is one of those stories that when we think of Beauty and the Beast, we also think of that amazing library. There is also on the Disney Wish. There is also a library on there. Have you seen pictures of this?
12:25 --> 12:27 I was unaware of this.
12:27 --> 13:14 Okay. So I was doing a little bit of digging as one librarian does, doing a little research. And I was looking at the Disney Wish, and it's actually part of their kids club. So adults can't go unless it's one of those preview days or. I forget what they call them. But adults can visit the space during. Is it open hour? Something like that. And so you can go and check out the space. But they actually have. In one of their kids clubs, they've got Bell's Library. Now, it's a lot smaller in scale, but it's got all the features. It's got the fireplace, it's got the bookshelves. It's got these beautiful. Everything's, like, beautifully decorated as well. The chairs, the carpeting, like, it all is very cohesive. And again, they've brought Beauty and the Beast story. But to the Disney Wish this time, it looks really, really incredible. But another library. There you go.
13:14 --> 13:25 Jeffrey R. That's so cool. So many of them do have to do with Beauty and the Beast too, right? Because that is the quintessential Disney animated library movie.
13:26 --> 13:43 The best. The best. I still think about it. I was one of those 90s kids that grew up with the Disney Renaissance. And so Beauty and the Beast. I still remember seeing that scene and thinking, wow, I was impressed then. And still to this day, it gives me all the feels when I watch that scene.
13:43 --> 14:19 It was a big deal, just the movie in general, but it was. And it was great to watch, too, because I'm from that same generation. Those are my Disney movies, those 90s ones. And so that's. Yeah. No, it's so cool. And so let's stick in with the Beauty and the Beast theme, and I might actually take your. I'm going to take your Voyager's Lounge, that lounge idea, and the Beauty and the Beast stuff, and we're going to smash them together because there's another space that's, like, maybe library vibes, but not necessarily a library, per se, and that's that. The Enchanted Rose.
14:19 --> 14:24 Lovely. I love it. I think about it from time to time. It's such a lovely space.
14:25 --> 14:56 Yeah. I've only ever visited it during the day, like, I. So when we travel to Walt Disney World, we don't often go. We'll go to the, you know, like, the Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts is kind of like a midday break. So we usually pop in there and it's not yet open. So I've kind of, like, poked myself around there. But I've never actually sat down and kind of enjoyed a drink there or, you know, some of their snacks.
14:56 --> 14:57 Okay.
14:57 --> 15:00 Yeah. No, but it is a really cool. It's a cool space.
15:01 --> 16:40 It is. It is. But you're right. It's another lounge. It's. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. If you do get a chance to go, their drinks menu is actually quite impressive. But you can order drinks. There's appetizers as well, but that's all. That's what it is. Like, it's drinks and appetizers, but it's actually a nice little place to stop in before going to dinner, if you're within that kind of area anyways. But no, like, in terms of library aesthetics, of course. Of course, I had to get up from the table and check it out. But it has subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast. It's so tastefully done. Like, it's. You wouldn't. If you didn't know or hadn't seen Beauty and the Beast, I don't think you would make the connection, like the Beauty and Beast connection. But if you were a Beauty and the Beast fan or a Disney fan and you're walking through the space, they have all of these subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast, like they've got. On the bookshelves, you can see Cogsworth and Lumiere on the Firemantle. And you also can see the Enchanted Rose. And I, I. Now that I'm Trying to think about it. They have pulled those kind of replicas from the live action movie. So Cogsworth and Lumiere and the Enchanted Rose, I, I believe, like, their style, it comes from live action. But they've got bookshelves in the space, so if you have a chance to check out the spines. I don't know what it is. Anytime I go to someone's house or I see bookshelves, I'm always checking out the spines. I'm like, all right, what does this tell me about this person? But yes, there's. There's books on the shelves there. You can explore what's on them. But no, it's. It's another beautiful library space. I. I don't know who comes up with these library spaces at Disney, but I want in. I want on this team.
16:40 --> 16:43 Right. That would be so cool, right, to.
16:43 --> 17:04 Be a part of that conversation. Like, how do you. Like what, how do you decide what books are going on the shelf? Like, what's going into this space? I think that'd be such a neat conversation to have with some of the imagineers. But. But yes, another beautiful space. Enchanted Rose, wonderful. If you're getting. Maybe ordering a drink. The. Is it the lavender fog? It's delicious. I highly recommend, Highly recommend.
17:06 --> 17:09 I'm writing that down, lavender fog, just because I like the sound of that.
17:11 --> 17:18 And all of their drinks. Like, again, it's themed. It's themed to the space. They. I don't know, they do an excellent job there, that's for sure.
17:18 --> 18:01 Yeah, it's that, it's that deep theming. And we're still, we're still hanging out in the, in the theme park space here because there's still. There are still more libraries that we can, we can see in the parks. And what. I think, I think this is one of my favorites. And you actually, you wrote about this one. You've wrote about a lot of the ones that we. Or you've. You've posted about, I should say too, you've posted about on your Instagram a lot of these spaces as being these awesome library spaces. But this one, I know you did post a little while back, and that's the, the library and the Swiss family tree house. Because I'm like, these people live in a tree and they have the space to make a library. Everyone could have libraries and books in their lives.
18:02 --> 18:58 I love that they. Right. They're thinking about the essentials to survive. And a library was one of those essential things. So, yeah, absolutely. It's such a huge. It's Not. I went. I went to. Actually, we did Swiss Family Treehouse again during my trip in March. And I had a closer look at the library because I always knew, like, the library, there's that sign there, and I never really stopped to take it in. And I thought. I don't know what I thought. I thought there was a shelf or something. It's a desk with maybe like seven books on the table. And I thought. I don't know why my bar was so high. They were shipwrecked. Like what. Like that would make sense. Seven books they were able to. To salvage. And this is their little library. But like you said, the fact that they. They carved out a space for the library and they made a sign, and it's perfect. I. I would agree. It's another. It's another favorite little nod to a library space in the parks, for sure.
