librarian.net » bbl

bibliocide made simpler at Seattle’s new library

jessamyn — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:52:28 +0000

The Stranger is a local indie paper in Seattle that has never been particularly fond of Seattle’s new library. I found their latest article “Killer Library” subtitled “The New Central Library Offers Civic Validation, a Huge Collection of Material, and a Staggering Number of Startling New Ways to Die” totally hilarious. It’s a mix of genuine design flaws (up escalator only? really?) with just quirky architectural decision (of course people call that little platform over the huge atrium area Lover’s Leap, have you lived through a Seattle winter?). I like how their platonic library patron is exactly my age. update: amusingly, everything old is new again and this article is from a while ago. I still enjoy it. [thanks megan]

weirdest library design EVAR

jessamyn — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 01:57:37 +0000

Look at and read about the design for Prague’s new national library. I can only say OMG. Or, as Joe Alterio aptly titles his post about it “A slime draws near. Command?” [thanks josh!]

Cincinnati public library selling naming rights

jessamyn — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:01:12 +0000

For $100,000 you can name the spiral staircase in Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County’s new Big Beautiful Library whatever you want. Slightly more for the rare book room or the children’s room, within reason of course. Can’t find a mention of it on their web site. [digg]

Library board vice president Charles Lindberg wants to make sure that the naming be done tastefully: , “I can see ‘The Larry Flynt Children’s Room.’ I wouldn’t be very happy with that.”

Prompt book return grows out of the barrel of a gun?

jessamyn — Thu, 11 May 2006 20:51:22 +0000

MAO and MPL have parted ways, but the new Minneapolis Public Library will opening May 20th with a less edgy but still dramatic ad campaign. Of course MPL.org is actually Milwaukee Public Library, perhaps they can get in a heavy domain name bidding war now.