Smart Chairs for Techno Libraries

The destruction of an African library

Written, illustrated and designed by Zimbabwean graphic artist Saki Mafundikwa, Afrikan Alphabets: The Story of Writing in Africa includes the story of King Ibrahim Njoya who developed an alphabet called Shü-mom. He also compiled a calendar, maps, administrative records and legal codes, pharmacopœia and a 'Kama Sutra'.

"Not long after he had built a magnificent palace and built schools for his people, the French took control of Cameroon. Their power was threatened by his achievements. They destroyed the printing press that he [King Njoya] invented, destroyed his libraries, and burned many of the books he had written. The French soldiers threw Bamum sacred objects into the street. And finally, in 1931, they sent him into exile in the capital of Yaoundé where he died a broken man in 1933. Over the years, Njoya’s son and heir Seidou Njimoluh quietly worked to preserve his heritage."

(Afrikan Alphabets: The Story of Writing in Africa by Saki Mafundikwa p.83)

Get Lost in the Library With Desiree Palmen

"I'd like people to consider what it means to let the government control our daily lives. When we are controlled we hand over our individual responsibilities to the state. I wanted to make a suit for the non-criminal citizen whose house is being watched 24 hours by street surveillance cameras. I'm also responding to a wish to disappear."

Desiree Palmen

Carnegie Library, Lambeth

The Bookseller magazine this month reported Lambeth Council's Property Performance Report stated that Lambeth has a £35m backlog of building repairs. Comments on individual libraries included that the Carnegie Library in Herne Hill, donated by Andrew Carnegie, "would be ideal for sale for a private residential flat conversion", and that Minet Library, North Brixton, "could be closed." A Council spokesman said that, “Anyone who visits our libraries will know some of the buildings are old and need replacement.”

If you look at the Lambeth Council website now you will read, 'As part of the London Open House weekend, Carnegie Library will be hosting tours on the hour on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2009. Tours will be on first come basis and will include public areas, despatch room and the garden. Carnegie Library is a picturesque Grade II listed building, combining framework with Tudor style mullioned and leaded windows.'

Mobile libraries

Living in countries glutted with books and swarming with virtual realities, it's easy to take reading for granted. I've been checking out these wonderful mobile libraries. If anyone knows of others, please let me know.


The Probigua library bus in Guatemala




The RAM VAN (Buffalo, USA)




A camel library in Kenya




A donkey library in Ethiopia




A donkey library in Colombia.

sniff it and see

"The source of inspiration for many great literary figures may have been nothing more than a quick sniff of the bouquet of mouldy books," wrote Dr. R.J. Hay, one of England's leading mycologists and Dean of Dermatology at Guy's Hospital in London.

In The Lancet, (1996), Dr. R.J. Hay, one of England’s leading mycologists, wrote that "fungal hallucinogens" in old books could lead to "enhancement of enlightenment."


http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/media/psychoactives_media2.shtml

Cookie Monster takes a trip to the library - Sesame Street