18:58 --> 19:41 And that's. Yeah, it's. It's something simple, but it's. It's really. It's really cool. And I. I like how it's kind of like one of those. Like, you can really have a library anyway anywhere. Like those little free libraries people put in their. Their yards and those. Those things like that. You know, like a bookmobile. Like, you could have a library anywhere and that. And that. You know, I would. I would love to study and do some research myself in the. In the Swiss Family Treehouse as. As a cool other. Other than all the people walking. Walking by, watching you. But, you know, if you could just be up there by yourself and. And do a little research up in the. In the Swiss Family Treehouse, that would be awesome.
19:41 --> 19:44 It would be perfect. It's very tranquil.
19:47 --> 20:29 All right. We still have more in Disney parks. More library. Can you believe? Because I. When you think about libraries in Disney's parks, they don't. They don't, like, jump out at you necessarily, especially if you're not thinking about libraries all the time, which maybe we do more than most people, but they don't always jump right out at you like a big. I forgot about the one in Belle's Enchanted Tales, but we have. If we go down the treehouse and across the path, we get into the Skipper Canteen. And this is another one you brought up to me that I was like. I forgot that this was a very special room in the Skipper Canteen and there is a library in it.
20:29 --> 20:35 Yes. I think to your point, too. I think it's so well integrated into their storytelling in the parks.
20:35 --> 20:35 Yes.
20:35 --> 21:04 That. I think you're right, because we're librarians and we're thinking books, we're like, oh, library. But yeah, I think they do such a neat job integrating especially some of the other libraries that we're going to talk about or library spaces that we're going to talk about with some more attractions. But like you said, jungle for the Skipper Canteen. I love the idea behind the restaurant as well. Like it's supposed to be their Skipper's headquarters and they opened up a kitchen and they connect it all. I don't know how familiar you are with the C storyline.
21:05 --> 21:06 Oh yes, I love it.
21:06 --> 22:36 Right. So as soon as I found out about that connection being integrated with the library, I was like, the space is perfect. But for those that aren't familiar, there's three dining areas in the Skipper Canteen. And where the library is situated, it's kind of like in a little hallway. It's supposed to. It's supposed to kind of replicate. There was like a secret passage there at one point where you would have to kind of pull on one of the books as if it was like a lever. It kind of sticks out that way, which takes you into a back room which is known as the C room. So what if they say, I guess from some of the storytelling I was reading, it was once a secret meeting place for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. So of course, naturally I go and have lunch there. I check out the books, I check out the spines. I see what's there. Lots of Jungle Cruise Skipper puns everywhere on these books. What else would you expect in a Skipper Skipper Library? And a lot of nods to Disney legends and imagineers as well, which I always love when they find ways to pay nods to some of our Disney legends and imagineers through some of our. Through their work and their storytelling in the parks. I don't think the shelves are actually called. I don't know if they're. If they actually label them as a library. They're library to us. It is. It's several bookshelves. It's bigger than. Than the Swiss Family Treehouse. So it.
22:36 --> 22:36 Sure.
22:37 --> 23:16 But again, the shelves, they're floor to ceiling. There's even artifacts on the shelves as well. And in. They also have like hats as well on display that belong to members of sea. So again, it's well curated space Imagineers. They did it again. Lots of thought went into what those books were individually were on the shelves, which I always love to see. But yeah, another beautiful space. So if you have time or if you're having lunch or dinner and doesn't matter what dining area you're Sitting in. You can always kind of get up in between or after and check out the bookshelves. It's. It's a really neat space as well.
23:16 --> 23:43 I love that. And yeah, I was going to say. I know you're gonna. I knew you were gonna have the scoop on the spines, because that's the. The best part. And I love to hear that. There's a lot of Skipper jokes in there, but then also some of those. Those seac Society of Explorer and Adventurer kind of people kind of represented. Because I love. I. I always just want to know more about all of that. It's so, like, fun and mysterious, you know, it is.
23:43 --> 23:56 It's almost like Disney lore or legend. Like, people know about it, but it's not as well known or. I don't know how to describe it. Like, it's not in your face in the parks. Like, it's very subtle. Like their integration.
23:56 --> 24:30 Yes. And they. They just keep finding new, fun ways to kind of. It's one of those things that connects a lot within Disney, which I love. Like when you can connect attractions together. And then even, like, I know Jack Lindsay's hanger bar has some references to it, too. So then it's like, now we're pulling in the world of. Of Indiana Jones into the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. So it's like. There's just, like layers and it's. It's just such a cool integration to get everything kind of combined like that. I love it.
24:30 --> 25:15 Yeah, likewise. Likewise. Back to the books. I didn't even. One of the examples, for instance, like, just to give you an example for one of those Skipper puns, like Primates of the Caribbean, of course, a playoff Pirates of the Caribbean. Like, it's stuff like that that's on the spines. Or there was even another one here where it says the author is Coats, which I assume is a nod to Claude Coates, who was a background painter. He's also a Disney legend. But that's an example of the kinds of things you'll see on the book spines. But again, just such a fun way that they've integrated Disney legends, imagineers, Skipper jokes or Skipper puns. And then, like you said, also the Sea Integral or the Society of Explorers and Ventures integration. It's all. It's all there. It's a really cool library space, for sure.
25:16 --> 25:46 That is so cool. Yeah. It's like we just need more of these and we actually have a couple more. And then we have one that you and I were getting to and. Well, let's get. I'M gonna bring, I'm gonna bring another one up. Okay, but let's, let's, let's talk about the Haunted Mansion because there's some library spaces. And they will go from one iconic attraction, the Jungle Cruise and the Skipper Canteen, to the Haunted Mansion. Yes, this is another libraries.
25:46 --> 27:08 Yeah, this is another favorite of mine, like Voyager's Lounge. I have, like a personal special connection with my research and stuff like that. But Haunted Mansion is definitely, I think, my runner up. You don't see it for very long. Like, you don't get to stay in the space. Like, very different from the Skipper Canteen where you can actually stay put. Or even Swiss Family Treehouse. You can scope out the area. You're in your dune buggy, your time is limited, and you see it and then it's gone, and then you continue on the attraction. So you only have that, that blip of a moment to take in the library. But I love the Han Mansion in general. It's one of my favorite attractions. So naturally, the library, the fact that it has a library in the space is definitely near and dear to. But what's interesting about the library is that this room, it's the only room inside the library space, is only inside the attraction at Walt Disney World. And then I was having a look. It's only. The only other spot is Tokyo Disneyland that has a library. The other versions of Haunted Mansion, throughout the other parks, they don't have a library space. But I can only. Yeah, yeah. Because I know that they've. I had to have a look because I know that they have changed the Haunted Mansion attraction in some of the different parks. And I, to be honest, I've never been on the Disneyland one, so I had to have a look. But yeah, it's just the two that have a library within them, which is interesting.
27:08 --> 27:19 Yeah. And I'm sure I'm. I'm thinking, if I remember correctly, that Tokyo's is more or less a copy paste of Walt Disney World, which would make sense that those are the two.
27:20 --> 27:21 Yeah, that would make sense.
27:21 --> 27:46 But yeah, no, for California's, for Disneylands. When we went to Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion was of course, closed for refurbishment, so we didn't get to ride it there. But we, you know, I've just always gone through it on Walt Disney World. So it's like, it's cool that we have that, you know, flash of a space. But no, it's not anywhere else other than Walt Disney World and Tokyo.
27:46 --> 29:04 Yeah. Which is kind of neat. It makes it unique, special. Yes. But the Library for those that if you haven't been on the Haunted Mansion attraction, it's one of the first spaces you enter. And again, I love the esthetics of this library. Like, it's dark, it's very moody. You have floor to ceiling shelving, again, filled with books. There's also library bus. I don't know if you're big on Halloween, but spirit Halloween, I will say they had the marble bus from the library. They had it for the past two years in a row. Row. I definitely bought one. I didn't buy the other one and I regret it. I hope they bring it back again this year. But those very marble busts that you see on display in the library, you can have them for your own personal home library. But those are there as well on the shelves. And they follow. You can see they have that. That illusion where they follow you as you move along in the dune buggy, which is a really cool effect by the Imagineers. There's also a table and some comfortable armchairs. It is. I don't think I would ever decorate in that fashion. I appreciate it and I love it. So I definitely love the vibe of it. But yeah, it definitely is very moody, very spooky. But definitely one up there is one of my favorites, for sure.
29:04 --> 29:18 Yeah, I agree with you in that I would love to. I love to look at it as I'm zooming by, but I don't think I would want to do my research and reading there. It would be too creepy for me. I don't like scary stuff that much.
29:18 --> 29:21 No, no, no. In and out. This was nice. Let's.
29:21 --> 29:26 Right. Some people I know, that's their vibe and they would love to just like hang out in there. But that's.
29:26 --> 30:13 Yeah, yeah, no, I'm good. I can move on to the next. Let's keep that dune buggy moving. Another detail, actually, about the Haunted Mansion that I wanted to bring up. There's the library space, but actually in the queue. There's also another bookish reference when you're walking through the Haunted Mansion queue. So you have the graveyard and you see all of the tombstones. There's actually a crypt for the poet Prudence Pa. And there's a glowing book inside the crypt that you can have a look at that has Prudence's poetry. So I've always. I guess I've done Lightning Lanes or I've gone late enough in the evening where I haven't really spent a whole lot of time waiting in the queue. But if anyone who's listening finds Themselves in the queue. Definitely another bookish reference to have a lookout for.
30:13 --> 30:37 Yeah, that's really. Yeah. Cause they do sometimes cut off some of those Easter eggs from the queue if it's short enough. So that is. That's a good point. I know. Sometimes I'll be like, we saw that last time. But why did we. Oh, no, it was back there. And they didn't make us go through there, like, you know what I mean? And it's. It's kind of sad sometimes, but then on the other hand, it's like, okay, I know I do want to get on this. This ride faster, so I'll take it.
30:37 --> 30:37 Exactly.
30:37 --> 30:41 No, that's a good one to look out for if you're in the queue.
30:41 --> 30:42 Yeah.
30:42 --> 31:38 So, like, as we're talking about, like, you know, these libraries and these spaces that Disney, you know, they do so well, and they do that theming so well that they are just embedded in the spaces. Your substack and your Instagram is Main street library or library and Main street librarian for Instagram. And that really made me think of how there isn't a library on Main street. And if, if Walt was really going for that whole spot, you know, of like the town square, like, what. What more would you. You need a library. Right? So I know you have thought about that before, of course, because we were talking a little bit about that. But I, I want to hear what, what you would want from a Main street library in Walt Disney World or Disneyland.
31:38 --> 32:20 Yeah, it almost feels like a missed opportunity because you're right. Like, if you go to any sort of like, small town or just any city, like usually not far from Main street, you would have your public library. So. Yeah, it's funny that you. You bring that up because I was mentioning before my, my parents and I, we were talking about, you know, I'm switching my substack to Main street library and I'm now Main Street Librarian on Instagram. And I had mentioned to them, or we were chatting and talking about, wouldn't it be neat? Like, where. Where would a Main street library be on Main Street? Like, where on Main street, usa? Where would that even be located? I need to do a trip back. This is again, me just justifying. I need to go back.
32:20 --> 32:23 I support that. I support that.
32:23 --> 33:22 I will take any, any excuse, any opportunity to jump back there. But yes, a trip to decide where would be the best location to have Main Street Library. But what would be, like, where it would be located? I think that square is such a prime spot, so definitely somewhere there. I think would be the best location for a library. And when I think about this is just me being imaginative, but like to think what would be in the collection. Like in the collection or available. I think, you know how you had mentioned how Disney does such a great job kind of embedding their history within the parks and how they preserve their own history. And they're a company that does that very well. I think, you know, a lot of those books and resources would be in a Main street library. Like, that's what I would envision the space to have. It would have all the things. But doing just covering that content, for sure, that's.
33:22 --> 33:38 Now I want there to be a Main street library, but there is one on Substack so people could go see how I did that there. So people could go find you there. But no, that would be so cool because I love things like One Man Stream and I wish we had more of that.
33:38 --> 33:42 Yes, I agree. I'm a big fan of stuff like that in the parks, for sure.
33:42 --> 34:28 That's so cool. So we've talked a lot about the parks and we are just getting into that real history of Disney, talking about what a Main street library might be. And I want to talk about those real Disney libraries because I think both of us love the fact that Disney has done such a good job of, you know, using libraries in the company and preserving their history and preserving the stories, bringing, like you mentioned, those that the. The books that were brought back by Walt to kind of start. Help start a library in the company back in. In the 30s. So let's talk about the real. The real libraries of Disney.
