Books Win! Books Win! In what will be remembered as one of the biggest victories for the printed book in the digital age. The New York Public Library has reversed direction on the proposed renovation of its mothership, the Bryant Park branch in mid-town Manhattan. The New York Times called it "a striking about-face" and added: "Library officials had heralded the renovation as part of a significant effort to rethink the flagship building in preparation for a digital future in which public access to computers would become as important as books." The plan was suspect from the beginning. "A Bloomberg-era scheme...
Library Cheat Sheet
Every wonder how they do it? How libraries big and small organize all that material. With this handy visual we get a peek into the brain of a librarian. It's Dewey Decimal vs. Library of Congress. I think Covers by Chip Kidd is misshelved. graphic by newhousemaps.
Still Looks Pretty Good: A map of bookstores and libraries in the U.S.
Here's a gem from Google Maps - a look at all the public libraries and bookstores across the country as of Summer 2013. h\t Chicago Public Library
The latest in e-reading: Pay by the page at Total BooX
Total Boox is hoping to make its mark on the e-reading market by offering a new pay as you go model. Think of it as a toll both for e-books and as with most drivers these days you pay for your pass upfront. Here's how it works: If you read 10% of the book you pay 10% of the full retail price, etc. I'm not sure what to make of the tagline - Read Books Rather Than Buy Them - perhaps Buy The Words Not The Books is more appropriate. I'm also a bit skeptical regarding its direct to consumer application since for most books one...
The Most Challenged Books in our Schools and Libraries for 2013
At first glance you might think it was a list of some of the better selling books but these are the top 10 most frequently challenged books at American libraries and schools for 2013. The list is compiled by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and from the over 300 challenges across the country in 2013 these are the top 10. 1. Captain Underpants (series) by Dave Pilkey Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence 2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence 3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian...