Category Archives: Libraries

Discovering the Lost Generation in Paris

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Decades ago, I made my first biblio-pilgrimage to the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris. These days it’s not quite the same place now that it has an adjoining café that serves American bagels and brownies. And then there are the … Continue reading →

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Rearranging My Book Shelves

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

 

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monday, monday can’t trust that day

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Clarice Lispector Franz Kafka From the Bodleian Library souvenir shop…  

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The Not-Quite-Quiet Library

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

My family and friends who are on lockdown in New York City have noted just how preternaturally quiet it has been lately. Not day in the country quiet, but actual birds singing, wind in the trees, individual voices, and cars … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter and The Handmaid’s Tale

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The American Library Association recently released its annual list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books, included as part of its 2020 State of America’s Libraries report. This report offers an annual summary of library trends, statistics and issues affecting all … Continue reading →

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Mostly Miscellaneous Monday

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been using this down time to plan some travels. One of the top destinations on my list for next spring is a return to Iceland. I’ve been many time over the years, but … Continue reading →

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Mondays are still miscellaneous

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

What a brilliant idea to promote local libraries. This is a tribute that the city of Vigo in Spain wanted to pay Jules Verne (on the occasion of the centenary of his death) for having mentioned this city in his … Continue reading →

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National Emergency Library

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

In this time of crisis. the Internet Archive has created a National Emergency Library to make reading and research materials available online for everyone. The official post below outlines the project and its offerings. To address our unprecedented global and immediate need … Continue reading →

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Million Cat Caturday

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“Millions of Cats” is a picture book written and illustrated by artist Wanda Gag in 1928. The book won a Newberry award in 1929 and is the oldest American picture book still in print.            

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Library of Exile

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I first discovered the ceramic artist and writer Edmund de Waal through his best-selling book The Hare with the Amber Eyes. If you are not familiar with the memoir, it’s a compelling read that encompasses not only de Waal’s family history, … Continue reading →

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