Category: Libraries and Archives
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Ancient Libraries
Libraries in the ancient world are not like the libraries we know today. Often they were privately owned, and very few people would have had access to the material inside. Partially, this was because literacy was not widespread and therefore confined to the elite. Even in Greece, which prized literacy pretty highly, literacy rates were […]
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The Archimedes Palimpsest
Palimpsest is one of my favorite words. It refers to a text that has been written over, but is still somewhat legible beneath the newer text. This writing over creates this fascinating relationship between the original and the new text. Often this happened in the medieval era because parchment, made from the skins of sheep […]
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When You Need a Good Book: Readers’ Advisory
In my reference class this semester we’ve been talking about how to find books for patrons in need of a new great read. The holidays are fast approaching and maybe you’re planning on getting a book for yourself or for someone else this holiday season. Need a good recommendation? You can drop a comment on […]
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Smuggling Timbuktu’s Libraries: Preservation and Protecting Manuscripts Against Human Threats
Today I’m sharing a short paper I wrote for my preservation class on Timbuktu’s libraries. It’s basically presented here in its original state except for some images that I’ve added. For the class we were instructed to research a library disaster and the response to that disaster in an international setting. After some initial research, […]
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Nitrate Film: Degradation and Preservation
There’s a scene in Cinema Paradiso that I find utterly wrenching. The projectionist, Alfredo, has just changed the position of the projector to show a film outside against a building, since the manager has closed the theater for the night. Salvatore watches in the square below. In an instant, the image bubbles and the reel […]
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Why Do Libraries Get Rid of Books?
There is always a lot of controversy when public libraries (or really any libraries) get rid of books. In 2015, the Berkeley Public Library chief resigned due to controversy over weeding books. This was due largely to his behavior and attitude around removing thousands of books, but there are many stories about community members being […]
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3 Great Digital Resources from Your Local Library
It has been four months since I’ve been able to visit my local library. This feels like something close to an eternity. I have a huge pile of finished books stacked next to my reading chair… Even though many libraries aren’t physically open right, there are still plenty of ways to access your library online. […]
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5 Bucket List Libraries to Dream About Visiting
One of the worst parts of the pandemic for me has been the limitation on travel and even travel planning. I apparently spend a lot of time researching and planning travel, even for short trips, and all that has been put on hold. My husband and I are really privileged that being cooped up in […]
Ink in the Archives 