For my first book project I visited the Millikin University’s Staley library and checked out:

Hoffman, Stanley, ed. Contemporary Theory in International Relations. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1965.  

Browsing the library catalogue I noticed that the Staley library did not use the standard Dewey Decimal classification system but rather the Library of Congress classification system.  Learning about the LOC classification system was a welcome bonus to my project.  

I was delighted to read this article in the New York Times today.  I believe a healthy nation can be judged by two things: a thriving local food market, and a free and open book market; places where people can gather.  I wish the Iraqi people the best of luck, and hope that tolerance rules the day and allows for stimulating intellectual debate.

Acuity.

I didn’t attend this event, but it looked like fun.  Oh what we do to promote reading, eh?  The details.

I’m starting something new.  I’m going to read a book a week selected from a public library.  I was originally planning to start this project during the first week of January 2009, but I’m an impatient fellow so I’m starting a month early. 

My set up will be easy.  I’ll post the book information (the author, ISBN number, etc.), and then if I find something worth sharing—some golden nugget of wisdom from the author—I’ll quote that in subsequent posts.

It’s important to note that this will not be a book critique or review.  I’m not a literary critic, nor do I get paid for any of this.  I’m just a guy who loves to read and support his local public libraries, without any of that fancy literary argot. 

Super, let’s get started!

Once in a while I enjoy looking up random words in the dictionary.  Since I left both my paperback and electronic dictionary at home, I decided to give Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary a go.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only was the site easy to navigate and use, but there were quite a few word games and puzzles, and it kept me entertained.  Online dictionaries are definitely faster than paperbacks or even my handheld electronic dictionary, but I do prefer the old flipping through an actual paper copy.

If you are like me, then you will agree that the Freedom of Speech applies equally to everyone, and that book banning is wrong, no matter how nefarious the content may be.  I found this excellent resource by John Mark Ockerbloom on the University of Pennsylvania’s web server.  Read and be merry!

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/banned-books.html

Augusto Fernández Mas’ Casa Aquino is absolutely beautiful.  I could sit in there and read all day long.   

I apologize for not having written anything these past few days.  You see I’m buying a house and that has been preoccupying my mind and time.  Sadly, I have not had time to attend used book fairs either, and with all my money going towards the house, I’ve not purchased any new books.  That could be a blessing in disguise because I’m now borrowing more books from public libraries.  There’s something to be said for public libraries, many of which are impressive architectural feats in their own right.  Take this example of the Salt Lake City Public Library in Utah.

I’ve recently become familiar with the Dwell magazine.  I find it fascinating to read about modern architecture, design, and living.  On one of their online blogs I stumbled across this interesting staircase.  Very impressive indeed.

Original article.