Jason LaMotte was very fond of his neighborhood library in Houston, Texas. As LaMotte tells the Guardian: I have strong recollections of my neighborhood library in Houston, Texas in the US. I can recall the layout, where certain sections of books were, the smells, and the sounds. And it still carries a magical feeling for me, this special kind of sanctuary full of knowledge, full of stories, all covered in a sense of quiet respect and revery. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, LaMotte went to work and the result is beautiful homage to the power of the library. Here's a...
The Science Cafe & Library by Anna Wigandt
Here's a great way to attract people to the wonders of science - build a beautiful cafe and library designed to foster the study and exploration of the sciences. Unfortunately, the odds are most of us will never get a chance to experience this amazing interior designed by Anna Wigandt. You see, the Science Cafe & Library is located in Chişinău, Moldova! The intent was to appeal less to the chaotic and emotional experience of a typical cafe, and more to the rational and refined vibe of a library, while maintaining the accessibility and interactiveness of a public space One...
The Public Collection: A new public art and literacy project
This August eight unique artist created libraries will grace the streets of Indianapolis. Under the moniker of The Public Collection these amazing micro libraries will be spread over the city and offer free books courtesy of the Indianapolis Public Library. The Public Collection is a blend of art and literacy. The goal is to "increase access to books through the use of functional pieces of art in familiar settings. The initiatives are to improve literacy, foster a deeper appreciation of the arts, and raise awareness for educational justice in the community." Tom Torluemke, model for “Cool Books, Food for Thought” (2015) The Public...
A university in the UK unveils what just might be the oldest known fragments of the Qur’an
Last November we reported that a German University had discovered what was then one of the earliest known copies of the Qur’an. The folks at the Coranica Project, part of the University of Tübingen, had placed a manuscript of the Qu'ran to between 649-675 AD. Now researchers at the University of Birmingham have unearthed a copy that according to radiocarbon testing was written on parchment that originated between 568-645 AD, making it easily one of the oldest known fragments. It is quite possible that the author of these fragments actually knew the Prophet Muhammad. The first Qur’an collected in book form was completed in about 650. The manuscript...
New York University’s Tamiment Library Acquires The Nation Archives
"To read The Nation is to see the evolution of the American Left." - Timothy Naftali, director of the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Currently celebrating its 150th anniversary The Nation is America's oldest weekly magazine. It was where the likes of James Baldwin, Ralph Nader and Hunter S. Thompson published their first work. It is where the leading writers, thinkers and leaders this country has produced have shared their thoughts on the pressing issues of the day, always looking left and always looking looking out for the great majority of us. The comprehensive archive of the contemporary...