#ottawa public library

[rabbitcruiser]

Bibliomania Day

Stephen Blumberg loved books. It has been written that “it was his habit to read constantly through the night, cat-napping, walking, reading, dozing, waking, reading again, never fully sleeping.” Stephen Blumberg didn’t just love books, he was a bibliomaniac. Bibliomania is when someone has a strong love of books, where they collect them to the point of hoarding, and social relations and health may suffer. Symptoms may include acquiring more books than would be useful for any reason or getting many copies of the same book. The term was coined by John Ferriar, who published a poem in 1809 with the word as its title, for his friend Richard Heber, who had the condition. The term became used to describe obsessive book collectors. That same year, Reverend Thomas Frognall Dibdin published Bibliomania; or Book Madness. Bibliomania is different from bibliophilia, which is a healthy form of love for books.

On March 20, 1990, Stephen Blumberg’s bibliomania caught up with him. He was arrested for stealing more than 23,600 books (weighing 19 tons) from 268 libraries, universities, and museums. It had taken him over 20 years to steal them, and he got them from 45 states, Washington D.C., and Canada. After originally being thought to be valued at around $20 million, the value of the books was estimated at $5.3 million. He is known as the number one book thief in American history and became known as the Book Bandit. The books he stole, which included a first edition of Uncle Tom’s Cabin among other rare books, became known as the “Blumberg Collection.”

An acquaintance of Blumberg, Kenneth J. Rhodes, turned him in for a $56,000 reward. During Blumberg’s trial, a psychiatric doctor let it be known that Blumberg had gone through psychiatric treatment as an adolescent. The defense claimed that Blumberg had stolen the books because of psychiatric issues beyond his control. According to the defense, Blumberg had thought he was saving the books from destruction by stealing them. He thought that the government was trying to keep them so that everyday people wouldn’t have them, and he thought he was acting as custodian of the books and doing something good. Because he was well-intentioned, he said he would have never sold any of the books for a profit, and hoped they would go to another person who would take good care of them after he was gone. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to 71 months in prison and given a $200,000 fine, and insanity or psychology wasn’t factored into the decision. He was released on December 29, 1995, and has since been arrested for burglary multiple times.

On Bibliomania Day, we remember Stephen Blumberg and his remarkable feat of stealing over 23,600 books. Could you buy, steal, or gather together that many books? Probably not, but you aren’t the world’s most famous bibliomaniac. Perhaps on Bibliomania Day, you could at least try.

How to Observe

Celebrate the day by getting as many books as possible. It’s probably best not to steal them as Stephen Blumberg did, but that’s a decision you will have to make for yourself. You could start by getting some books about bibliomaniacs, such as A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books or The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. After that your options are limitless. As bibliomaniacs tend to collect any and all books, regardless of their value, you could just start trying to gather up any books you can find. But maybe it’s best to start by getting some of the best fiction or non-fiction books of all time.

Source

[grunge-mermaid]

the city of Ottawa spent decades developing a company town out Downtown for an industry that has adapted and evolved to the new world order, leaving the city struggling to "revitalize" the neighbourhood to "help local* businesses"

are they increasing transit to make getting downtown easier? are they encouraging businesses to open more than 11am-3pm M-F? are they asking the tens of thousands of people who live in the neighbourhood what services/businesses they want/need and then incentivizing those businesses to open in the neighbourhood? are they encouraging businesses that offer activities beyond "eat overpriced mediocre food and get drunk on overpriced mediocre booze"? are they offering parking or transit passes to public servants?

nope.

they're cutting transit, pandering to the businesses who could not be fucked to adapt, and forcing the same number of workers into a fraction of the office space despite most of the data showing that WFH is just as or more productive than office work, and putting extra expenses on workers whose wages have not kept up with inflation who now have to pay for transportation and before/after school childcare on top of being expected to spend $20-$30 a day on burnt coffee, stale sandwiches, and soggy salads at businesses whose owners want you to torpedo your budget, work/life balance, and quality of life just to line their pockets

[bronzecats]

National Rainbow Week of Action in Canada

In this post I have compiled all the information I could find regarding upcoming events for the Rainbow Week of Action. There are two online events, and dozens on in-person events across the country.

"Within the Rainbow Week of Action, we are pushing governments and elected officials at every level to take action for Rainbow Equality and address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. As such, we have identified calls to action for every level of government. These calls to action can be reviewed here."

