This Performance Seems A Bit Wooden To Me

Casa Malaparte... The Isle Of Capri Italy

Built in 1938 by Curzio Malaparte, Italian journalist and diplomat, the house sits 323 feet on a dangerous cliff overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. The house can be accessed only by an hour and a half walk across the island or by sea via a stone staircase cut into the rocks of the cliff. Sea access is only on calm days as the waves are cast upon treacherous rocks. The house was renovated in the 1990's and still contains the sunken marble tube Malaporte built for his mistress and Malaparte's book lined library.

Here Is The Vatican Library...

And Here Are The Rules.... (Love it!)

• Readers admitted to the Library are required to observe strict silence not only in the reading rooms, but within the entire premises, conversing only in the courtyard or in the
• Library bar. It is forbidden to disturb the study and work of other readers, e.g. by talking out loud or by using any kind of noisy equipment.
• Readers must wear attire appropriate to the dignity of an ancient institution of culture and study.
• Mobile phones must be turned off at the entrance. It is absolutely forbidden to use any electronic means of communication within the Library.
• All readers are required to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the decorum of the Library. Behavior by individuals or groups which is inappropriate to the dignity of the institution is forbidden.
• It is not permitted to take photographs, films, sound recordings, or any other type of reproduction. It is absolutely forbidden to bring any kind of photographic or filming equipment, portable telephones with digital camera features, recorders, Dictaphones, digital scanners and other devices which would allow reproduction of the Library’s materials, environment or structures.
• It is strictly forbidden to bring or to use scissors, knives, razor blades, razors, matches, adhesive paper, adhesive tape, glue, bottles of ink, correction fluids, and any type of liquid or other object or substance which could damage the collections of the Library.
• Readers admitted to the Library are obliged to comply with the instructions of Library staff without discussion.
• Smoking, food and beverages are not permitted in any part of the Library. Smoking is allowed in the courtyard; food and beverages may be consumed only in the Library bar.
• Access to the manuscript stacks and other stacks where books are stored is prohibited to the public. In addition, it is not allowed to enter any area where there are staff offices, unless such access is explicitly granted; or to use equipment or materials belonging to Library staff. Finally, in order to access the Secret Archives from the Library, or vice versa, the main entrance of each of the two Institutions must be used.

Now This Can Ruin The Picnic...

Sandstorm, Kuwait

Travels: The Librarian Once Again Seeks Adventure On The isle Of Ischia

Ischia, Convent Harbour

The Digital Public Library

Umm has anyone heard of “copyright?” Seems to me that copyright is the monkey wrench that impedes the whole “Digital Public Library” movement. Seems obvious, but apparently not to some. The proponents optimism that copyright restrictions can be overcome without paying anyone anything is the most puzzling. A Federal Court said just that when it ruled against Google’s project to digitize books. In essence the ruling said no to a previous settlement between publishers and Google that allowed Google to set up a “Universal Digital Library and bookstore. The court said that the previous ruling turned copyright law on its head by giving Google the default right to profit on a book unless a publisher or author objected. And this brought to the fore the problem of “orphaned books,” out of print titles whose authors or publishers that can be not easily found. Since no one else could obtain rights for these books it would give Google a monopoly on millions of titles. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not against a universal digital library, but I think all attempts at such a library are going to face the same copyright problem.__there’s just to many interested parties and conflicting financial interests involved. In the meantime backers are lobbying Congress to make it easier to digitize orphan books. But how can US Law affect foreign publishers titles? Still others remain optimistic seeing the ruling against Google as an opportunity to create a new model called the “Digital Public Library of American,” that has backers such as, the Library of Congress, the National Archives and major universities. However this plan as yet remains in infancy. So far six works groups have been created to solve all the legal and financial issues. But this project seems to me to bring even more disparate and competing interests to the table. Is all the trouble and hassle worth it? I think yes. Just think of its potential. It’s enough to make any librarian glaze over.

This Wise Old Librarian Gets A Bath...

Gratuitous Pic Of A Play Doh Car...