February 13, 2013
This week, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by becoming the first Pope in almost 600 years to resign. Coincidentally, Northwestern Professor of History Emeritus Garry Wills’s latest book, Why Priests?: A Failed Tradition, has just been released. Mr. Wills explores the question of why priests are necessary. You can learn more about the book […]
February 13, 2013
This year’s Lincoln Prize, given annually by Gettysburg College and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History for the finest scholarly work on the Civil War, has been awarded to James Oakes for his book Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865. He also won the Lincoln Prize in 2008 for […]
February 13, 2013
This article from readwrite.com highlights a fascinating question: If everyone is exposed to technology, do we all (globally) react the same way? Can there be a cultural reaction to digital media? The author, Dave Copeland, points out that on a recent visit to France he witnessed much less e-reading than he’s accustomed to in the States. This, despite the […]
February 8, 2013
We are thrilled to welcome Leonid Osseny back to EPL this month for a brand-new Local Art @ EPL exhibit. After making his library debut in 2011, the local architect and designer has returned with a vivid collection of illustrations used in Richard Reeder’s new book Chicago Sketches. Depicting such diverse Chicago landmarks and personalities […]
February 7, 2013
A few questions I’ve been thinking about regarding technology and young people: How is computer/media use affecting school performance? What about thinking skills and creativity? What are kids spending their time on the computer doing, aside from homework? Is the time being used productively? Is America’s academic “ranking” tied to computer use or not? I found a […]
February 7, 2013
Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune editorial page commentator, offered his personal take on reading in today’s column. The joys of tackling a “fat book” far outweigh [groan] the disadvantages of toting around a large tome. Says Chapman, “One- or two-pound books spare me, for a while, the most painful part of my reading regimen: indecision. When […]
February 5, 2013
On February 2nd’s “Weekend Edition,” Luke Runyon reported on the small library in Basalt, Colorado that is experimenting with offering patrons seed packets in addition to books. Runyon described the program: “A library card gets you a packet of seeds. You then grow the fruits and vegetables, harvest the new seeds from the biggest and […]
February 4, 2013
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Dr. Seuss classic The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, the New York Public Library is exhibiting some of the hats in the real Dr. Seuss’s own collection. A hat lover himself, Theodor Seuss Geisel collected hundreds of them, incorporating them into his painting, advertising, and books, even insisting […]
January 31, 2013
This month for Poetry 365 we’re highlighting the extraordinary new novel-in-poems from Kathleen Rooney. In Robinson Alone, the Rose Metal Press founding editor examines and expands upon the work of mysterious 1940’s poet Weldon Kees by reanimating his haunting literary alter ego Robinson. Epic, atmospheric, and akin to historical fiction, this cinematic collection traces Robinson’s […]
January 29, 2013
National Public Radio aired a fascinating story yesterday about the user-data generated by e-reading devices. It’s not hard for publishers (and authors) to track whether you finish a book–and even, if you didn’t, how many pages you read before you quit. This kind of information is clearly useful, and “misuseful.” Will our literature become as […]
