Category Archives: Libraries

The Matter of Jerusalem

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

During the last few days, Jerusalem has once again been at the top of the world news. The clever short film below, which was inspired by a new exhibition on medieval manuscripts at Oxford’s Bodleian Library, reminds us that the … Continue reading →

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Book Lovers Never Go To Bed Alone

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

These fabulous letterpress prints made by printer Amos Kennedy would make great holiday gifts for the book lovers in your life. And 100% from the sale proceeds go to the Elmwood Park Library in Detroit. Each piece is hand-pressed and … Continue reading →

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Wherein I Eat My Words

Posted on November 4, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I recently posted a story about an amazing, futuristic-looking library that opened in Tianjin, China. In doing so, I also bemoaned the sorry state of library support in the United States and the lack of commitment to public libraries in … Continue reading →

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Library of the Future

Posted on October 29, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

While libraries in the West struggle with budget cuts and closures, China is building institutions for the future. Looking like it’s straight out of Bladerunner 2049, the new Tianjin Binhai Library occupies five floors of a huge cultural center and … Continue reading →

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Napoleon’s Kindle

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Unlike our maniacal Emperor wanabee, Napoleon Bonaparte was a devoted book lover. He was such a serious reader that in 1803 he commissioned the creation of the wonderful traveling library pictured above to take on military campaigns. The leather-lines, velvet-trimmed … Continue reading →

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Libraries On Wheels

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Rural communities in Zimbabwe seldom have their own libraries, so in 1995 educator Obadiah Mayo founded the Rural Libraries & Resources Development Programme to bring books to the countryside. Today, his organization has fifteen donkey-powered mobile library carts that each … Continue reading →

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Monsters In Philadelphia

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

With Frankenstein and Dracula, Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker created two of history’s most memorable monsters. Two hundred years after Frankenstein was published, pages from Mary Shelley’s manuscript will make their only appearance in the United States, to be displayed for the first … Continue reading →

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Have You Hugged Your Librarian Today

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Brian D. Butler
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Resist Much, Obey Little

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

In recognition of Banned Books Week, here are some quotes from surprising literary works that have been banned or censored over the years.

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Words Have Power

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Libraries, booksellers, publishers, schools, writers’ groups, and other organizations in North America are gearing up to mark Banned Books Week 2017, which runs from September 24 to the 30th. Many bookshops and libraries have gotten a jump on the upcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bookstore Tourism, Freedom of Speech, Libraries, Museums, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments