Meetup Visit to the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts Flamenco Exhibit (August 1, 2013)

     On Thursday, August 1^st, the NY Librarians Meetup group had the good fortune to be able to meet with Barbara Cohen-Stratyner at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. 

Photo outside NYPL of the Performing Arts by Kosboot 

She was able to share with us more details about this significant collection of audio, video, photographic, and other materials related to theater, dance, and music. As a whole, the collections create one of the largest performing arts collections in the world, with many materials that the library has been collecting for over one hundred years.  While we were there, we were able to view two different exhibition areas that illustrated the variety of materials collected and preserved by this library.

     American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music is a show about popular music and Latinos in the U.S that was still partially on display while  we visited.  A new show will soon be opening in its place, but even the small part still on display illustrates the variety of materials collected by the library. Lovely movie posters were hung along the walls while historical music played in the gallery. Brightly colored record catalogs and advertisements for Latino music from a variety of countries filled the glass cases, bringing to life a time in U.S. history in which Latino music and dance had become quite popular among the general public.

  Flamenco: 100 Years of Flamenco in New York, a show that has included a wonderful variety of photographs, films, and posters of Flamenco dancers and performers over the last 100 years in New York.  Beautifully preserved costumes, advertisements, and a large advertising banner arranged alongside videos of dancers created a wonderfully interesting and informative experience. More detail about the exhibit can be viewed in this online brochure also provided by the NYPL for the Performing arts. 

One of many lovely photos exhibited.

     We really appreciate the time Barbara spent with us, explaining that the varied items in this collection create a rare treasure for the public to enjoy. For more detail on current and future exhibitions, Barbara also keeps an NYPL blog that is one of many informative blogs that can be browsed online from the NYPL's blog channels page. Even if you don’t have time to visit the performing arts collections and exhibits in person, great material is being posted regularly to the blogs, so we suggest that you check them out some time! 

Meetup at the Swann Gallery with the New York Library Club, April 6, 6:00 p.m. with the New York Library Club.

Meetup at the Swann Gallery with the New York Library Club, April 6, 6:00 p.m. with the New York Library Club.

Introduction

On April 6, 2011 the New York Librarians and the New York Library Club had a special preview of rare books that were being auctioned by the Swann Gallery. The books being auctioned were beautiful to look at. Swann Gallery gave a copy of the auction catalog, April 7, 2011. Auction 2242 was finalized on April 10, 2011. http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/searchresults.asp?sale_no=2242&st=D

Before the description of the items to be auctioned started, I had a brief chance to look at some of the books. They were quite beautiful. Many of them had fine bindings; moroccan leather, pigskin, sharkskin, gold leaf, and silver clasps were prevalent.

The event itself was excellent. It had a different crowd because it combined both the New York Librarians Meetup and the New York Library Club. Larry Kroah, President of the New York Library Club introduced George Lowry the Chairman of the Board for the Swann Galleries.

History of the Swann Gallery
George Lowry started by giving some history on the Swann Galleries. The Swann Galleries was started by Benjamin Swann a book dealer who came across a very large collection of rare books. As a result of his find, he started an auction house. The auction house has since grown to include prints, Americana, African American books, and a variety of material which is on paper.

This particular events was in preparation for the Antiquarian book fair at the Park Avenue Armory on April 8-10, 2011 http://www.sanfordsmith.com/default.aspx?pageId=6  . George Lowry reminded us that a variety of people collect books. Many people start collecting as part of their profession or travels. He also told us that much of the bidding for books is done over the phone and the internet, not just in person.

He also told us that they used a variety of sources to put together a show including Worldcat, the ABAA-- Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, and other sources. It took four months of preparation to craft this sale.

Books From the Swann Gallery

Presentation of Antiquarian Books

Christine von der Linn commented on some of the books that were being auctioned. She had a large lcd screen which she displayed the items on in addition to the books themselves which were on a table at the front of the room. She started by presenting incunabula, books that were printed before 1501.

Incunabula

 The first book she showed was #99 http://bit.ly/i2nhjL L Orosius Paulus, Hiistoriae Adversus Paganos. It is the first universal history by a christian author. The next book was Satyrae by Filelfo. It was a popular novel by an Italian Author. The authors was satirizing the Medici. She reminded us that most books of the time were religious in nature. #39 http://bit.ly/hIpDdB  I enjoyed looking at item #1, Astrolabium by Angelus Johannes. The book was in full colored woodcuts. It reminded me a little bit of Lynd Wards woodcut novels. It was a book about astrology, #1 http://bit.ly/eCCqeb

Fine Antiquarian Books

This was followed by two illustrated liturgical manuscripts. An illustrated liturgical manuscript in Dutch, #51 http://bit.ly/gmW1Bq  , and an illustrated liturgical manuscript in Latin #52, http://bit.ly/gqkmzn  Christine von der Linn told that most books of the time were religious in nature.

Prieres et Oraisons Devotes by Jarry Nicholas was interesting because it is a very small book with silver clasps.  It looks like a book for a lady. Jarry Nicholas was the premiere calligrapher of his time. #55, http://bit.ly/hF93uN

I found #59, http://bit.ly/h1fud7  Syr Ymbrace to be fascinating. It was printed by the Kelmscott Press which was the press which William Morris ran. William Morris is known as a founding member of the Arts and Crafts Movement. What many people also do not know is that he is considered to have written the first modern fantasy novel, The Hollow Land.

Lot #57, JUSTINUS, MARCUS JUNIANUS. Warhafftige Hystorien . . . auss Trogo Pompeio gezoge[n]. German translation by Hieronymus Boner was a bit different. The book is a compilation of three different historical works commissioned to be printed as a single volume. http://bit.ly/hIUVDd

The illustartions by Walter Crane in #17, http://bit.ly/hLjGGI  Spenser, Edmund. The Faerie Queene, a Poem in Six Books with the Fragment Mutabilitie. 6 volumes bound in 3 were ornate and wonderful to look at. Walter Crane is known for his early children's book illustration. He also had a strong influence on fantasy illustration. There were several books being auctioned in the catalog by Edmund Dulac who is known for his illustrations of the Arabian Nights.

The next book that was shown was The Tarih-I Hindi Garbi (Description of the India of the West) by Francisco Lopez De Gomara. This was the book on America printed in the muslim world. It had a curious quality to the pictures. The book was printed in Constantinople which is interesting in itself. http://bit.ly/hoXT5Y


The next book, #56, http://bit.ly/fjcjN6  which was shown was a first edition of James Joyce, Ulysses, #128 of 150 copies. This was a very controversial book at the time. It is considered one of the greatest novels in english. Christine Von Der Linn said it was the finest novel ever written.


The final book which she showed us was a limited edition of The Four Gospels printed by the Golden Cockerell Press inscribed by Gill to Leonard Wolf, #46, http://bit.ly/hyO6Pl

Reception and Viewing

                                  Before the Presentation Started
Afterwards there was a reception with wine, cheese, and crackers where people could talk and relax. They also gave us a chance to look at the books under the direction of Mr. Tobias Abeloff who handles incunablia and early books.

I had a chance to see some of the other books in the catalog including #112 http://bit.ly/fuBEJB  A Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Arthur Rackham is considered to be one of the great illustrators of fantasy and childrens books.  It was wonderful to turn the pages and look at the illustrations.


This was a tremendous collection of books to see in one place. I did not get a chance to look at the Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling books. I did get to look at #61, http://bit.ly/gvwlD9  Jean De La Fontaine, De Contes et Nouvelles en Vers though.

This was very much a showing for people who loved books.

George Lowry let us know that there was a newsletter and some postcards if we wanted to take them. On the way out, I had brief conversation with Caroline Birnbaum, the Communications Specialist for Swann Galleries about the different auction houses in Manhattan and found out a bit about the magazine, International Auctioneers. He also said that the galleries are open to the public and librarians are welcome.


We also had some time beforehand to mingle a bit with other librarians. There was an interesting crowd of librarians. Afterwards we had a breakout session with the New York Librarians Meetup and talked about the Librarians Yellow Pages, book apps, ebooks, and old books. It was a very nice evening. Stephanie Gross Vice President of the New York Library Club and Organizer for the New York Librarians meetup took numerous pictures of people at the event.

It was very nice seeing Barbara Genco who works with Library Journal as well as meeting Larry Kroah, President of the New York Library Club.

The Swann Galleries is on 104 East 25th Street in Manhattan.  We met on the sixth floor.

Meet the New York Librarians Book Club!

The NY Librarians book group met at Pauline's place on 11/30 to discuss Main Street by Sinclair Lewis. The discussion was led by Larissa, and opening comments were provided by Stephanie.

Larissa initiated the discussion by distributing some wonderful turn of the century images of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Sauk Centre was Sinclair Lewis' hometown and purportedly the inspiration for Gopher Prairie, the primary setting of the novel. Stephanie then delivered a brief biography of Sinclair Lewis, and discussed his writing in the context of his contemporaries, Theodore Dreiser, Willa Cather, and Ernest Hemingway. We discussed his Nobel Prize, and his nomination, award, and refusal of the Pulitzer Prize.

The discussion progressed and touched on a number of varied topics explored in the text of Main Street such as: librarians, the settlement of the American Midwest, the nature of small-town living, ennui, community development initiatives, judging and criticizing vs. organizing public service programs, architecture, internal and external motivation for behaviors, the reasons a character may choose to return to a place they fled, and finally socially and intellectually uplifting experiences vs. light entertainment.

We also spent a pleasant amount of time talking about our own jobs, interests, and aspirations. In addition to hosting, Pauline distributed free copies of the novel The Eleanor Roosevelt Girls by Bonnie Bluh. The next book to be discussed was not selected, but it was determined that www.GoodReads.com was a useful tool for sharing information about potential reading material.

Generally, it was a lovely evening. Please consider joining us next time.

Jane

THE POETS HOUSE - OASIS ON THE HUDSON

On the torrid Friday afternoon of July 16th approximately ten intrepid members of the NY Librarians Meetup Group crossed over the sweltering West Side Highway and entered the cool glass oasis of the newly relocated Poets House. For those who love visiting the Cloisters and musing about life as you look out over the Hudson a visit to the Poets House, located at 10 River Terrace, straight down Murray Street, overlooking both the Hudson River and a tree lined park in Battery Park City merits a look see. And visitors don’t have to be enamored with Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson, whose poetic line “I dwell in possibility” adorns the wall leading to the exhibit/performance room to appreciate this marvelous literary space. The soaring glass windows letting in the western sunlight reflected off the Hudson is so awe inspiring and serenity inducing that you will want to plump yourself down on one of the soft fabric couches in the second floor reading room with or without glancing at one of the 50,000 American poetry volumes gracing the open bright white shelving system at Poets House.

Before heading to the second floor reading room, however, I recommend contacting Ms. Carlin Wragg, the Poets House effervescent Community Relations Manager for a guided tour. While we cooled off in the lobby, signed the e-mail list and donned turquoise buttons emblazoned with the words “Poets House” and “poetry advocate” Ms. Wragg introduced herself and the volunteer high school and college interns and the staff member responsible for the poetry community outreach program who also accompanied us on our tour. Like all good hostesses, Ms. Wragg inquired as to our backgrounds which brought us to one of the purposes in visiting the Poets House. While most of the interns were English majors with a strong interest in poetry our group comprised librarians with varying interests, not necessarily of the literary variety. However, as Ms. Wragg and Stephanie, the Meetup group’s organizer, pointed out librarianship is a many splendored career encompassing many facets. Our visit to the Poets House was therefore particularly timely in this epoch of librarian career transitions. Indeed, Ms. Wragg stated that the Poets House began as a literary organization but now also functioned somewhat as a ‘library’ requiring unique library skills.

Those library/literary skills were evident as we viewed the 18th Annual Poets House Showcase which displays all the poetry books published in America for that Showcase year. Also included in the annual showcase are self published poetry tomes sent to the show organizers and chapbooks. Chapbooks form an important part of the Poets House collection and it recently held its second annual chapbook festival. The yearly “special collection” of poetry which numbered 2,000 volumes this year comprises the Poets’ House yearly acquisition; all of the selections are sent in by publishers or self-published poets and there is no special acquisitions budget. The original collection began in a Soho loft from personal donations from the reading collection of poets acquainted with the organization. The Poets House is clearly a hybrid literary/library institution and as we wandered over to the displays to touch the exhibited works Ms. Wragg expressed the idea that the Poets House taught librarianship without the formalities of an official program. I certainly agree that there is nothing ‘formal’ about any of the space in the Poets House and every corner of this glass wonder fulfills its purpose to, according to Ms. Wragg, lend a human face to poetry.

