Dr. Seuss as a political cartoonist

Dr. Seuss is forever entrenched  in the upper pantheon of children's books writers. Many of the 46 children's books he wrote still have a place on our kids bookshelves. From Cat In The Hat to Hop on Pop to Green Eggs and Ham his stories are part of the fabric of many a childhood. His books have sold over 600 million copies, and appear in more than 20 languages. In 2000, Publishers Weekly compiled a list of the best-selling children's books of all time; of the top 100 hardcover books, 16 were written by Dr. Seuss! World Telegram & Sun photo by Al Ravenna. For...

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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...

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Publisher Moves: Rizzoli to take over half a bookshop; Phaidon acquires Artspace

Oxford Exchange Bookshop The race for finding the right mix to compete in the ever changing publishing / bookselling world of the 21st century continues as both Rizzoli and Phaidon make moves to extend their reach. Rizzoli has announced that it is partnering with the upscale Tampa, Florida bookshop the Oxford Exchange. The new "Studio" site will occupy half of the shop's floor space and feature only Rizzoli publications. As the online space expands and the retail avenues shrink it becomes imperative for publishers like Rizzoli to find ways for people to interact physically with their books. Look for more of these...

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Book Arts of Latin America at the University of North Carolina

For this installment of In the Stacks we visit the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a sampling of Latin American book arts. All the works below appeared in their 2008 exhibition Hecho A Mano: Book Arts of Latin America. The exhibit featured work from Argentina, Cuba and Mexico. Enjoy!    Loma del ángel by Reinaldo Arenas. Published by Brandsen y Zolezzi Editores, 2007 Barquitos del San Juan: La revista de los niños. Published by Ediciones Vigía, Matanzas, Cuba nd Hechizo para matar al hombre infiel ; Hechizo de amor ; Sortilegio para vivir...

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Future Library: Publication date 2114

 Scottish artist Katie Paterson is a patient women. Her current project Future Library will take 100 years to consummate!  You heard right; a century from inception to completion. Here's the deal: A forest has been planted in Norway, which will supply paper for a special anthology of books to be printed in one hundred years time. Between now and then, one writer every year will contribute a text, with the writings held in trust, unpublished, until 2114. The texts will be held in a specially designed room in the New Public Deichmanske Library in Oslo. Tending the forest and ensuring its...

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