Event list below:

Events are listed in date order, provinces in general west-to-east order. I have included as much detail as possible, please reference the links at the bottom of the post. At this time, there are no events in N.W.T. and Nova Scotia. Last updated: May 14th, 9:53pm PDT. Please note that I am not officially affiliated with / an organizer of these events, I have simply compiled all the dates to share on tumblr. Original post content.

B.C. EVENTS:

15th: Fernie; Fernie Seniors Drop-In Centre, 572 3rd Avenue, 6:00PM. (Letter writing and Potluck)

17th: Vancouver; šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square - Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza, 750 Hornby St, 5:30PM. (Rally)

19th, Sunday: Abbotsford; Jubilee Park, 5:00PM. (Rally)

ALBERTA EVENTS:

15th: Lethbridge; McKillop United Church, 2329 15th Ave S, 12:00-1:00PM (letter writing)

17th, Friday: Calgary; Central Memorial Park, 1221 2 St SW, 5:30PM. (Rally)

17th: Edmonton; Wilbert McIntyre Park, 8331 104 St NW, 6:00PM. (Rally)

SASKATCHEWAN EVENTS:

17th: Saskatoon; Vimy Memorial Park, 500 Spadina Crescent E, 5:30PM. (Rally)

17th: Regina; Legislative Grounds, 2405 Legislative Dr, 6:30PM. (Rally)

May 18th: Saskatoon; Grovenor Park United Church, 407 Cumberland Ave S, 6:00PM. (Art event)

MANITOBA EVENTS:

16th: Carman; Paul's Place, 20 1 Ave SW, 7:00-9:00PM. (Letter writing)

19th: Winnipeg; Manitoba Legislature, 450 Broadway, 12:00PM. (Rally)

ONTARIO EVENTS:

15th: Barrie; UPlift Black, 12 Dunlop St E, 6:00-7:30PM. (Letter writing)

15th: Chatham; CK Gay Pride Association, 48 Centre St, 5:00-6:30PM. (Letter writing)

15th: Peterborough; Trinity Community Centre, 360 Reid St, 12:00-3:00PM. (Letter writing)

16th: Midland; Midland Public Library, 4:30-7:30PM. (Letter writing and pizza)

16th: Ottawa; Impact Hub, 123 Slater Street, 2:00PM. (Letter writing)

16th: Toronto; Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church St, 11:30AM. (Rally)

17th, Friday: Barrie; City Hall, 70 Collier St, 6:00PM. (Rally)

17th: Cornwall; 167 Pitt St, 5:30PM. (Rally)

17th: Essex; St. Paul's Anglican Church, 92 St. Paul St, 6:00-8:00PM. (Letter writing and pizza)

17th: Hamilton; City Hall, 71 Main St W, 6:00PM. (Rally)

17th: Kitchener; City Hall, 200 King St W, 6:00PM. (Rally)

17th: London; City Hall, 300 Dufferin Ave, 6:00PM. (Rally)

17th: Sarnia; City Hall, 255 Christina St N, 1:00PM. (Rally)

17th: Sault Ste Marie; City Hall, 99 Foster Dr, 11:30AM. (Rally)

17th: Ottawa; Confederation Park, Elgin St, 5:30PM. (Rally)

22nd: Renfrew; 161 Raglan St. South, 7:00PM. (Letter writing, fashion and makeup event, and pizza)

QUEBEC EVENTS:

May 15th: Lachute; CDC Lachute, 57, rue Harriet, 12:30PM. (Letter writing event)

NEW BRUNSWICK EVENTS:

17th: Woodstock; Citizen's Square, Chapel St, Next to the L.P. Fisher Public Library, 12:00-1:00PM. (rally)

17th: Saint John; City Hall, 15 Market Square, 12:30PM. (Rally, flag raising)

18th, Saturday: Fredericton; Legislative Grounds, 706 Queen Street, 1:00PM. (Rally)

NOVA SCOTIA EVENTS:

May 17th: Middleton; NSCC AVC RM 121, 6:30-8:30PM (letter writing and pizza)

P.E.I. EVENTS:

May 15th: Charlottetown; Peers Alliance Office, 250B Queen Street, 6:00-8:00PM. (Adult drop-in)

May 16th: Charlottetown, Peers Alliance Office, 250B Queen Street, 6:00-7:00PM.

May 17th: Charlottetown; PEI Legislative Assembly, 165 Richmond St, 12:00PM. (Rally)

YUKON EVENTS:

16th: Whitehorse; The Cache, 4230 4 Ave, 2:00-7:00PM. (Letter writing)

NUNAVUT EVENTS:

May 16th, Thursday: Iqaluit; Four Corners, 922 Niaqunngusiariaq St, 5:00PM. (Letter writing)

Reference links:

About the Rainbow Week of Action.