34:29 --> 34:34 All right. This is like my bread and butter. I've been doing so much research on this. It's so fun.
34:34 --> 34:43 I'm just gonna let you go. I'm just gonna let you go. Run with it. Because I just want to learn and absorb from you on the actual Disney libraries.
34:43 --> 37:23 And I'm still learning. And that's the thing about, I think, being a librarian too. Like, you're always doing research. You're always finding information. I think that's been the fun part about learning about Disney libraries, is that now I'm doing this research and learning for. They're just such incredible spaces. But just to kind of kick things off, I've got a list here. First up, I'm just having a look here. I think the first one I want to talk about is the Walt Disney Studio Research Library. Now it no longer exists, but just tying back to the Voyagers Lounge, those books that Walt Disney had brought back from his trip from Europe in 1935. I believe. From what I have been able to find, I think it's possible that the library existed starting in 1930, but no librarian had been hired yet. So I still have to do a little bit of digging. But it seems from some of the research I've been able to find the night in 1930, there was a space with resources but no librarian to look after the collection. So the first librarian for that space actually was hired in 1935. But the first librarian was her married name afterwards was Helen Hennessy. She married actually someone who worked in the animation department at Disney. A lot of that happened during the time, but she was the first librarian hired in 1935 and she cataloged that whole collection of books brought back from Europe. But the library itself, it provided research for the animated and live action films. And I don't want to speak too much to it, but some of the research I've been doing, I've been looking at, you know, people who worked there and the different work that they did. But the library served many different departments. They were. There were many studio research libraries during that time, I would say about the 1930s, almost every studio had a library to help with research support for their films. But the library at the Disney studio, it served the animation department, story department. It also helped. Helped do research for company lawyers, designers, just to name a few different departments. Like, it just wasn't just the story department. It just wasn't just the animators that sought help from the. From the library staff there. It served quite a few different departments, but mainly they're predominantly their bread and butter was doing research for animated and live action films. But the library, it did disband in 1986, so they no longer have the studio research library. They do have other library spaces we'll talk about in a little bit, but that space no longer exists.
37:24 --> 37:32 Gotcha. That's it. So it disappeared under Michael Eisner, who, yes, is my. He's my favorite. But now I'm a little mad at him.
37:32 --> 37:36 I know, I feel. So as I was doing this research because I.
37:36 --> 37:37 Who's.
37:37 --> 38:23 I was listening to another podcaster and they jokingly referred to him as Mikey. And I'm like, oh, Mikey. As soon as, like, I had found out that the library was disbanded under his. His time there. But yeah, looking into and uncovering kind of, you know, reasons why. And there were a lot of studio libraries kind of dissolving and they were selling and they were donating their collections to public libraries. And some individual people were even buying these collections and then writing, running private libraries. So it wasn't just Disney at the time doing away with the research libraries. There was a lot of studios that kind of were doing away with it. So it's still information that I'm still trying to dig through and understand. But yeah, it's a very interesting history, for sure.
38:23 --> 38:58 Yeah, that is so cool. And I do love reading your updates on your research with it because you from time to time will pop up with some cool stuff that you found out through interviews or just like deep dives and all that kind of stuff. So that's really good stuff. This kind of library, like the. That it would be a lot of kind of external sources, right? Not like within the company sources, but like if I wanted to find information that I could use to make my movie. Or was it. Am I mistaken? Was it a lot. Was there more internal resources from Disney?
38:58 --> 42:40 They did collection development, like they would bring in resources like books, they had magazines, they would do a lot of like clippings, like getting different images. And they had a picture collection as well. Is my understanding that, say, animators would use for reference? They did a lot of interesting. Like I was talking to some of the different researchers that work there and some of their reference questions that they would get. Like they would be making a phone call to a different state and saying, hey, do you have a person by such and such name? Or does this license plate or this postal code, is this actually used within that state? Like, very obscure questions. So again, questions from some of the lawyers, for instance, like, gotta make sure we don't get sued with some of the information that's being included in the script and things like that. Definitely from a library perspective, it's very interesting. But from the people I've talked to, they did a lot of amazing work. I'm just in complete awe from some of the research that they did. And so that library is disbanded. There are still libraries, space or libraries that exist within the Walt Disney Company. Again, again, I'm still doing research to find if there's more or just even more information on some of the ones that I'm already aware of. There's the Anime Animation Research Library, which as I went through learning about it, it acts more of an archive kind of. You'll understand what I mean in a second. It's not. So these libraries are not open to the public. They're just for internal use. There is a request form, though. I've done some digging. There's a request form, if you want to request and inquire if you can do, you know, if you're an individual researcher, I think that's a lot. It's a difficult process. I'm going to try it, though. I'm going to try and fill it up. I'm going to take my chances and see what's the worst they can say. But, yes, it's not open to the general public. What this library does, it preserves Disney's animation history. It was actually once called the Morgue until the 1980s. It used to be actually located under the studio grounds. There were tunnels underneath. That's how they would take and transfer some of the different cells back and forth between ink and paint. And then the animation building. But they actually have this building, right? Or, sorry, they have the. The Morgue located just underneath ink and paint. And it housed old scripts and animation art, like concept art and animation cells, a bunch of those pieces. And so what would happen is, after working on a film, all that research, concept art and animation would have to be put somewhere, making room for the next project. And so they would basically shove it in the morgue just below the ink and paint building. But from what I understand, the Animation Research Library, it has since moved. It's no longer there. I'm not sure where it's located today. There's actually a YouTube video you can watch, and Don Hahn is the host, and he does a whole tour of the Animation Research Library. It's a really great video if you want to have a closer look and see. See the amazing work that they do there. But he tours it and they have a look at how this library houses original sketches, concept art pieces, sculptures, animation cells. So really, they do preservation work there, it seems, and employees from the company, they can access materials, you know, for inspiration, research purposes, to help kind of inform future projects that they're working on and things like that. It's a really neat space, but I say it is called a research library, but it almost acts like an archive because they're still preserving those original selves. But it's interesting because what they're being used for is definitely. It's still a library. It functions as a library. People are coming to use those materials as reference materials. So it's an interesting space.
