Community at Work by Stephanie. Philadelphia, 2011. In an era when most schools and kids have glaring book needs it is an utter tragedy to witness these images. All taken within the last five years and all depicting complete neglect. The breakdown of communication somewhere along the line that allows these books to go to an early death without being utilized somewhere is unconscionable. Granted some of the books might be outdated but they still could be of some use to the book artists. All images gleaned from the 5,550+ photos in the Abandoned Schools group on Flickr. Urban School by Nitram242. Detroit, 2013 for some this...
Banned Books Week Warm Up: School Board in Oregon fighting over “Persepolis”
Why wait until Banned Books Week starts next week to start celebrating the madness. This time we go to Murphy, Oregon where things got a little heated at the Three Rivers School Board meeting. At issue: Persepolis, an autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi about her experiences growing up during the Iranian revolution. The 'problem': the book contains some questionable language and depicts scenes of torture and some parents want to be able to sign off and give their approval before their kids can enjoy it. Apparently, one school board member (a librarian) was a little zealous in defending the...
A Five Book Birthday Salute to D.H. Lawrence
Hailed as a genius by some, labelled an out-of-fashion misogynist by others, he's probably best known for his novels Sons and Lovers and Lady Chatterley's Lover. But he also explored an extraordinary range of emotions and subject matter and was a prolific short story writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator, painter and man of letters. Happy Birthday to D.H Lawrence, easily one of the most controversial writers of the 20th century. His "works, among other things, represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanizing effects of modernity and industrialization. In them, some of the issues Lawrence explores are emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct." source ...
The 100th anniversary of the destruction of the University of Leuven Library
On August 19th, 1914 the Germans seized control of the Belgian town of Leuven and began bombarding it. One of the most notable targets was the University of Leuven (Louvain) Library which was soon razed to the ground. An estimated 300,000 books, 1000 manuscripts and 800 incunabula were looted or destroyed! The world was horrified by the wanton destruction and efforts where made to collect books to help replenish the library In 1924 the library was reopened, it was financed by the National Committee of the United States for the Restoration of the University of Louvain. Sadly and unconscionably the library was...
The Definitive Guide to Banned Books Vol. 1
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