Friday, June 25, 2010
International Institute for Social History in Amsterdam
The IISG (International Institute for Social History) was an old cocoa warehouse in the Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam. Today it is a fabulous archive and library. The reading room looks out over a large canal filled with boats and birds. The IISG has one of the best cafeterias around (cheap and delicious cheeses), serves free coffee and tea, has wifi, and houses some of the most important papers of left-wing and now right-wing movements and people from around the world. It's yet another free and public library for all.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Adolf Cluss thinks the Library of Congress is Great
Adolf Cluss, American Communist and Washington DC architect extraordinaire, thinks the Library of Congress is great, and it's better than the Smithsonian Institute. He's sorry it's closed after a December 1851 fire.
Die Kongressbibliothek, wo man Bücher geliehen bekommen konnte durch Rekommendation von Abgeordnete, ist abgebrannt, d.h die einzige sie noch bestehend, diejenige in Smithsonian Institut ist blos für Rentiers offen, d.h. in den regelmäß. Arbeitsstunde von 9-3 Uhr. Ausgeliehen wird gar nichts. Dies Anstalt wurde trotzdem von dem Engländer Smithson mit einem fond von 500,000 dollars dotirt zu den Zweck: Ausbreitung von nützlichen Wissen unter den Menschen.
"The Library of Congress, where one can borrow books with the recommendation of a representative, has burned down, so that the only [library] that still exists is the one in the Smithsonian Institute, which is open only for rentiers, that is, during the regular working hours of 9-3. They do not loan out books at all. This institution is nonetheless funded with 500,000 dollars by the Englishman Smithson for the purpose: Spreading useful knowledge among people."
Adolf Cluss, Washington, DC, to Joseph Weydemeyer, New York City, March 17, 1852, Joseph Weydemeyer Papers, IISG.
Die Kongressbibliothek, wo man Bücher geliehen bekommen konnte durch Rekommendation von Abgeordnete, ist abgebrannt, d.h die einzige sie noch bestehend, diejenige in Smithsonian Institut ist blos für Rentiers offen, d.h. in den regelmäß. Arbeitsstunde von 9-3 Uhr. Ausgeliehen wird gar nichts. Dies Anstalt wurde trotzdem von dem Engländer Smithson mit einem fond von 500,000 dollars dotirt zu den Zweck: Ausbreitung von nützlichen Wissen unter den Menschen.
"The Library of Congress, where one can borrow books with the recommendation of a representative, has burned down, so that the only [library] that still exists is the one in the Smithsonian Institute, which is open only for rentiers, that is, during the regular working hours of 9-3. They do not loan out books at all. This institution is nonetheless funded with 500,000 dollars by the Englishman Smithson for the purpose: Spreading useful knowledge among people."
Adolf Cluss, Washington, DC, to Joseph Weydemeyer, New York City, March 17, 1852, Joseph Weydemeyer Papers, IISG.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Lisbon's Central City Library Photos
Pretty great public library with peacocks in action, free wifi, a beautiful interior space (though it would help to bring an extension cord to use the many electrical outlets), and a beautiful garden in back with a cafe selling sandwiches, espresso, and all you need for a great day at the library.
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