The Forgotten Library

Introduction

Rolling Stone published a list some years back called The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Before this was a Library, that was a solo project, but I didn't get very far. Lo and behold, in the intervening time, RS decided to completely revamp the entire list in September 2020! So, let's open the new Listening Room at the Library and start listening. [I'll link the albums through Spotify when possible so you can follow along, as well!]

Album #500 - Funeral, by Arcade Fire

Funeral came out in 2004 and has appeared on quite a few Top and Best of Lists - the 2000s, Canadian albums, and so on. The album was on the previous iteration of the Rolling Stone list, at 151. Prior to listening for this project, the only song I remembered from this album was "Rebellion (Lies)," which I still really like and has made it appearance on several . . . playlists, I guess we call them now (instead of the old-school mixed tapes and CDs we did as children of the 80s-90s *cough*). Rolling Stone sez:

Loss, love, forced coming-of-age, and fragile generational hope: Arcade Fire’s debut touched on all these themes as it defined the independent rock of the ‘00s. Built on family ties (leader Win Butler, his wife, Régine Chassagne, his brother Will), the Montreal band made symphonic rock that truly rocked, simultaneously outsize and deeply personal, like the best pop. But for all its sad realism, Butler’s is music that still finds solace, and purpose, in communal celebration.

This is a pretty solid album. You have sombre moments, but there are also shining bits of theatricality. Art-rock, lush strings, the plaintiveness of Win Butler's vocals, especially on "Crown of Love."

Our local library systems provide us with so much free entertainment throughout the year, in the form of books (both print and digital), movies, music, and more. However, our national library has a robust digital collection, as well, of which you may not be aware. Read on for some examples of hidden gems in the archives, as well as ways that you can participate in making new projects a reality – right from your couch.

First, a few brief facts about the Library of Congress are in order. The Library was formed in 1800 inside the Capitol building, where it existed for 14 years until British troops burned the building during the Revolutionary War. At the time, the Library had 3,000 volumes; when it was time to rebuild in 1815, they started the collection with a purchase of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, which had nearly 6,500 books. Today, the Library is considered to be the largest library in the world, with over 168 million items in its collection as of 2018; this includes books and other print items, legal materials, films and television broadcasts, maps, sheet music, and sound recordings. It also has the largest rare-book collection in North America, with over 700,000 volumes. 

Over 400 digital collections reside in the Library of Congress archives. The following is a brief tour of some of the more interesting or unusual items:

Performing Arts

American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and Popular Entertainment, 1870-1920. This collection includes hundreds of unpublished playscripts in English and Yiddish, theatre playbills, programs, motion pictures (of vaudeville acts, animal tricks, and even some early burlesque), sound recordings from the Edison Record Company, and photographs and memorabilia from the era. 

The Library of Congress Celebrates the Songs of America. This collection is an exploration of America’s history through its music, from popular to traditional, from sacred to secular. This is one of the largest online exhibitions, with sheet music, recordings, videos, and even related biographies and essays. 

An American Ballroom Companion: Dance Instruction Manuals, ca. 1490-1920. Ballroom, or “social dance,” manuals are a rich historical find, not only for dance instruction, but also for proper etiquette of the time period. The collection also includes some tracts and treatises against dances, for various moral or religious reasons.

History and Historical Figures

Alexander Hamilton papers. A voluminous collection of nearly 12,000 items, the papers include personal and public correspondence, drafts of writings other than the Federalist essays), and letters between the Hamilton and Schuyler families. In addition to this collection of papers, other groups of Hamilton’s letters and papers reside in other collections, such as the George Washington papers.  

African American Perspectives: Materials Selected from the Rare Book Collection. With over 800 titles in this collection, the items here provide a view into the African American experience from approximately 1820-1920. Biographies, narratives of enslaved persons, speeches, legal documents, and more, by such authors as Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Lydia Maria Child, Mary Church Terrell, and Booker T. Washington. The majority of the collection is penned by African American authors.

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. This is a joint project between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Over 16 million pages are available to view, from 1789-1963. The directory goes back even further, to 1690.

By the People – How You Can Help

With so much digital content finding a home online, transcriptions of letters, documents, and recordings is more important than ever – not just for easier readability and search results, but to allow those with visual and hearing impairments to experience the collections, as well. And while the Library of Congress employs thousands of people, it can’t be done alone. In November 2018, By the People was born, a crowdsourcing project that allowed anyone with an internet connection and some free minutes to assist with transcription of scanned materials.

During National Library Week every year, the American Library Association (ALA) releases the State of America’s Libraries report, which details issues and trends across three major types of libraries - public, academic, and school. Part of the report is the Top 10 Most Challenged Titles for the previous year.

What constitutes a challenge? It’s an attempt to remove or restrict materials or services based on content. Overwhelmingly, library patrons are the ones who attempt to challenge materials, or in the case of school libraries, adults on behalf of children.

In 2019, 607 total materials were affected in censorship attempts; this includes films and newspapers as well as books. This is an increase of 14% from 2018, which is troubling. The books are not always new titles, either. I present 2019’s list with reasons cited for censoring books:

George by Alex Gino - LGBTQIA+ content and a transgender character, conflicts with religious viewpoints, conflicts with “traditional” family structure.

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin - LGBTQIA+ content, considered sexually explicit and biased.

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss - LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints, possible “pollution of morals,” no content warning.

Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg - LGBTQIA+ content, gender identity, sex education, inappropriate title and illustrations.

Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack - gay marriage, LGBTQIA+ content, “an attempt to indoctrinate young children,” conflicts with religious viewpoint.

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings - LGBTQIA+ content, transgender character, for confronting a topic that is “sensitive, controversial, and politically charged.”

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood - profanity, “vulgarity and sexual overtones.”

Drama by Raina Telgemeier - LGBTQIA+ content, going against “family values/morals.”

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling - magic, witchcraft, “actual curses and spells,” characters using “nefarious means” to attain goals.

And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell - LGBTQIA+ content.

It shouldn’t really be a surprise, I suppose, that the majority of challenges are against LGBTQIA+ material, but censorship like this is still disheartening. You can choose what you do or don’t want to read, but that doesn’t give you the right to make it so OTHERS can’t read it. Freedom to read has never been more paramount.

A Healthy Dose of Escapism – Reading in the Time of COVID-19

As the majority of us are now working remotely, you might find yourself with some extra time on your hands (or are trying to carve out a little niche for yourself between working and caring for family members). Crafting is a big thing right now, as is watching Netflix, but if you’re out of fabric and already watched Tiger King, perhaps you’d like to read a book. Below are some suggestions for a bit of escapism.

Since we’re already living in a bit of a dystopian nightmare, these recommendations do not include such pandemic gems as The Stand by Stephen King, The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, or even the classic Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe; however, if those are more your style, feel free to take a look at this list from Fortune magazine.

Travel

Non-essential travel is discouraged right now, but taking a trip from the comfort of your armchair is always available . . . and what’s more, no wrestling with luggage or tickets!

Around the World in 80 Trains, by Monisha Rejesh. Monisha, a travel writer who previously embarked on 80 trains through India, takes a 45,000-mile journey riding the rails, from London to Russia and beyond. In addition to the amazing views, you’ll meet a cast of unforgettable travelers.

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town, by Paul Theroux. The occasionally-curmudgeonly Paul Theroux (perhaps known to you as the author of The Mosquito Coast, adapted into a 1980s film with Harrison Ford) has done quite a bit of traveling in his lifetime. This particular book details his experiences by train, canoe, “chicken bus,” and cattle truck through Africa. As he himself writes, “I got sick, I got stranded, but I was never bored.”

Underground: a Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet, by Will Hunt. Will Hunt’s fascination with the places that live underground began as a teenager, when he discovered an abandoned subway tunnel beneath his house in Providence, Rhode Island. Underground spans continents and history, from the Black Hills of South Dakota to the Australian outback.

Food and Drink

Some of these could also fit in the travel category, but if the focus was more on food, it’s included here. Live vicariously through some legitimate foodies, and learn more about some items in our pantries and kitchens that never required a second thought.

Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat, by Bee Wilson. This witty, well-researched survey is a literal object lesson in many kitchen implements we might take for granted, such as the humble fork, but also passing fancies such as cider owls and turnspit dogs. If you’re not already a fan of food history or anthropology, you might be after reading this book.

Hungry: Eating, Road-Tripping, and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World, by Jeff Gordinier. Gordinier, the food and drinks editor for Esquire magazine, takes off on a four-year, globe-trotting adventure with Danish chef René Redzepi in search of serious flavors. From the Yucatán peninsula to the Arctic Circle, this part travelogue, part memoir might cause you to devour it much like a meal – in one sitting.

