Tag Archives: Texas

Books and Music

Posted on February 4, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I continue to be amazed by the creativity of book artists. Two wizards of the genre, Peter and Donna Thomas, recently completed a pair of wonderful accordion books with fascinating musical connections. The first is an accordion-style artist’s book, commissioned … Continue reading →

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The Very Definition of Irony

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

  Even if you do not live in North America you are probably aware that the United States has been experiencing a wave of book bannings and attempts by a vocal neo-Fascist Christian Nationalist minority to censor both library books … Continue reading →

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Happy Juneteenth

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

You maybe wondering about the newest U.S. holiday that we are celebrating today. On June 17, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed into law the bill that established Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19, as a legal public holiday. Juneteenth commemorates June … Continue reading →

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The Massacre of Innocents

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS William Jay Smith (1946) Because I believe in the community of little children Because I have suffered such little children to be slain: I have gazed upon the sunlight, dazed, bewildered, As is a child … Continue reading →

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Life Lessons From A Bookstore Owner

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Ryan Holiday learned some serious life lessons when he decided to open a small town bookshop in rural Texas during a pandemic. A year later, he decided to share his experience in a blog post and a Youtube video (below). … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism: Austin

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years I’ve visit dozens of library book sales and used book outlets, but I think that Austin, Texas has to have the biggest bookstore. Situated in an unappealing stripmall. Recycled Reads is a surprising find. The city of Austin has … 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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This Is Not A Map

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Poetry Wanted is a tiny Paris-based publisher with a somewhat incongruous focus on photography. Last year the company founder, photographer Rémi Noël launched a project called “This Is Not A Map”, which produces a publication that looks like a map … Continue reading →

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Silk Purse from Sow’s Ear

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The International Interior Design Association has selected the McAllen, Texas Public Library as the winner of the 2012 Library Interior Design Award. The enlightened city of McAllen, with the help of Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd., transformed an abandoned Wal-Mart … Continue reading →

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