All 16,000 books from a library in the UK have been checked out in protest of a plan to shut the library for good.When news broke of the plan to close the library residents who patronize the Stony Stratford library in Milton Keynes banded together, primarily using social media, and came up with a plan to pool their library cards an begin checking out the maximum amount of material. At the rate of close to 400 items an hour books, DVD's and CD's began flying off the shelves until everything was gone.Clever for sure and the story's reach can do...
In the Stacks: Columbia University, From Homer to Howl
This installment of In the Stacks takes us to the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Columbia University.From Homer:Fragment from Homer's Odysseyis dating from between the third century to the second century BCE. One 2000 papyrus fragments housed at Columbia.Original contract between Herman Melville and Harper & Brothers for "The Whale," or better known as Moby Dick. Columbia acquired the archive of the publisher in 1975.Alexander Anderson. Wood engraving of garden-house scene, (6.5 x 8 cm.) Anderson has been considered the father of wood engraving in America. Arthur Rackham. Self-portrait, 1924. The Rackham collection at Columbia contains 413 drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings, as...
Used books deemed unsanitary by the Turkish government
Image via LOCResponding to complaints by parents the Turkish government has pulled all used books from their Free Class Books Project. From Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu:The course books distributed within the scope of the Free Class Books Project cannot be used, as the schools lack the infrastructure to control and protect the books. As the parents do not find the used books hygienic, giving a group of students new books and others used books does not serve our educational needsThis is one wacky story and I have to wonder if something got lost in the translation. If indeed used books are unsanitary and need to...
Penny-seller rakes in millions: Thrift Recycling gets hefty investment
ERRATA: The original post mistakenly referred to Thrift Recycling Management as the parent company for Thrift Books. I have been informed that Thrift Books and Thrift Recycling Management are two separate and distinct companies. My apologies to the folks at Thrift Books for the error. The funding was secured by Thrift Recycling Management and the original story has been amended.*******************************************Thrift Recycling Management has announced that it has secured an $8.5 million investment led by venture capital firm QuestMark Partners. According to the press release "The funds will accelerate growth and help position TRM to be the dominant player in the recycled consumer goods space."They currently sell...
Can I Help You?
"Bookstore" by Jon Christopher Hughes(click to enlarge)This eerily cool photograph appeared on the cover of the 1996 Spring/Summer issue of the Cincinnati Poetry Review.