#LibraryHistory

Katie Birkwood

@girlinthe.bsky.social

1 day ago

Royal College of Physicians postal loan form from 1936.

Title page version of a book with former ownership stamps of Stoke Newington Public Libraries

Title page of a book with perforated stamp SNPL

Title page of Text-Book of Ophthalmology by W. Stewart Duke-Elder, volume IV

Traces of information systems past: interlibrary loan admin infrastructure, and the British National Book Centre rehoming works from Stoke Newington to the @rcpmuseum.bsky.social. #GLAMS #BookHistory #LibraryHistory 📚

@jane-bee.bsky.social

1 month ago

12 Weird Nights - Night 9 – The Night of Lost Libraries What happens when the world’s knowledge disappears? From the clay tablets of Nineveh to the scrolls of Alexandria, and from the manuscripts of Nalanda to the burned codices of the Maya, this episode explores the fascinating, and tragic history of lost libraries. We dive into the paradox of preservation, where fire sometimes saves what it seeks to destroy, the human stories of librarians who risked everything to protect knowledge, and the looming threat of a modern Digital Dark Age where our digital treasures may vanish without a trace. Join me as we journey through the ashes of memory, uncovering the fragile thread that connects us to the past and asking the quiet question: what knowledge are we letting disappear today? In this episode: - Nineveh & Ashurbanipal’s Library: How fire baked clay tablets into permanence, preserving 2,500-year-old wisdom. - The Great Library of Alexandria: Three phases of destruction, lost scientific discoveries, and the human cost of attrition. - Nalanda & the Maya Codices: When libraries became targets of war and colonial erasure, and only fragments survive today. - Modern Ashes: The deliberate destruction of libraries in WWII, including Leuven and Warsaw, and their haunting memorials. - The Heroes of Preservation: Librarians in Timbuktu and Sarajevo who risked their lives to save centuries of knowledge. - Technology as the New Scribe: AI and imaging resurrecting burned scrolls, and the looming threat of the Digital Dark Age. Why listen: This episode isn’t just about books—it’s about memory, culture, and the human drive to preserve stories against time, fire, and indifference. Something to ponder: "Knowledge is fragile. It survives not by walls, but by people who care." If this episode sparked your curiosity, made you feel a little more enchanted, or reminded you of the stories hiding in plain sight, I’d love for you to stay connected with the LilWeird Universe. You can support the podcast, explore more curious content, and help keep this little world growing, glowing, and wonderfully weird. Recommended Books: - https://amzn.to/4qjiziv by https://www.amazon.com/Luciano-Canfora/e/B001IU4PR0/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9781541603721 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780313361487https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9781541603721 - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780674271104https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780674271104 - https://amzn.to/3ZbEmNf - https://bookshop.org/a/118908/9780786745388 - https://amzn.to/4pHMCQ2 Credits: 🎵BGM Used https://pixabay.com/%20https://cdn.pixabay.com/download/audio/2023/03/04/audio_93d3cbb6c6.mp3?filename=intro-melancolica-141509.mp3 https://pixabay.com/%20https://cdn.pixabay.com/download/audio/2024/08/11/audio_59abd9cd50.mp3?filename=mystical-piano-atmosphere-231511.m A gentle note: This episode of LilWeird Podcast is a blend of researched facts, folklore, personal reflection, and creative storytelling. While efforts were made to ensure accuracy, this episode is intended for curious exploration, not as a scientific or academic resource. Listener discretion is encouraged when interpreting historical or cultural content. 🌙 Affiliate Disclaimer Some of the links provided may be affiliate links through http://bookshop.org and http://amazon.com. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the LilWeird Podcast and keeps the stories coming. Thank you for your support!

📣 New Podcast! "12 Weird Nights - Night 9 – The Night of Lost Libraries" on @Spreaker #ancientknowledge #archimedespalimpsest #ashurbanipal #bookrescue #culturalheritage #darkage #digitallibraries #herculaneum #humanmemory #knowledgepreservation #librarydestruction #libraryhistory #mayacodices

Bernadette A. Lear

@balibra76.bsky.social

2 months ago

A #libraryhistory find of a lifetime! This cabinet was used by the #Pennsylvania State Library in the late 1890s-early 1920s to ship "traveling #libraries" of #books to #rural communities that did not have public libraries of their own. I told the owner "take my money." PRICELESS!

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

3 months ago

Part of my research for #PortraitofaCitizen involved establishing the context of genteel libraries in early America. Where better to go than Monticello and Mount Vernon?

