Category Archives: Libraries

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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Free Books (really)

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

h/t to Stanislav and Milen for the extensive links FAMOUS AUTHORS Classic Bookshelf: This site has put classic novels online, from Charles Dickens to Charlotte Bronte. The Online Books Page: The University of Pennsylvania hosts this book search and database. … Continue reading →

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Making Reading a Religious Experience

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

A former Russian Orthodox church in Shanghai, China, built in 1932 and long abandoned, has been restored and retro-fitted as a library. Due to requirements placed on the architects by the local Historic Buildings Protection office, no major changes could … Continue reading →

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Finding refuge in books

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

ECHO (Education.Community.Hope.Opportunity) is an organisation dedicated to fostering community and education initiatives in Greek refugee camps. The ECHO Refugee Library is their flagship project. They hope to transform the sites in which they work from places of stagnancy and waiting, … Continue reading →

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Book Face

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I never seem to tire of the many iterations of the “bookface” project. You probably have  seen versions produced by bored bookshop staff across Europe. Or, perhaps you have stumbles upon  #BookfaceFriday, or simply #Bookface, a meme in which you replace … Continue reading →

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Ode to Oodi

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Helsinki’s Oodi Central Library has reinvented the idea of the traditional municipal library to create a new kind of community space. With the range of resources and specialist equipment available at Oodi Central Library, Helsinki residents and visitors can learn … Continue reading →

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Celebrate with Patience and Fortitude

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The New York Public Library is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. An elite group of librarians from NYPL have created a list of 125 books from the last 125 years that inspire a lifelong love of reading. Even Patience … Continue reading →

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Take a closer look at your library

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Libraries Ireland has launched a new national advertising campaign asking everyone to “Take a Closer Look” at what their local library has to offer. A new video features real libraries and librarians and is part a wider national strategy to increase library … Continue reading →

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