Life's Library

my read shelf: (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-30548977-2', 'tumblr.com'); ga('send', 'pageview');

[emmetoneallibrary]

[pickeringtonlibrary]

Amanda and Donna both agree that the Batgirl sneakers are THE BEST.

Also, it’s National Library Workers Day.  Woohoo, party at the Reference Desk!

[nprbooks]

Partaaay!  We’ll bring the Bat-shots: 

Pour .5oz Captain Morgan into pint glass, and fill halfway with Coke. Pour Bailey’s, Vanilla vodka, and root beer schnapps in equal parts into shot glass. Sing “NANANANANANANANA BATMAAAAAAAN” and drop the shot glass into the pint glass. Drink quickly, before the Bailey’s curdles! Tastes like a root beer float, feels like a Batarang to the face.

Holy Dewey Decimal System, Batman!

— Petra

[georgeharrisonmania-deactivated]

[bibliotecadevida]

A 15th Century Cathedral Transformed into a Modern Bookstore

For many, reading a good book can be a religious experience, but this new bookstore in Zwolle, The Netherlands takes that idea to a whole new level. Architects BK. Architecten were tasked with converting this 15th century Dominican church into a modern bookstore with the addition of 700 square meters of shopping space. But there was one major catch: all the historical elements of the 547-year-old building including stained glass windows, pipe organ, ceiling paintings and expansive arches had to remain intact.

Incredibly, BK. Architecten managed to add three levels of retail space to the side wings of the church in a manner that the entire structure can one day be removed in order to restore the church to its original design. In addition only three colors of building materials were used to mimic the existing palette of the cathedral’s interior to further ensure that the bookstore would pay reverence to the original space.

Waanders in de Broeren opened earlier this summer and you can see many more views on the architect’swebsite. Photos by Joop van Putten and Hans Westerink. If you liked this you might also enjoy reading about a Walmart being converted into the largest single-story library in the United States. (via Arch Daily)

[bibliotecadevida]

You should probably follow Danielle's and my latest project, Exploring the Middle East from the East Coast.

This concludes my announcement.

[writerswritecompany]

Bookshelves

[bibliotecadevida]

I totally want these bookshelves!

[bibliotecadevida]

[bibliotecadevida]

The Joy of Books

[bibliotecadevida]

[bibliotecadevida]

[bibliotecadevida]

[bibliotecadevida]

Reading, Writing, Non-Profits and Community Projects

There are some absolutely amazing non-profit organizations and community projects dedicated to reading and writing, each with their own unique twist.

1. I've heard of Write a House before, but completely forgot about it until I came across this article on PolicyMic.

Write a House's mission is to "enliven the literary arts of Detroit by renovating homes and giving them to authors, journalists, poets, aka writers. it's like a writer-in-residence program, only in this case we're actually giving the writer the residence, forever."

This organization is promoting the literary arts and stabilizing Detroit's neighborhoods.

2. The next non-profit is a favorite of mine (however I may be a little biased since I live in the city they're based in.)

The Podium Foundation provides an outlet for high school students in the city of Richmond to express themselves through writing and painting. My favorite part is that Podium publishes the student's works in journals and prints artwork, then offers copies free to the community.

I've watched some of their students perform their poetry before, and they are damn good! 

You can also check out the journals for free on their website.

3. Finally, is The People's Library. This more of a community project than a non-profit. 

The People's Library, located in Richmond, VA,  turns discarded books into blank journals, then places them in libraries for communities members to check out.

Why check out a blank book? So you can add your own story to it.

People check out the blank books, add their own stories, and then return it to the library. It is a place for members of the community to simultaneously read other people's stories and contribute their own stories.

-----

These are a few of my favorites.

What cool reading/writing non-profits and projects are in your area?

[bibliotecadevida]

23 Fascinating Words With No Direct English Translations

The claim that Eskimos have about a trillion words for snow may be a false one -- actually, Eskimo languages have about as many synonyms for snow as English does -- but it remains true that the language of a culture can be fascinating and illustrativ...

Language always fascinated me.

[bibliotecadevida]

22 Books You Should Read Now, Based On Your Childhood Favorites

Recapture all of that youthful wonder.

Yaaaassss! Love this list. Filing it away for a day that I can get every single one (Except 100 Years of Solitude. That one was a drag.)

[bibliotecadevida]

[bibliotecadevida]

Samuel L Jackson reading one of my favorites, "Go the Fuck to Sleep."

[bibliotecadevida]

22 Books You Pretend You've Read But Actually Haven't

Most people lie and say they've read these classic books to seem smarter, according to a survey in The Guardian . Chances are, you're one of those people too.

6. Old Man and the Sea: Read it. Hated it! I was hoping he died at the end just so I didn't waste part of my life reading it for no good reason. Spoiler alert...he lives.

8. Catch-22: I legitimately do want to read this one day.

9. 1984: Actually DID read this in tenth grade. It was double-plus good.

10. To Kill a Mockingbird: This is one of my absolute favorite books! Boo Radley is my boy!

14. The Odyssey: This was definitely qualifies for one of those books that I say I read, but really, we read it in high school as I watched the clock.

16. Pride and Prejudice: I own this. Made it through the first page. Probably gonna let people think that owning it means I read it...

20. The Catcher in the Rye: I love Catcher in the Rye. So much, in fact, that I decided to read Franny and Zooey as well.

21. The Scarlet Letter: Umm...I read most of it in, but skimmed the rest. I remember bits and pieces.

[bibliotecadevida]

31 Stereotypes About Book Lovers That Are Absolutely True

From grade school onwards, avid readers get a lot of flak. This may be because reading is one of the most solitary pleasures; it's not an obvious means of bonding with peers (even though, duh, reading connects us with other people and cultures).

[bibliotecadevida]

19 Problems Only Book Nerds Understand

"I'd rather be reading."