Website letter writing events list (does not include all events)

General events website list (does not include all events)

Instagram general events image list

Instagram letter writing / pizza party image list

[hassibah]

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/releasing-names-alleged-nazi-war-criminals-canada-could-embarrass-federal-government-bureaucrats

Releasing names of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada could embarrass federal government, bureaucrats told

Large numbers of soldiers from a Ukrainian Waffen SS division fled to Canada after the Second World War.

A list of 900 alleged Nazi war criminals who fled to Canada could remain secret as federal officials come under increasing pressure to censor the records because they could prove embarrassing to this country.

Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa consulted in June and July with what it called a “discrete group of individuals or organizations” about whether the list should be made public, according to documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

Those consulted included members of Canada’s Ukrainian community, records show, but Library and Archives Canada, also known as LAC, did not include Holocaust survivors nor Holocaust scholars who had advocated for a full release of the list of alleged Nazi war criminals, Jewish and Holocaust academics say.

Some of the individuals and organizations consulted by LAC argued against releasing any of the information, warning it could be embarrassing or lead to prosecutions of the alleged war criminals.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

'If activists are hiding books from you, the best thing you can do is seek them out and read them!'

One of the strangest developments of the culture war has been the rise of authoritarian librarians. It sounds ridiculous doesn't it? Surely librarians are there to support education and to enable the dissemination of literature and knowledge.

But this week it was reported that the library service in Calderdale Council has been hiding books by feminists such as Helen Joyce and Kathleen Stock. The Labor-run council confirmed that although these books would still be in the catalog and they could be requested, they were quote, "not visible on the library shelves." This is very odd.

Now, I've read the books in question by both Helen Joyce and Kathleen Stock, and they are rigorous, intelligent and important studies concerning one of the key issues of our time. And yet these librarians are treating them as though they are toxic, as if members of the public who happen upon them while browsing might somehow be instantly corrupted.

And yet we shouldn't really be surprised at all. The rise of Woke Librarians, however ludicrous that sounds, is a real thing. Now, I should say from the outset that I've nothing against librarians. Some of my best friends are librarians. But there is something about the profession that seems to attract the kind of paternalistic pharisee who believes that it's their job to protect others from wrongthink.

Let me give you some other examples. So a few years ago, it was reported that the former poet laureate Ted Hughes was included on a watch list created by the British Library because of a family connection with a slave owner. Turns out the connection was false and the Library issued an apology. But why was the foremost library in the UK creating this kind of watch list in the first place? Well, it was because in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, the library had commissioned what they called a "decolonizing working group" which decided that they should review the collections and draw up a list of any authors with problematic pasts. This same group also claimed that the library's main building was a monument to imperialism, because it looked a bit like a battleship. I'm not even joking.

And in 2021 the Waterloo Region District School Board in Canada identified and removed books that were considered quote, "harmful to staff and students."

At the same time, other school libraries in Canada were disposing of copies of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale following complaints about quote, "racist, homophobic or misogynistic language and themes."

And then there was the Ottawa Carlton District School Board which removed copies of William Golding's Lord of the Flies on the grounds that the themes of the book were quote, "outdated and too focused on white male power structures." Had they even read the book? If Lord of the Flies really is a comment on white male power structures, it can hardly be said to be an advertisement.

And then of course there's the whole trigger warning phenomenon. When archivists at Homerton College in Cambridge were engaged in a project to upload their collection of children's literature to the internet, they decided to flag a number of books with trigger warnings. Books such as Little House on the Prairie, and The Water Babies, and various books by Dr Seuss. And the archivists said they wanted to make their digital collection quote, "less harmful in the context of a canonical literary heritage that is shaped by, and continues a history of, oppression."

But books by Dr Seuss aren't oppressive or harmful, even if they do contain outdated racial stereotypes. They were written a long time ago, and readers understand that. Of course, that hasn't stopped the estate of Dr Seuss from withdrawing a number of titles from sale altogether. You can't even buy them anymore.

But the most revealing aspect of this story from Cambridge is a statement that the archivists at Homerton College put out. They said it would be a quote, "dereliction of our duty as gatekeepers to allow such casual racism to go unchecked." Gatekeepers. Now I thought they were meant to be custodians not gatekeepers.

And this is what is known as saying the quiet part out loud. Because really all of this behavior is edging towards censorship. For librarians and archivists to apply warnings to books or to hide them from the public, it's for them to say, "we don't think these books are good for you, we don't trust you to read these books and not to pick up some bad ideas, we must protect you from their influence." In other words, they're treating the public like a parent treats a small child.

