Nearly 300 years ago today Daniel Defoe published his tale of high-adventure, high-stakes, all-or-nothing hero Robinson Crusoe, and a classic was born. The faux travelogue captured the zeitgeist—in 1719, it seemed the whole world was up for grabs if you were just willing to get on a ship and take it. You were risking scurvy and cannibals, but think of the discoveries you could make! 

Now, of course, the whole idea of "discovery" has soured. Great civilizations existed before they were "discovered." 

But I can't help feeling a bit jealous of Robinson and his real-life counterpart Alexander Selkirk. And I can't help wishing I had the best of both worlds—a Caribbean island and all the amenities of the New York Public Library. And if I had my druthers, what would I bring?

1) First, I'd catch up on all of my New Yorkers, now available to anyone with a library card:

2) Then I'd bring the books recommended by NYPL's librarians each season in Staff Picks: 

3) Reading materials secured, I'd turn to items of survival like this awesome fishing net from Digital Collections:

4) Then, I'd borrow from Mid-Manhattan's extensive cookbook collection so I didn't have to eat ceviche every night:

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) Next, I'd build a house. Something modest like this  seaside resort in Old Orchard, Maine: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6) Then I'd fetch a wardrobe. Anything from the Creators Studio would do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) I'd probably want a rifle, just in case:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8) I'd swing by the New York Public Library's Shop and pick up a notebook to record my triumphs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9) And if I ever felt like leaving, I'd find a ship like these:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10) Not to mention the many, many maps housed at the Schwarzman Building. Heck, I'd take the whole Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division.