A Cook’s Tour: in Search of the Perfect Meal, by Anthony Bourdain. The late chef and host of No Reservations and Parts Unknown ventures out of the kitchen once again in prose form, from Asia to Europe and back, in an attempt to discover what constitutes the “perfect” meal. Fans of Bourdain’s wit and sardonic attitude on television or his previous books (such as Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw) will find Cook’s Tour a satisfying delight.

Drive-Thru Dreams: a Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom, by Adam Chandler. For those of you more interested in the fast-food side of culinary delights, Chandler, a former staff writer for The Atlantic, reveals the story of America through its roadside institutions – from White Castle to Wendy’s.

Fiction

Daisy Jones and The Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The tale of a group of rock stars on the rise in the tumultuous 1970s written as an oral history. It’s the quintessential “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll” memoir, but without real people involved.

Summer of ’69, by Elin Hilderbrand. Touted as the perfect “beach read” when it was published last year, this historical novel follows the Levin quartet of siblings as they spend a not-quite-usual summer at their grandmother’s Nantucket home.

Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang. If you’re looking for something a little deeper, this book of nine short stories that weave together the big philosophical questions and science fiction might be a better fit.

For the Kids

And you, as well. No judgements here!

The Curse of the Werepenguin, by Allan Woodrow, illustrated by Scott Brown. Middle-grades fiction in the orphan-boy-becomes-hero vein, with a slightly different spin – the mythical creature this time is a were . . . penguin. Lots of puns and self-referential dialogue make this a quick treat.

The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer, by Lamar Giles, illustrated by Dapo Adeola. Otto and Sheed are the legendary Alston boys, known in their town for being the best detectives around. On their last day of summer vacation, they end up inadvertently freezing time, leading to the longest case (and day) of their lives as they attempt to solve the mystery and save their neighbors.

Arnie, the Doughnut, by Laurie Keller. An oldie-but-goodie, this adorable story of a not-so-ordinary doughnut will give you a smile. Perfect for read-alouds, or you can watch and listen to Chris O’Dowd (of IT Crowd and Bridesmaids, among other things) read it to you, courtesy of Storyline Online. [Captions are provided for the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing].

Want More?

Of course, this is just a brief selection of titles and genres, and purposefully avoiding anything too heavy or “dark” in the interest of more universal appeal.

For places to find more recommendations:

Book Concierge (NPR). This web app allows you to browse through seven years of books handpicked by NPR staff and critics, or narrow it down by categories. You can click on multiple categories at once and really find something to suit your tastes.

GoodReads. A website as well as a mobile app, you can keep track of what you’re currently reading, as well as view user-compiled lists, join virtual book clubs, and more. You can also make custom shelves and tags, especially useful if you have a large collection.

Firstly, I didn't complete my reading challenge. I had wanted to read 75 books in 2018 but I only managed 53. Since I've been doing the Goodreads Reading Challenges (started in 2011), I've only missed it three years - 2013 (100 out of 105 books), 2015 (109 out of 110 - I was so pissed as I was reading the last one but still had fifty pages to go at midnight that year), and now 2018. Of the 52 I completed, I rated four books as five stars: Lust in Translation: the Rules of Infidelity from Tokyo to Tennessee by Pamela Druckerman While not meant to be a definitive study on adultery/infidelity/extramarital affairs (and the author makes clear from the outset that it is not), this was a fun read about different countries sexual mores (or lack thereof, in some cases). Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton When I get my free Kindle book as a prime member, I don't always get to them right away. However, this book, which was a selection for July, captivated me with its description, and I knew it had to go to the front of the queue. In later years, I have developed a grudging appreciation for Hemingway. He was a pretty lousy person, but I like his writing, now that I don't have to pick over and analyze it in an academic setting. With that appreciation came a desire to learn more about him, and I've read some biographies over the years. However, I've also been fascinated by the women in his life, especially as the last two were writers in their own right, if on a more journalistic bent than Ernest. Even though this is a work of fiction, it felt like Martha was really telling me her story of her life with Ernest, and her frustrations about missing the war because of her sex. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read many of the books that the author used for her research, but I will definitely add them to my list. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Wow. It was my misfortune to have this book become available shortly before classes started again, but I determined to give it my best shot. As it happened, it took me a month to complete, but when you consider I work full time, was volunteering one night a week, and go to school part time, it's actually pretty good. Especially as this biography is over 800 pages in hardcover and some nights it felt as if I had to steal time to read them. I read every one. It's dense, but it is so engaging that I couldn't skip anything. I'm glad that there is more scholarship about Hamilton, as we only received very brief information in school, and the infamous duel is forever immortalized (if you're of a certain age) with a Got Milk? ad. Hamilton did so much in his relatively short life that it's astounding, and so many of his ideas were prescient. He seems like he would have made a great dinner guest. Some Sort of Epic Grandeur: the Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald by Matthew J. Bruccoli I have a fascination with Scott and Zelda that goes back years. They embody the twenties for me. And when Scott was on his game, he was amazing. (Zelda was ahead of her time - her writings are akin to impressionist paintings). And yet, he could be such a brutal person - to others as well as himself, with his destructive behaviors. Although I'm sure more recent books have now been written - and the newer edition I have is from 2002 - this biography from Bruccoli is in-depth and immensely readable. You can tell that he admires Scott's work, but doesn't shy away from incidents where Scott was acting like a tool. He doesn't make excuses for him, but does separate the facts from the fiction (some of the more well-known tropes are actually untrue or unverifiable). Additionally, there are several appendices: a genealogical exploration of the Francis Scott Key connection by Fitzgerald's daughter, Scottie; a chronology of his ledger; and a bibliography of books that were popular and more than likely read by Scott during each year of his publishing life. In sum, if you're looking for one book to explore Fitzgerald's life and works, make it this one.