42:41 --> 42:46 That is a very interesting. It's a library and an archive all in one.
42:46 --> 43:22 Yeah, it really is. Yeah. There's the Animation Research Library. And then I guess talking a little bit about archives, there's the Walt Disney Archives. Again, this is closed to the public. However, you can tour a Bit of the archives, if you do a Disney Adventures Tour or D23, if you are a member, they offer different events that you can sign up for. And the archives, you can do a studio lot tour and the archives is included on that tour. That is definitely a bucket list item for me. I have not done it, but it is something I really want to do one day.
43:22 --> 43:23 That would be so cool.
43:23 --> 44:23 Yeah. Right now, libraries and archives, I guess for those listening, I don't know how clear, I guess people, like, people seem to think, or people I've talked to, they seem to interchange archives and libraries sometimes. So just so that people who are listening, libraries, they're designed more for, like, I guess, accessing information. Like they collect materials like books, magazines, digital resources. People use them for reading and research, for education, things like that. Whereas an archive, it's more about preservation. They have unique historical materials such as letters, photographs, manuscripts, things like that. So their purpose is more preservation, historical research, stuff like that. So just. So if people are listening, they're like, oh, libraries, archives, there is a bit of a difference, but they're very much. They've got a lot of crossover and similarities. So that's why in library world, archivists and librarians, like, we're all part of the same world, if you will, but just two different spaces.
44:23 --> 44:25 It's like siblings in the same family.
44:26 --> 46:21 Yes, exactly. Exactly. That's a good way to describe it. But the Walt Disney archives, it was established in 1970 by Dave Smith. I'm a huge Dave Smith fan. Right. As soon as I found out he had his MLS and he was a librarian, I was like, oh, my gosh. There was someone who worked at Disney and he was a librarian and archivist. I'm a huge Dave Smith fan. But he established the archive. He was actually working. If I have the faculty straight, I was reading about him. He had worked, I guess, Was it ucla? He was working, yeah, the libraries. And then this is sort of a neat story. And Disney, I guess UCLA wanted to see if they could house some of Disney's records and like, and create. Not like. Not act as an archive, but I guess, I guess so, like, just helping out with that. And they realized that they. Disney was just so big, they wouldn't be able to. To look after their collection. And so I guess Dave Smith had come up with a plan and submitted it to Disney. And Disney, like, basically tapped on his shoulder and said, hey, why don't you come start an archive for us? And that's how he kind of got going with developing and Establishing the archive at Disney. But, yeah, Dave Smith established it. The archives, during the time of day. Smith, I want to say, you know, from what it looks like it was. He was very good about opening the doors of the archives to independent researchers and. And people who wanted to come and use some of those materials. Now I feel like the vibe has very much changed since Dave is no longer there. Like I said, it's not open to the public. It's. It's mainly internal use for those materials. But nevertheless, like I said, you can go and do a studio tour and. And have a peek inside the reading room. And I don't know what other spaces they show you within the archives, but it is something people can check out for sure.
46:21 --> 47:37 Yes. And I've heard. I. So I love a good Dave Smith story, and I'm glad you shared his, like, origin story, because, yeah, I do love the fact that he had his MLIS degree, his master's of Library and Information science, like, like, us librarians, right? So he's like. He's like us. He's like, yes. And he. He always. So I always hear these stories about early Dave Smith. I've read in different places or hurt on different interviews and podcasts and things where he would, like, just kind of, like, show up and like, r. Rifle through things to find stuff and then, like, take it when he was like, I think this is important, or, like, go digging. And that's. I think he was one of the ones who helped locate. There was. What was it? There was something from the Mary Poppins original movie that, like, ended up on a janitor's closet shelf. But it was like, Dave Smith and his mentality of, like, let's just go into rooms and like, hey, what's that? What's this? And just kind of like, rifle through the Disney property. So I just have this, like, vision of him, like, on the studio lot. Just, like, go, you know, climbing through bushes, looking through windows. Just like, anywhere. I'm gonna find the stuff. Like, I. So that's like my. My, you know, tall tale version of Dave Smith. But I just love that idea.
47:37 --> 47:39 Yeah, absolutely. Oh, Dave.
47:40 --> 47:40 Right.
47:40 --> 48:12 I still remember as a kid, I had a Disney magazine. I only had one. It was a special edition for the 75th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. I still remember going to the back and it had an Ask Dave column. And I remember reading. I was like, oh, gosh, I would love to submit a question. And it wasn't until years later that I made the connection that that was Dave Smith. It took a while for Me to make that connection. I was like, oh my goodness. Like the very person that I think, wow, this guy's really cool. He has his MLA is Ask Dave from that magazine. So it took me, took me a little longer than some people to make that connection.
48:12 --> 48:19 Crazy that that's the part you gravitated towards growing up with that magazine and then that's the direction you went. Right.
48:19 --> 48:21 Meant to be. Meant to be.
48:22 --> 48:23 Oh, that's so cool.
48:23 --> 49:31 Yeah. So that's the archives. One other library I do want to mention is the Imagineering Library. And this is the library I know the least about. I feel like there's not a ton of information about it. It's very hush hush secret. I can say that it was formerly the WED Library, the Walter Elias Disney Library before Imagineering got that branding and the spate. And it wasn't when Disneyland was built. My understanding is the WED Library did not exist yet. And so actually the Walt Disney Studio Library fielded a lot of the research and reference questions that they had about, you know, constructing Disneyland. So if there were any questions that went all to the Studio Research Library. So after that I'm not sure. See, I can't even find a date of when it actually opened and like when they first kicked off the Imagineering Library. But all I know is that it came after, I believe, Disneyland. And that is all I know about that library.
49:31 --> 50:11 And I think that's what they want us to know about it because just like Imagineering, they rarely open those doors and let us in. Unless it's something like, you know, like the Imagineering Story documentary where we get to see some of that stuff they don't like to. I. And that's. I think I love reading Imagineering books. Like I'm currently reading the Bob Weiss with the Dream Chasing. Yeah, I'm almost, I'm almost finished with it. And it's like you do get a little bit more insight to that world through those books. But it's still, it's still. You don't get it all you just a little bit each time. It's piecing that puzzle together.
50:11 --> 50:22 Yeah, absolutely. No, I love Imagineering books. I'm like, tell me more. It's the secret. It's, it's. They know what they're doing. They definitely know what they're doing. They have us hooked and they're using.
50:22 --> 50:25 Their library to make it happen. But we don't know much about it.
50:25 --> 50:44 Exactly. So that is definitely one library. If I could try, if I could try to learn more about it. It's Definitely on my list to try and uncover more about it, but very, very intrigued by, by this library and what they do. For sure. I want to know the reference questions they get. I'm dying. Dying to know.
50:45 --> 51:16 Right, yeah. They got to be some pretty, pretty specific industry, you know, Right, Very. Which is why I think it would eventually they probably decided they had to do their own library because using the studio's library, you know, if they're asking these super specific, you know, engineering style questions, it's like, okay, I think we need to stop using all the resources there to find our things and start developing our own collection.
51:16 --> 51:18 Yeah, specialized collection, for sure.
51:18 --> 51:27 Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, no, let's. Let's try to see. And they don't even let you submit to get into that one. So that's not even an option.
51:28 --> 51:31 No, that's a no go. That's not a studio tour option at all.
51:32 --> 51:33 So we don't got that going on.
51:34 --> 51:34 No.
51:35 --> 53:06 So, yeah, that's one thing about Disney libraries. Even though they're there and they're very real and they're about the real world and about the company and about helping all the, you know, the imagineers, the animators find the information that they need, whether it's historical, within the company or without. We don't have access to those as just regular people. But one of the things that. One of the reasons I make this show is because I want to make sure that I can feel connected to Disney, even though I don't get to the. To go to the parks that often. So I'm always trying to look for the Disney in the world around us. Like, what is it that we could find in the world around us? And there are plenty of libraries that we can get into that do have a lot of Disney in their collections or have special collections of Disney. I know, like, I was super excited. One day at my own public library, I found a copy of John Hench's book Designing Imagineering the Art of the show at my library. And I was able to check it out and read it. It's still there. I know it's still there. I check on it every once in a while to make sure it's still there so that no one has lost it or damaged it. And it's not in our collection anymore, but my local public library has it. And I love that I could get it there because when I've looked for it online, those are pretty expensive used copies of that book.
53:07 --> 53:07 Yes.
53:07 --> 53:32 And that's, you know, so I love that I was able to get it from my local public library. And that's kind of where I want to shift right now is to those libraries that we can visit and some of them you have even recently visited. So let's talk about not necessarily all public libraries because some are not in public library situations, but publicly accessible libraries.
53:33 --> 59:10 I think it's a good way to phrase it for sure. One library. So again, I went to Florida in March and one of the places that was on my list to visit was the Orlando Public Library because I had heard about their Disney collection and I wanted to check it out for myself. So they you actually have to physically go to check out this collection. But if you're ever in the area, I do encourage you to go and have a look. They you can have a look at the materials. I'm not a Orlando Public Library card holder. They I was able to go and have a look at the collection. They have materials ranging on books about the parks, picture books of Disney art. They also have lots of things within their file folder. So they have lots of different filing cabinets filled with periodicals and newsletters. Some of them were internal Disney newsletters, which was really neat to check out. Yeah, Clipping. So they have different press clippings. So the. There was as soon as they announced that Disney World was going to be built in Florida, the library staff took it upon themselves at that time at the library to. To collect as many like, press clippings and materials as possible. And it's developed into this robust collection at Orlando Public Library today. They also have a lot of other miscellaneous items such as pamphlets and things. Just tons and tons of different items they've collected throughout the years. It's an incredible collection. They have archival boxes filled with items too that are just too large to put into the filing cabinets, but all there for you to check out and explore. One librarian in particular, Jane, she was phenomenal. When I went to go visit, she showed me actually a copy of the economic impact report that they had prepared for Walt Disney Productions. So as soon as she showed me that she knew, she knew what to show me to make me go, oh my gosh. Because I had told her that I was also a librarian. I really wanted just to check out the collection. I said, you know, I kind of wanted to poke around and see if there's any, like, things to support my own research. But mainly I just wanted to see it. So she's like, oh, you want to see some cool stuff? And she, she showed me this and of course my jaw just dropped. I was like, this is really Cool. Yeah, just really incredible. There's a binder that they have there. So in case you do go, it is on the top floor, there's a binder you can search through. They also have a digital version of what's available in that binder on one of their desktops. So you can. I would suggest using the desktop because you can use the good old control F and kind of search and see some of those descriptions with a little bit more ease, but lots there to look through. Lots of things preserved. Some things have. Were sent over from their description on their website. It's some things were sent over by the Disney archivist. So some things come from the archives over in California. So lots of different materials available there. But that's just one example of how a public library have. They've built their own Disney collection. And there's actually a lot of libraries I've seen online. They've got digital collections or they have in house collections a lot in California especially. But with being in Canada and living in Canada, I don't always get to travel to Disney like we were talking about. It's not somewhere I can frequently go. And so again, I'm trying to find likewise ways I can connect with Disney when I can't be at the parks. And so my research is one of those ways that I do that. And so it was lovely to go see Orlando Public Library. But being able to connect with libraries and archives and museums remotely has been a huge game changer for my research. And so one example is the Los Angeles Public Library. You know, I was trying to connect some dots with some of the early librarians that worked at the Studio Research Library. And I knew that Los Angeles Public Library used to have a library school which is now run out, I believe out of ucla. So I knew that they had possibly some different collection within their collection. Some. Some different resources. They have a. Special collections and, and rare, rare items and a rare book collection. They have. They have lots of items. So honestly I just sent them an email and said, hey, I'm looking for this information. I don't know what you have within your collection. Just wanted to throw it out there and see, you know, have you had questions asked before? Do you. Are you aware of any resources or any materials you might have? And. And Rose from Los Angeles Public Library, she's also been a great, a great resource. Got back to me right away. Again, I'm not a Los Angeles Public Library card holder. I live in Canada. I'm not even from the United States. And just that's the wonderful thing I feel about libraries, museums, and archives, everyone's so eager to help. It doesn't matter where you are in the world. And that's just, again, the wonderful thing about these spaces. They're. They're just wanting to help and wanting to do research and. And how can I make those connections to help you make those connections? And, yeah, she was able to find me things within their archival collection. She took pictures for me. There's options for scans that you can. That I could pay for. But again, you know, there's. There's all these libraries available to us, and you don't have to physically go just shooting off an email and asking and inquiring. Someone's going, someone's going to get back to you. And, you know, the worst they can say is, no, sorry, I can't help you, or, no, sorry, we don't have anything related to what you're looking for, but we're very much connected to all of these spaces and even in a digital. In a digital sense, if that makes sense.