And we shouldn't stand for it. Even the application of trigger warnings is a problem in and of itself. True, the books aren't being censored, but a trigger warning buys into the false belief that words and violence are the same thing. It implies that these books are dangerous, and in the wrong hands could cause trouble.

And it's not just libraries. Increasingly we're seeing museum staff attempting to protect the public from artifacts that they're meant to display. So last November, the Wellcome Collection in London shut down its key exhibit, one which dated from the 17th century, because it perpetuated quote, "a version of medical history that is based on racist, sexist and ableist theories and language."

Now we all know that ethical standards change over time and that people from the past held different views from us. Often views that we would consider objectionable. So why don't museum curators understand this too? Why is a museum preventing us from seeing artifacts from the past, when they should be facilitating access? Why is it that so many art galleries now insist on adding little labels next to paintings by great masters to say how much they disapprove of their values, as though the writers of these little sermons would have thought any differently if they had been born hundreds of years ago?

I don't care whether you disapprove of Hogarth's attitudes towards minorities, I just want to appreciate his work without having these soft-witted puritans breathing down my neck.

What we're seeing here is ideological capture. it's the same reason why the Catholic Church created an index of forbidden books which it had kept updated for 400 years right up until 1948. it's the same reason why Mary Whitehouse wanted certain TV shows banned back in the 1960s. It's the same reason why the BBC has censored scenes of old comedy shows such as Faulty Towers on the BBC streaming service. It's the same reason why staff at publishing houses revolt when there's a new book coming out by Jordan Peterson or JK Rowling or some other problematic author. And when the authors aren't as well known as Peterson or Rowling, the staff often get their way.

And if you don't think any of this is authoritarian, what about the time when the body in charge of elementary and secondary schools in Southwestern Ontario authorized the ritualistic burning of books if they contained outdated stereotypes, in what they described as a "flame purification ceremony." Almost 5000 books, including copies of Tintin and Asterix, were removed from shelves and were destroyed or recycled because of course, only the most [rogressive people in history have ever burned books.

[ Source: The Times, via archive.today ]

It sounds preposterous, but the proliferation of activists in libraries, museums, schools, publishing houses, the arts and the media, makes complete sense when one considers that the devotees of this new woke religion have a vested interest in controlling the limits of acceptable thought. To use their own words, they are the gatekeepers.

But as adults in a civilized and liberal society, we don't need to be coddled, particularly by people whose capacity for critical thinking has been stunted by ideology. They say it's for our own good, but what tyrant in history hasn't made a similar claim?

So enough with the woke librarians. If activists are hiding books from you, the very best thing you can do is seek those books out and read them. These petty little authoritarians will do anything to control your speech and your thoughts. Don't let them get away with it.

==

We are reliably informed that it's only right-wing conservative Xians who want to ban or burn books. But it isn't true. There is a mirror image of the same Puritan authoritarianism on the woke left.

[verbnounadjective]

who tf threatens/bombs a library?

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.10

Holidays

American Planetarium Day

Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day

AWS Smart Business Day

Bad Breath Day (UK)

Bear Witness Day (Canada)

Children’s Day (Maldives)

Clean Up Your Room Day

Confederate Memorial Day (NC, SC)

Constitution Day (Azerbaijan, Micronesia)

Dia De La Madre (Mexico)

Ependymoma Awareness Day

Fight Day (Japan)

Finger Face Puppet Day

Five & Dime Day

510 Day

Flower Festival (Azerbaijan)

German Shepherd Day

Golden Spike Day

Home Guard Day (UK)

Human Kindness Day

Indian Arrival Day (Jamaica)

International Day of Argania

International Monty Python Day

Library Legislative Days

Maid Day (Japan)

McHappy Day (Canada)

Mother Ocean Day

Mother’s Day (El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico)

Move for Health Day

National Bonsai Day

National Brand Day (China)

National Cactus Day

National Canine Companion Graduation Day

National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day

National Clean Your Room Day

National Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism (Canada)

National Lipid Day

National Mangrove Day (Thailand)

National School Nurse Day

National Ship Via Rail Day

National Small Business Day

National Tree Growing Day (Kenya)

National Washington Day

Native American Day (Indiana)

Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day

One Day Without Shoes

Pastele Blajinilor (Memory/Parent’s Day; Moldova)

Resistance and Liberation Day (Lebanon)

Ring Day

Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Thailand)

