Stunning Photos of Europe’s Most Beautiful Libraries
via Flavorwire by Caroline Stanley
As you know, we’re always on the hunt for images of beautiful libraries here at Flavorwire – it’s kind of an unhealthy obsession. Spotted by The Millions, these jaw-dropping shots of European libraries captured by German architectural photographer Christoph Seelbach make an excellent addition to our ever-growing stash. Click through to travel from an abbey in Austria (which appears to be a breeding ground for gorgeous libraries) to a university in Lithuania with a selection of some of our favorite photos from his Bibliotheken series, and visit his website to view even more of his fantastic work.
From Caroline’s selection I chose:
St. Florian Abbey library, Austria. Photo credit: Christoph Seelbach
not, I have to admit, for the books which look to be rarely used but for the ceiling!
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A Collection of Inspirational Vintage Library Posters
via Flavorwire by Emily Temple
Normally, we think inspirational posters are pretty hokey, but sometimes we come across a set that we just can’t disagree with. Case in point: Book Bench pointed us towards this wonderful collection of inspirational library posters from the 1960s, discovered by Flickr user Enokson, a library technician in a Canadian junior high school. The set is filled with gems with slogans like “What’s Your Future? Find it in Books!” (a layered statement, to be sure) and “An Elephant Never Forgets… But If You Do, Visit Your School Library!” and charming retro design, so obviously we’re all over it.
This one is my favourite. Want to see more? Head here to check out the entire set on Flickr.
Photo via Retro Library Posters by Enokson
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A History Quivering with Life: Civil War Drawings
via Picture This: Library of Congress Prints & Photos by Kristi Finefield
Imagine an expanse of hilly countryside. Fill it with with hundreds, perhaps thousands of men, battling to the death. Now put yourself into that scene. Listen to the clash of metal as swords and bayonets meet, the boom of cannons firing, the voices yelling. You’re in danger: there are bullets whizzing by and men dying around you. More than likely, you have no weapon.
Instead you are armed with paper and pencil, and your job is to capture the scene with these tools. You are not a soldier. You are a sketch artist, and your subject is the U.S. Civil War:
The 24th Corps charging a fort (possibly Fort Gregg at Petersburg)
Drawing by Alfred R. Waud, (April 2, 1865)
Continue reading here
And if this is a period of history that particularly interests you I would remind you that Shorpy has some stunning photographs here.
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Western Star: 1903
via Shorpy Historical Photo Archive - Vintage Fine Art Prints by Dave
October 3, 1903 Wyandotte, Michigan
“Launch of the Western Star”
8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company
View original post
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Wanted: Dorothy’s Fantastic Film Map
via Flavorwire by Caroline Stanley
Confused about how to get from Lost Highway to the Valley of the Dolls without having to cut through Jurassic Park? Never fear – the brilliant creative collective known as Dorothy, whose incredible song map we posted on last year, is back with a film-inspired print that’s every bit as entertaining. Loosely based on a vintage Los Angeles street map, their design features over 900 different titles – and even has a special “Red Light” district for those cinephiles dedicated to films of a saucier variety. There’s also a helpful key that identifies all of the movies included, along with their release dates and directors. In other words, this map is a conversation piece guaranteed to keep any film lover entranced and pleasantly reminiscing for at least a few good hours. Click through to get a better look at the goods, and head over to Dorothy to pick up a signed, limited-edition print!
[via Creative Review]
The signed, limited-edition is a bit on the pricey side but I’ve bookmarked the cheaper version for a Christmas present for the cinephile in my life!
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Swoon Over This Open Air Library in a Belgian Vineyard
via Flavorwire by Caroline Stanley
It seems our recent survey of wonderful repurposed libraries might have had one major omission: Bookyard, a vineyard-turned-outdoor-library created by Italian artist Massimo Bartolini in Ghent, Belgium as part of the TRACK art festival. “Visitors can borrow, buy or exchange secondhand books here in the symbolic shadow of the Book Tower”, explains the press release.
Click through to check out a few additional shots of the amazing (if sadly, temporary) installation, which we spotted thanks to Laughing Squid.
Photo credit: TRACK
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Human chain moves 50,000 books for Vernal library (USA)
via Peter Scott’s Library Blog by Peter Scott
An estimated 300 volunteers turned out Saturday to help move 50,000 books from the old Uintah County Library into the new one. And they did it all by hand, forming a human chain that took book after book after book from the shelves in one building and put them on the shelves in the other.
Link to Peter’s blog to watch the video (I can’t seem to repair the embed code)
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