The summer my kid learned to read, I watched the expression on her face as she wandered out of the picture book section of our neighborhood branch and realized the vastness of the library she could now explore. It was pure wonder. I quickly became consumed with figuring out a path for grown-ups to feel that same way. I longed for us to make brand new memories not just about what we borrow from the library, but how we feel while we’re there.

 

That's when I first came across the Bureau of Nooks and Crannies. It is possible that they had always been there, and I had never noticed. This would make sense as “hiding in plain sight” is listed as one of their core values.

 

The more I learned about the Bureau, the more I felt drawn to them, and their mission aligned so well with mine. I have wondered whether I invented them completely. Still, if they were a figment of my imagination, it didn’t seem to matter, as another tenet of their organization is a fervent reverence for make-believe.

 

The Bureau encouraged me to mix elements of guided meditation, game design, site-responsive art, bibliomancy, and the Dewey Decimal system to create multiple invitations to pretend. Each adventure has a unique genre and perspective. You may become a mythical creature, a heartbroken romantic, a historian from the future… or perhaps just a more playful or contemplative version of yourself.

 

The Bureau and I can’t wait to share what we’ve put together for you. See you in the stacks!