Skunks Born Day

Stay Up All Night Night

Tag des Buches (Book Day; Germany)

Thrift Day (French Republic)

Tower Technician Appreciation Day

Trust Your Intuition Day

Whacking Day (The Simpsons)

Windmill Day

World Day of Social Communications

World Facilities Management Day

World Lupus Day

World Orienteering Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Fish Day (New Zealand)

National Liver and Onions Day

National Shrimp Day

World Poultry Day

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Micronesia)

Hashima (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Romania (from Ottoman Empire, 1877)

2nd Friday in May

Child Care Provider Appreciation Day (a.k.a. Provider Appreciation Day) [Friday before Mother's Day]

Dia de la Madre (El Salvador) [2nd Friday]

Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks A Voice [2nd Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

International Professional Drivers Day [2nd Friday]

Military Spouse Day [Friday before Mother's Day]

Miniskirt Day [2nd Friday]

Mother’s Day (Guatemala; Women Employees only) [2nd Friday]

Mother’s Day (Mexico) [2nd Friday]

National Public Gardens Day [Friday before Mother's Day]

National School Communications Day [2nd Friday]

Shades Day [Friday closest to 5.15]

Working Mother’s Day [2nd Friday]

World PICU Day [2nd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 10 (1st Full Week)

National Public Gardens Week (thru 5.19) [Begins Friday before Mother’s Day]

UN Global Road Safety Week (thru 5.14)

Universal Family Week (thru 5.16)

Festivals Beginning May 10, 2024

BBQ & Barrels (Owensboro, Kentucky) [thru 5.11]

Canadian Tulip Festival (Ottawa, Canada) [thru 5.20]

Canby Brewfest (Canby, Oregon) [thru 5.11]

FedCon (Bonn, Germany) [thru 5.12]

Genuss Festival (Vienna Culinary Festival; Vienna, Austria) [thru 5.12]

Lexington Craft Beer Week (Lexington, Kentucky) [thru 5.19]

McAlester Italian Festival (McAlester, Oklahoma) [thru 5.11]

Mesick Mushroom Festival (Mesick, Michigan) [thru 5.12]

Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival (Portland, Tennessee) [thru 5.11]

Norfolk & Norwich Festival (Norwich, UK) [thru 5.26]

Piney Woods Wine Trail Festival (Lindale, Texas) [thru 5.11]

Rochester Lilac Festival (Rochester, New York) [thru 5.19]

Shepherds Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival (Lake Elmo, Minnesota) [thru 5.12]

Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival (Acworth, Georgia) [thru 5.11]

Texas Crab Festival (Crystal Beach, Texas) [thru 5.12]

Vintage & Vino (Queen Creek, Arizona) [thru 5.12]

The WhiskyX (Boston, Massachusetts)

Feast Days

Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus (Christian; Martyrs)

Antonius, Archbishop of Florence (Christian; Saint)

Aurelian of Limoges (Christian; Saint)

Calepodius (Christian; Saint)

Catald (a.k.a. Cathal; Christian; Saint)

Comgall (Christian; Saint)

Damien of Molokai (Christian; Saint)

Desmond MacNamara (Artology)

Feast of the Wedding of Shiva & Meenakshi (India; Everyday Wicca)

Fido (Muppetism)

Galepodius (Christian; Martyr)

Gordian and Epimachus (Christian; Martyrs)

Hannibal (Positivist; Saint)

Incense to Bring Love Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Job the Patriarch (Roman Catholic Church, pre-1969 calendar)

John of Ávila (Christian; Saint)

John Holmes Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Konstantinos Parthenis (Artology)

Lemuralia, Day 2 (Ancient Rome; Dedicated to Eradicating Malevolent Spirits of the Dead)

Lofn’s Blot (Pagan)

Mutant Awareness Day (Pastafarian)

Paul Wunderlich (Artology)

Rosalia (Ancient Roman Memorial Day)

Solangia (Christian; Virgin & Martyr)

Tin Hat Day (Chinese Goddess of the North Star; Hong Kong)

Wolverine Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lemuria (Day 2 of 3; Ancient Rome) [Unlucky to Marry]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [22 of 37]

Premieres

Alligator Crawl, recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven (Song; 1927)

All Things Bright and Beautiful, by James Herriot (Novel; 1975)

The Cider House Rules, by John Irving (Novel; 1985)

Cold Comfort Farm (Film; 1996)

Computer World, by Kraftwerk (Album; 1981)

Dorsai!, by Gordon R. Dickson (Novel; 1959)

