In a just-for-laughs endeavor, a clever contributor to smosh.com offered his suggestions on titles for some classic children’s picture books. In his post 20 New Titles for Children’s Books (Based Entirely on Their Covers)!, Francesco Marcuilliano commented, “If you can’t judge a book by its cover then just pretend it’s a different book.”
Barbara L.
Today’s Chicago Tribune featured a story in the Health & Family section on how much moms love libraries. Reporter Ted Gregory cited the not surprising results of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project study: “Mothers are outliers in their enthusiasm for libraries and their use of libraries for their own purposes, like visiting the library, checking out books, using library websites and connecting to libraries with mobile devices.” The research confirms the anecdotal knowledge that many hold to be true, but its real import is in it’s role in assuring continuing support for struggling institutions like public libraries as they weather the budget cuts and threats to funding of the current economy. When asked to comment on her love of the library, Maryanne Szweda, mother of four home-school kids in Aurora said, “It’s the best thing you can have for a community.” Read the full article here.
Barbara L.
Willa Cather, an iconic author of the American Prairie, stipulated in her will that her private letters never be published. But after the death of her nephew and the will’s executor two years ago, that will expired, and more than 500 of her letters are now available. Offering great insights into Cather’s approach to her art, The Selected Letters of Willa Cather was released earlier this year. In this NPR interview, Steve Inskeep of “Morning Edition,” talks with co-editor of the collection, Andrew Jewell, on the depth and value of the letters’ contents.
Barbara L.
When I’m at the 2nd floor service desk at Evanston Public Library, I can look up to left and see a sign high up on the wall stating that this is the Reader’s Services department. That apostrophe–whether it belongs or not–was seriously debated when the signage
for the library was in planning. One could argue it both ways. As it stands, it’s an individualized sense of “reader.” You’re the reader and these services yours. Or, take out the apostrophe and “readers” can be simple plural standing as an adjective for “services.” I don’t think anyone lost any sleep over the final decision, and even though we often refer to our department now as Adult Services, I believe the apostrophe in this case is not high on any official’s list of things to fret about. Not so in England apparently. According to this Chicago Tribune article from March 29th, a huge outcry of protest has arisen with regard to Mid Devon’s district council proposal to ban all apostrophes on place names and road signs. Britons reacted strongly voicing their dismay at such grammatical apostacy. As the article states, this is not the first threat to the nation’s apostrophes. Last summer there was a kerfuffle over the venerable bookstore Waterstone’s dumping their apostrophe. And, leave it to the British to have an Apostrophe Protection Society, founded twelve years ago by John Richards, a former newspaper copy editor, who says that his popular website, apostrophe.org.uk has had more than 1.6 million visitors. So, sticklers, take heart! There appears to be a great many of us who do care about the state of our language.
Barbara L.
The Library of Congress has just released a list of 25 sound recordings that will be preserved for the long term. The song Sounds of Silence, by Simon
and Garfunkel, written just after the JFK assassination, is included along with such iconic recordings as Chubby Checker’s energetic The Twist, the original cast album of South Pacific, Will Roger’s rendition of You Are My Sunshine, a speech by President Eisenhower, and Van Cliburn’s 1958 performance in Moscow at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. The complete list of selections spans from 1918 to 1980 and represents nearly every musical and recording category. Billboard Magazine’s blog ran this article about the announcement.
Barbara L.
On the hip website Flavorwire, Emily Temple offered a collection of photographs picturing 20 wonderful murals and frescoes from around the world that celebrate books and literature. This is one of my favorites–it’s the parking garage at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Enjoy all of the bookish buildings here.
Barbara L.
In London the 35th Diagram Prize is going to be awarded soon to the oddest book title of the year. Will it be Lofts of North America: Pigeon Lofts; How to Sharpen Pencils; Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop; or (my favorite) How Tea Cosies Changed the World? These four gems (all real books!) are on a short list of titles competing for this year’s award according to this Chicago Trib article. Leave it to the Brits to have a prize like this–one that combines pure whimsy with acknowledging an author’s gumption in pursuing a topic close to his or her heart. I love it!
Click on the titles above to see the cover design, and in the case of How to Sharpen Pencils, to request the book from one of our sister libraries. Some of the others are available in book stores.
Barbara L.
Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune editorial page commentator, offered his personal take on reading in today’s column. The joys of tackling a “fat book” far outweigh [groan] the disadvantages of toting around a large tome. Says Chapman, “One- or two-pound books spare me, for a while, the most painful part of
my reading regimen: indecision. When I reach the end, I’m tormented by all the options before me: Fiction or history? Biography or memoir? Contemporary or 19th-century? American or British? I can’t sleep soundly till I decide how to spend the coming weeks or months.”
I can relate to this. In addition to agonizing over what to read next, I’ve always felt that starting a new book was a little like walking into a cocktail party in full swing filled with strangers who all seemed to know each other already. Will I find someone to talk to? Will I like the “vibe”? Will I ever be able to relax? Being immersed in a long book is such a cozy, comfy pursuit. Every time I open to where I left off it’s like meeting my good friends. I suppose that explains part of the appeal of long sagas and multi-volume series (thank you J.K. Rowling and George R. R. Martin!)
Barbara L.
On February 2nd’s “Weekend Edition,” Luke Runyon reported on the small library in Basalt, Colorado that is experimenting with offering patrons seed packets in addition to books. Runyon described the program: “A library card gets you a packet of seeds. You then grow the fruits and vegetables, harvest the new seeds from the biggest and best, and return those seeds so the library can lend them out to others.”
Library Director Barbara Milnor sees the program as a way to stay relevant and an excellent draw for patrons. Library patron Stephanie Syson and her 4-year old daughter had just finished reading a picture book with a large white bunny on the cover, so their first choice from the basket of seed packets was labeled “rainbow” carrots. At the checkout desk, Syson commented, “For her to see a little pot of dirt and to plant a seed into it, and then 30 days later being able to eat something from it is really exciting for her. She really enjoys seeing that whole process.” How nice that the process starts at the library!
Barbara L.
Yesterday, January 28th, marked the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Why not spend a little time reading it?
As one might expect on such an occasion, attention must paid to this fine author, perhaps one of the best and most loved worldwide. On Monday’s “Fresh Air,” host Terry Gross re-ran critic Maureen Corrigan’s January 24th commentary on Pride and Prejudice at 200. Featured in Corrigan’s homage is a review of one of the latest in a slew of critiques and biographies that have been released as part of the celebration. Paula Bynre’s offering, The Real Jane Austen, caught Corrigan’s attention because it allows the reader into Austen’s 18th century life by taking careful 
note of the personal possessions and household goods she owned, such as her childhood poetry notebooks, topaz jewelry, and an exotic East Indian shawl.
For many Austen fans, no special anniversary is needed to get them reading. I know a few who keep a copy at their bedside and on sleepless nights, open the book to almost any page and immerse themselves again in the world of Regency England and the family of the Bennet girls.
Barbara L.
