Principal Marjorie Neff sits in her school's closed library, which was closed last year due to budget cuts. TOM GRALISH / Staff In one week we have helped raise over $300,000 for the Ferguson Public Library. The outpouring of support has been epic and a wounded community has been guaranteed a safe place to turn to in its time of need. Now we must turn our attention to the public school libraries of West and Southwest Philadelphia. Here in its entirety is an op-ed that ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer last Sunday and it begins like this: "In 1991, there were 176 certified librarians in...
Book Patrol’s Favorite Books of 2014: Part 2
Part 2 of Book Patrol's favorite bookish books of 2014 has arrived. Enjoy! Let's start Part 2 by breaking some rules. Books! by Murray McCain and illustrated by John Alcorn was first published in 1962 and then re-issued by AMMO Books at the end of 2013. It is both a reprint and a book published in 2013 but it is too cool to let go by and since I missed it when it came it what better time than now to share it. The new larger edition is stunning and it is one of the few picture books that...
The Nation’s Fall Books Supplement of 1924 served up an especially spicy potage
As those of you who check in with us regularly know, one of our guiding lights is our regular visits to the past. Whether it's an archive for In The Stacks, collectible books for a homage to an author or book, or referencing some past event to help us make us sense of the present we are always deeply indebted to what has come before. We are delighted to have Richard Kreitner contribute this piece to Book Patrol. In celebration of the current Fall Books issue of The Nation, Kreitner, Special Assistant at The Nation and editor of its Back Issues blog, shares some book juice from the October 8, 1924...
Sherlock Holmes for the masses
It was this time of year in 1887 when we got our first taste. A Study of Scarlet, originally titled A Tangled Skein, was published by Ward Lock & Co. in Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887. A. Conan Doyle got £25 for the story and the world was introduced to Sherlock Holmes. He has since gone on to become the most famous literary character on the planet. And last month when the U.S. Supreme court refused to hear an appeal by the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle over licensing fees Sherlock Holmes has finally come to rest in the...
Book Patrol’s Favorite Books of 2014: Part 1
2014 was a banner year for the book. Not only has the 'death of the book' mantra been finally put to sleep but the e-book revolution has smoldered and electronic reading begins to settle into its place in the book universe. In 2014 the well-made book had a strong showing. One of the healthiest by-products of the electronic hysteria has been a greater attention to the production of the book and coupled with the plethora of offerings of books about books, about authors, and about all things bookish makes 2014 one for the books. The Thing The Book: A Monument to the Book as Object is...