59:10 --> 59:52 Yeah. No, and I love that you bring that up because, like, I think, too, as librarians, ourselves, and the, like, you talked about, like, the librarians want to help you, but we're not salespeople. So if you ever go to your library or you're asking, like, we want to be asked, but we also don't want to be pushy. We don't want to be, like, in your face when you walk in and, like, try to, you know, we're not trying to sell you a car. We just want you to use the library. And we would love for you to ask us a question, but if you don't feel like that's okay, too, so it's like, no, definitely reach out and ask. Reach out and ask. Always. Because you found out a lot of good information by just asking.
59:53 --> 59:54 Absolutely. Absolutely.
59:54 --> 01:00:21 All right, so, like you mentioned, there's. There's a lot of great resources at those libraries, and some of them are kind of far away, and we can't necessarily just go right over to them. And I had mentioned earlier how I found that book at my library, but. But I know, like, my public library doesn't have a whole lot of Disney added. I don't know, does yours have a pretty decent amount of Disney? And when I say, yeah, it's lacking.
01:00:22 --> 01:00:24 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:00:24 --> 01:01:40 And I don't. I understand that, because not everyone is us. Not everyone is us Disney fanatics. And I feel bad. I know I can request that my library buy, like, for instance, the newest Bob Weiss book or the new Bob Weiss book or that they could buy any of these Disney books that are coming out recently or have come out or on the way out. But I feel bad if I'm gonna be the only person who ever checks that book out. So I have. And I have some of it behind me on my shelf. This is where I keep some of my Disney library. Cause it was getting too big for our general. Our general bookshelves in the other side of the room over here. But I have been collecting my own Disney library and I know you do the same. So I kind of wanted to see what your advice is about building your own Disney library collection. I want to point out that was an idea that you kind of opened to my brain as we were planning for this episode. So what's your Disney collection like and how do you build it?
01:01:41 --> 01:03:38 My Disney collection, I like to say is a work in progress. Because always. Right. There's always more room on the shelves. There's always more shelves I can add. I just can't get enough of it. We work in libraries all day and I just want to come home and build one in my own home. There's just something about books at home and in your living, general living space. It's lovely. You can kind of see them behind me here. But yes, I've. It's a work in progress. I like to collect. In the beginning I was doing a little bit of fiction and nonfiction. I have now strictly just. I just strictly collect non fiction Disney books. Specifically I'm looking at history books or anything like on Imagineering the parks. I've now been learning more about animation history. And so I've been collecting more animation related books as well just so that to have more of an understanding about the studio research library and, and how that world worked. But how to. To build your own kind of library. I thought a lot about this because it's something I want to share more about I guess too on my substack and on Instagram and just show people that you know, you, you can build your own collections. Definitely use your, your public libraries. There's. They're great, great resources. And if you know, especially if you don't have the budget to build libraries and always buy books, they're great to use. But there's definitely books especially within the world of Disney that you know are out of print or you know, they only, they. A small press published a certain text by someone and they only did so many copies and so it's a rarity. Like Bob Gurr's book, the Imagineer, his book on design is. I mean you can find it, but it's not as findable, if that makes sense. Like it's kind of hard to find, especially at a good price as well.
01:03:38 --> 01:03:39 Yes.
01:03:39 --> 01:06:01 So some of these books are quite expensive that are out of print. So there's different kind of, I guess, tips and tricks I have to building your library collection because it's kind of nice to have your hands on copies of those books. Books that, you know, your public library, like you mentioned, won't have necessarily access to. So when I kind of think about building your own library, you definitely want to think about, you know, curating your own collection. Think about what kinds of books you want to collect. So I mentioned I look for history books and I've got certain topics that I'm interested in. So definitely build your collection based off of your interest. Not just, you know, I'm trying to find every Disney book or oh, this is a Disney book. I'm just gonna buy it. Like that's not the way to do it. You want to buy books that you're A going to read and B, you're going to enjoy. So building your collection off of, you know, what your interests are and what you know you want to read about is definitely where you want to start with building your own collection. For finding books. I am big on scouting out thrift stores, Facebook marketplace, you know, if you have any local Disney events like where I am, we have a Disney pin trading and collectible event a few times a year where we all get together and you know, pin trade and people are selling things like that they have from their own collections. And so that's a great if you can find an event with locally within your area, those are great places too to find used books. You know, going to traditional bookstores, you know, maybe even some of your independent bookstores and supporting them as well to get those new releases like you mentioned, Bob Weiss's book, some of those new books that come out from from Disney Books Books or some other publishers as well, you can find them there. Ebay is another great spot to check out to find books that are out of print as well. But yeah, just keep in mind too, you know, not all Disney books are published by Disney Books. So you know, sometimes people publish independently. They're published by smaller or less well known presses. So just kind of keeping that in mind, you might be surprised what you won't find at a traditional bookstore and what you will probably more likely to find on places like ebay or Facebook Facebook marketplace for finding book titles. I do have a resource and I will send this to you if you don't know about it. Oh, forgive me, I'm probably going to mess up his name. Didier guess he is a Disney historian. Do you have. Oh, you have something from his collection?
01:06:01 --> 01:06:04 I have a few of his Walt's People books.
01:06:04 --> 01:06:05 Yes. Okay.
01:06:05 --> 01:06:07 As I turn and look at my shelf here now.
