Category Archives: Libraries

Library in Repose

Posted on October 21, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

The Washington Room at the Boston Public Library: It looks almost like a courtroom.

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Disaster Capitalism Meets the Boston Public Library

Posted on June 28, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

By way of Universal Hub, we discover that the greatest crisis the City of Boston (God save it!) faces is some excess space in the Johnson Building (aka the ‘New Wing’*) of the Boston Public Library (boldface mine): The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Funding, Libraries, Massachusetts, Taxes | 2 Comments

Natural and Political History of the Gerry-Mander!

Posted on May 17, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

You might have heard of the political term gerrymander, which is the creation of absurd political districts to ensure that certain candidates will win. An exhibit at the Map Museum of the Boston Public Library reminds us that the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Libraries, Massachusetts, Museums etc., Voting | Comments Off

How About We Spend Some Money on Libraries?

Posted on March 16, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

During the stimulus debate, people kept saying how hard it would be to spend money. Leaving aside the ridiculous notion that a local or state politician couldn’t figure out how to use freely given money, it was painfully obvious that … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries | 2 Comments

Even in 1719, We Knew California Was a Little Bit Apart

Posted on October 29, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

I visited the Boston Public Library’s shiny new Map Center, and saw this map by Henri Abraham Châtelain from 1719 which amused me: If that’s not clear, here’s a close up:

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Boston Public Library’s Civil War Exhibits

Posted on June 3, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Several good Civil War exhibits in Boston.
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Boston Public Library To Be Closed Sundays

Posted on March 26, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

What’s really shameful is that in a wealthy city, in a wealthy state, in a wealthy country, we can’t seem to find the money to keep libraries open, but we can start wars of choice.
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Posted in Funding, Libraries | 2 Comments