Farm Frolics (WB MM Cartoon; 1941)

Feather Bluster (WB MM Cartoon; 1958)

Fish Follies (Phantasies Cartoon; 1940)

The Flowers of Buffoonery, by Osamu Dazai (Novel; 1935)

For a Few Dollars More (Film; 1967)

Gatsby (Film; 2013)

Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (Novel; 1990)

Guntram, by Richard Strauss (Opera; 1894)

The Hot Rock, by Donald E. Westlake (Novel; 1970)

In Dutch (Disney Cartoon; 1946)

I Shot the Sheriff, recorded by Eric Clapton (Song; 1974)

Last and First Men, by Olaf Stapledon (Novel; 1930)

Lovesexy, by Prince (Album; 1988)

The Man Who Fell to Earth, by Walter Tevis (Novel; 1963)

Misunderstanding, by Genesis (Song; 1980)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Film; 1975)

The Muppets Mayhem (TV Series; 2023)

Murder in the Mill-Race, by E.C.R. Lorac (Novel; 1952)

Patriotic Popeye (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1957)

The Pink Panther: Pink at First Sight (DePatie-Freleng Animated TV Special; 1981)

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (Film 2019)

Porky’s Ant (WB LT Cartoon; 1941)

The Professor and the Madman (Film; 2019)

Rabbit Transit (WB LT Cartoon; 1947)

Rio, by Duran Duran (Album; 1982)

The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien (Novel; 1978)

Sock a Doddle Do (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Tolkien (Film; 2019)

Twister (Film; 1996)

Under the Counter Spy (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1954)

Up the Down Staircase, by Bel Kaufman (Novel; 1964)

Weezer (a.k.a. The Blue Album), by Weezer (Album; 1994)

Today’s Name Days

Gordian, Isidor, Liliana (Austria)

Ivan, Job (Croatia)

Blažena (Czech Republic)

Gordianus (Denmark)

Aina, Aini, Ainike, Aino, Ainu (Estonia)

Aina, Aini, Ainikki, Aino (Finland)

Solange (France)

Damian, Gordian, Isidor, Liliana (Germany)

Simon, Simonas (Greece)

Ármin, Pálma (Hungary)

Alfio, Antonino, Cataldo, Miro, Quarto (Italy)

Maija, Mairita (Latvia)

Putinas, Sangailė, Viktorina (Lithuania)

Asbjørg, Asbjørn, Espen (Norway)

Antonin, Częstomir, Izydor, Jan, Symeon, Wiktoryna (Poland)

Simon (România)

Viktória (Slovakia)

Damián, Juan (Spain)

Esbjörn, Styrbjörn (Sweden)

Cormac, Cormick, Gordon, Job, Joby, Jobina, Max, Maximilian, Maximus, Maxine, Maxwell (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 131 of 2024; 235 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 19 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ji-Si), Day 3 (Jia-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 2 Iyar 5784

Islamic: 2 Dhu al-Qada 1445

J Cal: 11 Magenta; Foursday [11 of 30]

Julian: 27 April 2024

Moon: 8%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 19 Caesar (5th Month) [Paulus Aemilius]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 53 of 92)

Week: 2nd Week of May

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 21 of 31)

Calendar Changes

Ing (Expansive Energy) [Half-Month 10 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 5.28)

[archivlibrarianist]

"In an emailed response to a request for comment, [Republican chairman Sean] Trejo [who made the threat on Facebook] wrote Bridge [the publication] that the  'state should shut down this library and any library that has pornography books available for kids. It should not be allowed to exist on private funding or crowdsourced funding of any kind.'

"The books under criticism by some community members are award-winning graphic novels that have LGBTQ themes. One of them, Gender Queer: A Memoir, includes drawings of sex acts; while the others depict same-sex relationships among teens.

"Trejo wrote Bridge that his Facebook comment recommending the library be shut down 'by force' meant 'This must be shut down through the force of law immediately.'" The fascists won't stop. They're not content to have the library lose public funding; they want to close it down, for everyone. Even a privately-owned or subscription library is a bridge too far for them. In other parts of the country, they're incensed that stores carry the books they find offensive.

Don't let them win.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Artistic Bookbindings Display Attracts Many," Ottawa Journal. December 7, 1942. Page 9. ---- An exhibition of bookbindings by Louis Forest of much artistic merit was formally opened by Hon. Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret at the Carnegie Public Library Saturday evening, before a distinguished gathering from diplomatic and artistic circles. Mr. Forest has used a variety of materials and an extensive color range in producing a distinctive style. Each of his covers is given different treatment, from the accepted classic to modernistic. His work show great creative imagination and detailed craftsmanship, and is so well thought out and executed as to always be in complete accord with the theme of the volume. Hon. Justice Rinfret in declaring the exhibition open, spoke highly of Mr. Forest's artistic ability and the excellence of the work displayed.