#rarebooks #libraries #libraryhistory #specialcollections #PortraitofaCitizen #museums #housemuseums

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

3 months ago

Fun fact: Stephen Girard acquired his share in the Library Company of Philadelphia by helping the library acquire a bunch of French books for its collection. 😂 It was a strategic move!

#specialcollections #libraryhistory #rarebooks #libraries #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen

Daniel Bellingradt

@dbellingradt.bsky.social

3 months ago

#libraryhistory 📚

RCP museum

@rcpmuseum.bsky.social

3 months ago

The interior of a display case in exhibition 'A body of knowledge' showing a mix of open and closed books with information labels.

Have you booked our 9 Dec virtual lectures evening?
Join 3 expert speakers inspired by recent research into how we investigate the history of libraries like the collections of @rcphysicians.bsky.social.
Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/.../body-kno...
#BodyOfKnowledge #LibraryHistory

More details below👇

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

4 months ago

Stephen Girard's library is filled with many atlases and maps, including this example from a volume titled "La pilote américain," published 1778.

Photo by @tracievanaukenphotography.

#PortraitofaCitizen #books #maps #atlases #materialculture #specialcollections #libraryhistory #StephenGirard

Dr Karen McAulay

@karenmca.bsky.social

4 months ago

A Quiet Contribution to Women’s History: Miss Elizabeth Lambert At Tuesday’s Women who Dared book launch, mention was made of the Wikipedia ‘Women in Red’ project, to which I once attempted to contribute.  It’s a valuable project; t…

Allow me to introduce Miss Lambert, a St Andrews name from the early 19th century. I mentioned her on 'the other place', but this is her first mention on Bluesky. #Women OfNote #LibraryHistory
karenmcaulaymusicologist.blog/2025/11/06/a...

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

4 months ago

Continuing the #StephenGirard #library Yellow Fever theme, here's another work by Jean Devèze, featuring an inscription to Girard on the half-title page.

#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #books #libraryhistory #PortraitofaCitizen

RCP museum

@rcpmuseum.bsky.social

4 months ago

Image of an open anatomy book showing a skeleton and other books in cases in the exhibition.

Open books in cases in the exhibition, the nearest book is in Arabic.

We are delighted to announce a virtual winter lectures for exhibition 'A body of knowledge' is open to book 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k...

🗓️ 6pm GMT, 9 Dec, £5
😍 Featuring a virtual exhibition tour & fascinating lectures from @awickenden.bsky.social & @samuscript.bsky.social!

#LibraryHistory

Katie Birkwood

@girlinthe.bsky.social

4 months ago

Mega excited that @awickenden.bsky.social and @samuscript.bsky.social are speaking on 9 December for @rcpmuseum.bsky.social winter lectures. Online, 6pm GMT, £5, book now: history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k... #LibraryHistory #GLAM📚

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

4 months ago

One of Stephen Girard's notable acts of volunteerism was his work during Philadelphia's Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. This book's author, the famed publisher Mathew Carey, presented it to Girard in 1830, shortly before the merchant-banker's death.

#rarebooks #PortraitofaCitizen #libraryhistory

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

4 months ago

Voltaire was a favorite of Stephen Girard, who owned a set of the famous philosophe's works and even named one of his Philadelphia-built merchant ships after him. Here's a frontispiece of Voltaire from one of Girard's volumes, housed at Founder's Hall, Girard College.

#libraryhistory #rarebooks

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

4 months ago

My years at the @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social have turned me into a big fan of rare book glamor shots, so I'm excited to feature many in my forthcoming book "Portrait of a Citizen." Here's a volume of Voltaire from Stephen Girard's library.

#rarebooks #libraries #libraryhistory

the6books

@the6books.bsky.social

5 months ago

the6books visits the #TorontoReferenceLibrary!

Always a pleasure, thank you TPL.

#TorontoPublicLibrary
#TPL
#RaymondMoriyama
#books #library #history #the6 #Toronto #libraryhistory

Citations: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Isabel Holowaty

@iholowaty.bsky.social

5 months ago

Oh, this is just wonderful! 😂 #libraryhistory

Katie Birkwood

@girlinthe.bsky.social

5 months ago

Thoughts by me about the place of libraries, what makes them amazing and what makes them troublesome. #GLAM #rarebooks #libraryhistory 📚

Katie Birkwood

@girlinthe.bsky.social

6 months ago

Got major FOMO for not being at this conference up the road.

I'm not there because I'm putting the finish touches on a #LibraryHistory EXHIBITION, 'A body of knowledge' opening at
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social TOMORROW.

Online exhibition goes live tomorrow, too: history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/

Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames

@wordinwilderness.bsky.social

6 months ago

For the past eight years, I’ve been working on a project that connects maritime history to a library assembled by merchant Stephen Girard. His vessel the ROUSSEAU, seen here, reflects his cheeky approach to naming ships for controversial philosophes.