01:06:07 --> 01:08:09 Amazing. Okay, so it is mine ambition, my goal to collect the whole Walt's People series. If people are looking for like right there's a lot. But if people are into Disney history, like this is like these are oral history interviews collected and put into these books. They're, they're wonderful resource if you're really into Disney history or if you're doing Disney history research. But yes, Didier guys, our friend here who has edited, I think he's the editor of that whole series, he has a book list that he's compiled on his website. It is the most extensive book list I have ever seen when it comes to Disney books. He has basically listed every book that has ever been published on the topic of Disney. And if he's read it, he's reviewed it and he puts like a little blip about what his thoughts are about it. He also has a list of forthcoming books as well. So if you're kind of looking to see what's coming down the pipe from Disney books, but also from some different publishers as well, he makes mention of them there. So he is a fantastic. If you're looking to see what books you, you want to add to your collection, books you want to try and search and see if you can find use copies of. He has a really great compilation, like a list of all different types of Disney books. You know, people can also follow different publishers or different Disney historians or authors on social media as well. That's kind of how I find out about new books coming or even just to see what already exists that maybe I wasn't even aware of. Different authors will promote their books on their, on their socials as well. So that's another place to go and have a look to see what's, what's coming, what, what's already out. I'm also going to put a bit of a shameless plug for myself here. But you can also follow me. I talk a lot about books, I talk a lot about, you know, where I find books and you know, different resources and tools to building your own collections. So Instagram and Substack if you're interested. I'm a Disney loving Librarian. I talk about it a lot.
01:08:09 --> 01:08:53 So I think just recently I had heard about the book that was this is going to be. It's my next one on my list when I finished Dream Chasing. But I had heard about that book that was after Disney that kind of gets into the Ron Miller kind of era and all that stuff that's not well documented. And I, I just heard about it. I looked at online, I ordered it and then I went on Instagram and you had posted that you had it. And I was like, I just, I had just gotten mine the day that I saw that you posted or it was something like that. And I was like, I just got the book too. So you do post good stuff about books and yeah, definitely go follow Amanda for more stuff on books.
01:08:53 --> 01:10:08 I guess something else worth mentioning to your own personal library doesn't have to be just books. You know, there's a lot of people that save park maps or they save other documents that they have found and saved over the years like you know, from past trips or things like that, so, or even, you know, movies. I'm a big physical media collector. I, I, Physical media is not dead, not to me. So I still, I still collect DVDs and Blu Rays and stuff like that. So that's a part of, I consider that part of my own library collection. So, you know, your, your library collection can go beyond, can go beyond the books if, if you wish it to. And I guess to another tip with keeping things organized. I've talked about it before on my sub stack, but there's something for free. You can, you can create an account. It's called libip. I don't know if you've used it before, if you're familiar, but you can basically make your own like catalog for your at home collection and, and it's really, really great to use. You can just use your phone to even scan the barcodes on the back of your books and it'll add them right to your collection. You can organize your collection by material types. So I have my movies separate from my books. That in itself is a work in progress.
01:10:08 --> 01:10:08 Still.
01:10:08 --> 01:10:32 You can create tags to help you search through your collection. But if you're looking for a way to, you know, it's, you can scan your shelves and you can see what's there. But if you're looking to organize it in a digital sense so that, you know, if you're out shopping and you're like, do I have a copy of this? You can pull up your libid account on the app and See what you have. It's a really great tool to help you organize your at home library collection. So that's just another tip if you're looking to help organize what you have.
01:10:33 --> 01:10:37 Yeah, that, that would be good because I have double bought things before.
01:10:39 --> 01:10:41 We've all fallen victim to it.
01:10:41 --> 01:11:38 They have it and then I get home and like, oh yeah, I think I got that one like a year ago in the same kind of situation. So yeah, no, I should look into cataloging these ones better. I'll get into the library tech of it. Right? Yeah, no, that's a good suggestion. It's a good way to catalog all that stuff. All right, so no, I've got some more library research to do after having this conversation, which that makes me happy because I always love when there's more research to do. So I want to thank you so much, Amanda, for this conversation. It was a lot of fun and you introduced me to some new stuff that I'm really excited to hear about and I'm really excited to learn more about that studio library, which I know the best source of information on that is you. So could you tell us all where we can find you online so that we can keep up with the story of that?
01:11:39 --> 01:12:25 Absolutely. So you can find me in two spots online if you'd like to follow me on Substack and subscribe there. I'm on substack is Main Street Library. So I do a lot of sharing of book content resources and sharing my own research. So I am doing my own research on the Walt Disney Studio Research Library and trying to basically connect the dots and put those puzzle pieces together about that history. So you can, you can follow me along on follow me along on substack and see, see how far I get with that research. You can also follow me on Instagram Main streetlibrarian. Again, I share a lot of similar content on there. Book recommendations, I share resources and again some research updates. Just little, little bits and pieces on Instagram as well.
01:12:26 --> 01:15:03 Well, that's awesome. And everyone definitely should go out, subscribe to the substack, go check out the Instagram, subscribe there to follow and definitely keep up with it because like I said, she's got the information on the newest books, she's got the information about those libraries and it's just great content. So go check out Amanda, the Main street librarian. And as always, I do have some more great Disney connections coming up right up the pipeline for you. And if you want to make sure you don't miss those, go ahead and subscribe or follow wherever you're enjoying Synergy Loves Company right Now, whether it's YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Go to synergylovescompany.com and you'll find a link to all of them. Click Follow or Subscribe and then you'll know when a new episode drops. And if you've been listening to Synergy Love's company for a while, let's take this to the next level. I would love to connect with you, so why don't you reach out and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, threads, all those places. I'm Synergy LovesCompany but you can also find me on BlueSky, which is probably my favorite of all of the social media. So find me on bluesky. I'm rickhsynergy. Don't stop there though. Could you share this show with a friend of yours who would enjoy Synergy Loves Company? That's the best way to support the show. Tell them about this episode or maybe another one that was your favorite. Send them a link on your favorite social media and then you could tag me in it so I can say hi to you. Or just tell them to visit synergylovescompany.com and remember, this show is listener supported. There's no sponsors, it's just you and me. If you feel like you get something out of this podcast and you want to support me to help me make more great Disney connections, you can do that by supporting the show on Ko Fi. You can buy me a cup of coffee, keep me caffeinated enough to have enough energy to make another episode. I thank you in advance. I want to thank Amanda again for joining me on the show. And I want to thank you again for joining us on this awesome adventure through Disney's libraries. Whether they're fantastical or really real in our own lives, the Disney libraries are all around us. Just like. Like Disney is all around us. And remember, Disney magic isn't just in the parks, it is all around us. So go out in the world and keep discovering the magic in everything, like your own local public library.