The Lively Life of Camilla Delibris, the librarian

About the Book

Funny and poignant this story about a historic public library as told by the newly-hired librarian, Camilla Delibris. Built to look like a Roman temple in the early 20th Century in a city of Victorian mansions on the Hudson River, the library is struggling to remain open as a place of silence for the borrowing and reading of books. Or, change to meet the needs of the 21st Century. The retiring, controlling director, Katherine Van Velt, whose wealthy ancestors built the library, wants no change. The new director does. A feeling of insecurity is everywhere. Mary, the older and bitter librarian keeps telling Camilla that the library is doomed to close, made obsolete by high technology. What is Camilla to do, stay at a profession she loves even though the patrons come in less for books and more for video cassettes and to get on the computer. Even to sleep. The teen-agers keep playing video games while talking loudly on cell phones. And ask her for dates. A passing patron, sexy-looking Massimo, invites her to fly with him to Rome. Camilla does have a choice. She can marry Chris, of the famous Italian restaurant in Brooklyn and hopefully live happily forever, among Italian songs and great Italian food. But she does so love the historic public library! She cannot make up her mind. Therefore, Camilla puts her story on a website and asks the readers for help in choosing the rest of her life.

About the Author

Nivessa Rovedo Hatsley, born in Friuli, Northeastern Italy, grew up in Manhattan.

Her first American experience was the public library. At P.S.116 she won an essay contest on Thomas Jefferson sponsored by The New York Times. Hunter College graduate, teacher, writer of novels, a memoir. Always a friend of the library, she also worked for the New York Public Library.