Honorable Mentions: The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke by Andrew Lawler I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara Gellhorn: A Twentieth-Century Life by Caroline Moorehead

January 1, 2019 - a time to reflect on the year previous as well as look forward to the year ahead. Something is different about this year, though. It's also Public Domain Day in the United States. What does this mean? Works published in 1923 have now entered the public domain, meaning they are free to use for whatever purpose you wish - reading, remixing, throwing public screenings, and so on. For yes, this public domain extends to some films and music, as well! Okay, but don't new works enter the public domain every year? Why is this year so special? Ah, dear reader, that's where you are incorrect. While a small handful of unpublished works have entered the public domain in recent years, no published works have entered the public domain since 1998. "Works from 1923 were set to go into the public domain in 1999, after a 75-year copyright term. But in 1998 Congress hit a two-decade pause button and extended their copyright term for 20 years, giving works published between 1923 and 1977 an expanded term of 95 years" (Center for the Study of Public Domain, Duke University, 2018). So this is quite a big deal. Now, some of these may have had their copyright lapse according to the old law, and might have been in the public domain for some time. However, if one still wanted to use that material, she'd have to have done due diligence to make sure, avoiding a potential lawsuit. After January 1, 2019, however, it's a surety that, if the work was originally published prior to 1923 in the United States, it is now public domain. Most of these are books forgotten to time, though, right? So only really die-hard nerds care . . . As I stated earlier, it's not just books! A few items entering the public domain:

Cecil B. De Mille's The Ten Commandments

Virginia Woolf's Jacob's Room

songs such as "Charleston" and "Yes! We Have No Bananas"

School started again last week. My courses this time are Seminar in Public Libraries and Digital Libraries, both of which seem like they will be interesting, if the readings thus far are any indication. To that end, I am going to attempt to share any library-related musings, links, etc., as we roll along these next fourteen weeks. The American Library Association publishes a report entitled The State of America's Libraries; the most recent one was published in April 2018. It was heartening to read; despite a minority of people who think that libraries are useless or old-fashioned, most people see the need and importance of libraries even in this digital age. Those who think the former have obviously not set foot in a library in some time. (Such as that idiot economist who wrote that op-ed in Forbes a few weeks ago that said we no longer need libraries because we have Amazon for books and Starbucks for internet, so to hell with you, poor people! (I'm paraphrasing, but that was pretty much the import of his words. If you didn't read the article, it was taken down, because of the fracas that ensued, but a copy was archived here). On the other hand, as the report states, "A disconnect still exists between the services libraries offer and public awareness and support for those services" (ALA, SOAL report, p 11). I have noticed this myself; even when speaking with friends who do know of some of the resources our local public library offers, I have a tendency to tell them something they might not be aware of (most recently, the fact that Hillsborough County Public Libraries has passes to local museums that you can get into for free, just for having a library card). I think that if some of these resources were marketed better, more people would be encouraged to come visit the library and see all of the other amazing things they have to offer.