In the absence of the librarian, F. C. Jennings, Fulgence Charpentier introduced Hon. Justice Rinfret who spoke in French.

In 1928 Mr. Forest went to Paris to study the art of bookbinding. On his return to Canada he was associated with the Library Beauchemin and later, for 13 years, taught binding and printing to the prisoners of St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary. In April, 1941, he came to the Archives at Ottawa. Mr. Forest was the sole Canadian exhibitor at the Paris International Exhibition of 1937. The cold, desolation and solitude of the Canadian forest are symbolized in the striking cover of "Maria Chapdelaine" finished in blue white and black. Birch wood is used for the binding of "Vieux Doc" which has a small shutter opening fastened with handmade clasps which discloses inside a picture of the elderly doctor read- ing. "Ville O ma Ville", a deluxe edition in commemoration of the third centenerary of Montreal, is bound in blue leather edged with a scroll of fleur-de-lis and roses." The blue symbolizes Ville Marie, the fleur-de-lis and roses the two' great races which form the population of Montreal. The spires of Notre Dame are depicted on one volume while another shows the church at Tadoussac painted in strong, vivid color. Sharkskin from Denmark supplies novel material for yet another. Anyone fortunate enough. to possess one of Mr. Forest's art-bindings should treasure it highly for in addition to its intrinsic value it is a contribution to the rising standards of Canadian art. H. M.

[beedok]

Ottawa Public Library better hurry up and get a copy of Gideon the 9th available to me before I end up learning the whole plot of tumblr posts. 😅😛

[giovanni-bottesini]

Despite my university library not being free or public in any other way, everyone has unlimited access to our library services. If there's anyone in Ottawa unsatisfied with our regional archives then the Morrisset library likely has what you're looking for and getting a guest card is quick and free 🥰🥰🥰 i hate my university for the cheap greedy shit it does so it's only right to take full advantage of the time they're actually being generous

actually i think graduates of a university should have access to the library databases forever and ever amen

[rabbitcruiser]

National Library Day

National Library Day is celebrated every year on 6 April. On this day, people come together to celebrate the crucial roles that libraries and librarians play in our society. It’s also the day to reflect on the importance of reading and how essential it is to make books accessible and affordable for every reader. A well-stocked library can introduce readers to many new worlds, and helps them become more informed citizens. Libraries are also great community spaces where people can gather to exchange ideas and learn together.

History of National Library Day

Libraries aren’t a new concept — it dates back millennia. The first systematically organized library was founded in the 7th century B.C. by Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal in Nineveh, in contemporary Iraq. It contained approximately 30,000 cuneiform tablets sorted by subject.

Since their inception, almost every great civilization has built libraries. They became great repositories of knowledge, and a few ancient libraries live on even today. The goal of these libraries was to collect knowledge and distribute it for its use in everyday life. Special importance was given to books on agriculture, architecture, medicine, art, manufacturing, war, and topics concerning the betterment of life. As the years went by, people realized the benefits of having publicly accessible centers of knowledge, and libraries became an important feature in cities and towns across the world.

As the influence of the Internet grew, many believed that there would no longer be a need for libraries, but history has proved otherwise, as libraries continue to flourish and are now more popular than ever! Not everything can be found on the Internet, and a good amount of information is still available only on paper, and despite the convenience of the world wide web, people still like to physically visit a library and spend time among books and other readers.

National Library Day timeline

4th Century B.C.

Institutional Libraries

Libraries start to become an important part of educational institutions.

13th to 15th Century

Private Book Collections

The royals in Europe start to keep book collections for private use.

17th to 18th Century

National Libraries

Libraries in free countries of the world become government properties.

19th Century

Community Libraries

Community libraries are founded at public expense.

National Library Day FAQs

Is April National Library Month?

Yes, April is National School Library Month.

Why do we celebrate National Library Week?

National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

What is a national library?

A national library is a library specifically established by the government of a country to serve as the preeminent repository of information for that country.

National Library Day Activities

Get a library membership: Celebrate National Library Day by getting a membership at your local library. Also encourage your friends, family, colleagues, and children to get their own memberships.

Donate books: You can also celebrate National Library Day by donating books to your local libraries. You can donate new books, give away old copies, or even purchase ebooks on behalf of your local libraries.