#maritimehistory #bookhistory #libraryhistory

Colleen T

@librarycolleen.bsky.social

6 months ago

The Most Bookless State in the Union: The Creation of Arkansas Public Libraries - Arkansas Strong The story of public libraries in Arkansas is shaped by the persistence of women’s groups and local citizens who transformed community-driven efforts into a statewide network of libraries.

The Most Bookless State in the Union: The Creation of Arkansas Public Libraries #history #LibraryHistory 📚
arstrong.org/the-most-boo...

Sophie Floate

@librarybodle.bsky.social

7 months ago

Small engraving of John Wallis' "Library, Shed and Room for morning recreation" in Sidmouth, Devon. Wallis, a London publisher of illustrations & games, relocated to Sidmouth where he set up a circulating library "Wallis' Marine Library" #devon #aquatints #printinghistory #libraryhistory

Bernadette A. Lear

@balibra76.bsky.social

7 months ago

Proud of myself. I started the summer with a goal of submitting 2 #scholarly articles (both original #research) before the start of Fall semester, and I did it! It feels good to move forward on work that I'd put aside when Dad died. Life, love, and #libraryhistory go on.

Colleen T

@librarycolleen.bsky.social

7 months ago

Ambient Reading ‘The swing-doors swung open; and there one stood under the vast dome.’ IN THE 1830s, the Italian political dissident Antonio Panizzi became Keeper of Printed Books at the British Museum…

History of Antonio Panizzi, Keeper of Printed Books and Librarian at the British Museum, 1830s - 📜 #history #LibraryHistory
crusoesbooks.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/a...

Brewminate (Matthew A. McIntosh)

@brewminate.bsky.social

7 months ago

A History of Public Libraries in the United States from the 18th Century The story of the American public library system, its community impact, and the librarians who made it possible.

Public libraries were once a revolutionary idea.

Free books. Free learning. No status check at the door.

In the U.S., they’ve shaped immigrants, workers, and dreamers for centuries.

Here’s how it all began 👇

#Brewminate #LibraryHistory #PublicLibraries #DemocracyInAction #EqualAccess

Bernadette A. Lear

@balibra76.bsky.social

7 months ago

Feeling energized by a 3-hour lunch I had with a #libraryhistory colleague. Lots of thoughts about how our field can acculturate scholars to be generous and supportive, instead of cut-throat and competitive, all while continuing to generate high-quality and insightful #research.

Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL)

@cerl-community.bsky.social

7 months ago

📚 ‘Your Library is Your Portrait’

CERL Seminar 2025

🗓️ 21 Oct | 📍 Edinburgh

How do founding collections shape library identity today?

Join us for talks on legacy, reinterpretation & change in major research libraries.

🔗 www.cerl.org/services/sem...
#CERL2025 #FoundingCollections #LibraryHistory

Bob Henderson

@roberthenderson.bsky.social

8 months ago

Plan of the Ground Floor of the Reading Room of the British Museum. "A Guide to the use of the Reading Room", London: [British Museum Trustees], 1912, p.50

The British Museum Library was regarded by many, including Lenin, as the best in the world. This was due in no small part to the exhaustive collection of reference works available to readers on open access in its famous Round Reading Room.
(1912 plan showing arrangement of books.)
#libraryhistory

@xstreamfm.bsky.social

8 months ago

Foley Public Library History Department changes name FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — The Foley Public Library is changing the name of its History and Genealogy Division after years of confusion from visitors. According to a City of Foley press release, the department is now named The Cultural and Heritage Collection. The former name had led to confusion according to the collection head Paul [...]

WKRG News 5:Alabama News Beacon. #FoleyPublicLibrary #LibraryHistory #Genealogy

Universal Short Title Catalogue

@universalstc.bsky.social

8 months ago

Theodore Bibliandri’s translation of Machumetis saracenorum principis, Image courtesy of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. A title page of the Latin translation of the Qur'an, printed in Basel by Johann Oporinus, Nikolaus Brylinger in 1543. This copy was donated to the St James parochial library in Bury St Edmunds in 1595. The marginal notation at the bottom of the page, also in Latin, describes this gift. It reads: "non mihi sed omnibus H. Blagge."

📚Explore the storied lives of Suffolk's parochial library collections in a new blog post: 'Non mihi sed omnibus: Suffolk’s Last Parochial Libraries' by current MLitt student @standrewshist.bsky.social Emily Wildish.📚

#bookhistory #libraryhistory #collectionhistory

ustc.ac.uk/news/non-mih...