An Anticipated Event

I live about 2-3 hours away from several large universities that have big libraries. (I started to say lovely libraries, but I have found that libraries are often not the most attractive of buildings on a campus, and that architecture and design libraries are usually the worst, in my humble opinion. But libaries are appealing to me because of the contents, anyway.)

I try to visit some of the libraries that aren't too far away from me several times a year (I've been to three university libraries this year, plus two college libraries). I will probably have an opportunity to visit one of the universities in the next couple of weeks.

I have three areas of study that are my primary focus: architectural history, fashion history, and local history (in alphabetical order, not in order of preference). This leads to a slight dilemma , as the particular university I am going to visit has information on all three areas and I will have to decide what to research in the hours that I will have.

I worked primarily on architectural study last time I was there (and spent a few minutes on fashion history), so it would make sense for me to work on local history this time. On the other hand, I have a list of about 12 microfilms that I didn't get time to see on my last trip. And then there are the items in special collections that I've wanted to see for years, but I usually think that it would be more efficient for me to look at things on the shelves and on microfilm, rather than spending time filling out the request to look at the items, getting a locker to stow all my stuff in (one's personal belongings are not usually allowed into a special collections area), then waiting for the items to be pulled for me to look at, etc.

So, I am still deliberating. What may make up my mind is logistics -- two of the three libraries that I am interested in visiting are within a few yards of each other, and the third is two or three blocks away.