Thank a librarian: A library is nothing without its librarians. They keep stock of the books, help readers find the resources they need, and of course, always greet us with warm smiles. Remember to thank a librarian for everything that they do on National Library Day.

5 Interesting Facts About Libraries

Benjamin Franklin started a lending library: It was also one of the oldest libraries in America.

Andrew Carnegie was a great patron: He helped open 2,509 libraries across the world and 1,679 libraries in America.

Library fines add up to extraordinary amounts: In 2016, the San Jose Public Library reported $6.8 million in late fees.

Libraries also offer free music: They do so by having access to music streaming platforms.

They are big employers too: There are approximately 1,85,000 librarians in America.

Why We Love National Library Day

It keeps libraries thriving: Celebrations such as National Library Day ensure that our libraries continue to thrive despite the influence of the internet. These celebrations also bring thousands of new patrons to libraries every year.

For the love of reading: Anyone who loves reading also loves National Library Day. It’s the best way to ensure that everyone has access to good books and that future generations continue to buy and read books.

It builds communities: Libraries are also an important part of our community. People of all ages can visit their local library to read, work, find resources, and spend time with like-minded readers. National Library Day helps keep our communities alive.

Source

[grunge-mermaid]

Ottawa's night mayor's council has been released and... it's entirely business owners??? mostly bars and restaurants

shouldn't there be community representatives on there, too? like, representatives of the people who can advocate for what residents are actually looking for in an active downtown nightlife instead of just a bunch of business owners catering to their own self-interests and profits?

downtown Ottawa needs reliable transit before you can improve the nightlife and you're gonna have to get the day mayor to understand it's a public service, not a for-profit business, before that happens. so...never.

and once that's sorted, bars and restaurants and occasional concerts aren't going to change much. Ottawa already has that and there's only so many times you can go to the same mediocre, overpriced businesses. there are only so many times you can go out for dinner and get drunk before that gets boring.

the city needs activities. activities where food and alcohol aren't the only point of going out. activities you normally have to go out to the suburbs or Quebec for because downtown is just food and alcohol.

turn one of the vacant government buildings into an indoor adventure mall: escape rooms, an arcade that isn't primarily a bar, bowling alley, an indoor soft play park with a kids' area and a grownups' area, roller rink, any other fun activity you can think of and can fit in the building, then turn the top floor into restaurants- one a family-friendly restaurant and the other a 19+ lounge with rooftop deck.

once-a-month after hours evenings at the museums and art galleries (even though that's the NCC's jurisdiction not the city's).

night markets

more night festivals like the Fire & Ice exhibit...just maybe in a slightly less residential part of downtown? it was cool, I loved it, but it is kind of hard to sleep when there's a light show directly outside your bedroom window

public movie nights in the parks

night picnics

third spaces that are open, accessible, usable, and safe at night

(I'd add evening/late night library hours or events every now and again, but there soon won't be a library branch downtown anymore)

during the pandemic, the city closed a portion of Bank St on saturdays, which was really nice. some restaurants extended their patios, but the "event" was that there were no cars. it was SO nice to run errands that way. the city could do something similar one evening a week on elgin street. extend patios and have live entertainment, string up some lights and create a really inviting atmosphere.

alternatively or additionally, turn part of the Market into a pedestrian-only patio area in the evenings like they did during the pandemic. the buildings are gorgeous and often play small european villages in christmas movies.

but the patios shouldn't only be for the restaurants. give them some of the space to extend their patios for sure, but have some open tables where people can bring picnic meals and enjoy the atmosphere and entertainment even if the restaurants are cost-prohibitive. or groups of friends who can't agree on one restaurant can all go grab takeout meals of their preference and then congregate in the public picnic area.

Ottawans take patio season Very Seriously, it's a legit cultural practice. lean into improving Patio Season while creating a pseudo-third space HAS to be a winner for Ottawa's night life. it just has to be.

[hezekiah-scruggs]

Chapter Nine

“Quit hoggin’ the window, Emmet,” Alf complained. “I’m lookin’ out it.” “Ouch,” I said as Alf climbed up on me to watch the corn rows snaking by my window in the Model A. “Watch out where you put those pointy little feet, Alf.” I could not blame him for getting excited. We were almost to Chicago. Just yesterday we had been in the Ottawa Public Library picking out our weekly library books when…

[woobie-wan]

Behold this gorgeous thing I'm counting down the days to.

Republicans not wanting to fund libraries is part of their plan to make the next generation illiterate. That is why they are banning books too.