The human face of poetry moved this writer, whose appreciation of poetry wouldn’t merit a Richter scale rating, to pounce on the openly displayed Showcase poetry works. The curators of this annual showcase created a most enticing literary and visual outpouring of poetry books since the books displayed on cherry wood shelves all faced outward, cover face up, and organized alphabetically by publishers so no volumes were granted undue favor. An irrestible force compelled me to pick them up and open them in much the same way a chocolate lover would open up a brightly wrapped bonbon. The exhibition space for the poetry showcase is a marvel and perfectly suited to those with a poet’s soul and a flair for the dramatic. The exhibition room, used for performances and poetry readings throughout the year faces South Teardrop Park which can be seen from wide floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Not only can visitors to the exhibition room look out at a park while hearing poetry readings, but the glass doors fully open out on the park. During poetry readings or dramatizations visitors can sit on the rock outcroppings in South Teardrop Park and watch the performance. Not only does the Poets House’s specially designed performance flow into a stone courtyard but the room is fitted with all the modern multi-media accoutrements such as HD video cameras which record the readings. Soon, these readings will be available online for those who miss the wonderful performances.

As we continued our tour, the Poets House continued to surprise and delight us. After we left the Showcase exhibit the group floated into the whimsical Constance Laibe Hays Children’s Room. This small oddly shaped area resembles a half oval and its glass enclosed space overlooking the lobby area creates the perfect cocoon to introduce children to the joys of poetry. Inside, this lopsided “egg” is an archway under the main staircase – a secret crawl space within the children’s room – a sort of tree house on the ground - where children can hide out and play with the various stuffed animals scattered along the old fashioned desks and floor or look at the many picture poetry books housed in bookshelves. Children are encouraged to write poems on the typewriters – yes, not even electric – located in the children’s area. According to Mike, the children’s room curator, one child cleverly called the typewriter a “screen less computer.” Out of the mouth of babes! Children’s creativity is strongly encouraged in this welcoming space; once a month an author does a program with the kids and these young poets visiting the Poets House use objects in the children’s room in a dynamic way. For instance, there is an old-fashioned catalog with poetry cards which contain images. The youngsters can use these cards to draw images.

Last but not least was our visit to the upstairs aforementioned reading room where the adult poetry works are displayed and can be read staring out the panoramic windows level with the trees overlooking the Hudson. Upstairs is also another climate controlled glass enclosed room for rare poetry book/works exhibits and a conference room whose windows face Ellis Island in honor of the immigrant ancestors of the room’s donors. The Poets House reading room contains ample room for visitors to plug in their laptops and enjoy the view as it provides free wireless. There is also audio equipment in carousels to play poetry readings - providing the perfect accompaniment when looking out to the magnificent sun dappled trees.
The Poets House provides the perfect accompaniment of grace and light for anyone who longs to escape quotidian travails. I can’t wait to read Emily Dickinson overlooking the Hudson River esplanade.

For further information on The Poets House please visit http://www.poetshouse.org/.

By Jodi Cantor

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NYLM--We Will Not Be Shushed (24 Hour Read-In)

The three public library systems in New York City serve the 8 million residents that live in the boroughs from various locations. The use of the public library has drastically increased after the effects of the economic crisis. The public are now looking towards their local library for access to information, resources, and programs that are necessary to carry out important tasks set out in front of them—job searching, education, Internet access, and most importantly a reserve of books. In the coming budget for the year 2011, the public libraries face very destructive cuts. Facts show that "Mayor Bloomberg’s Executive Budget for FY’11 calls for a reduction in funding of $16.9 million for Queens Library, $20.6 million for Brooklyn Public Library, and $37 million for New York Public Library". With these cuts, not only will the libraries suffer in terms of available resources, but staffing the libraries will become an important issue as well. With this budget cut, around 40 libraries citywide will be in danger of closure and 30% of the staff will be laid off. Programs that New Yorkers use daily will also be eliminated with this budget cut. These programs include assistance with job searching, tutoring, computer access, and instruction. Clearly this cannot happen. We ask you—New Yorkers, librarians, avid readers, students, and lovers of the libraries—join us in this 24 hour event of continuous public reading to support the New York Public Library System. We will not be shushed!

With only a few days away, it's important to remember to sign-up and fill a spot for a BIG LIBRARY EVENT. On June 12-13th we will be gathering around the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library to take part in "a unified libraries effort" to preserve the Public Library System in New York. Come out and support libraries during our 24 hour Read-In. Register as a reader to support this event. There will be a voice reading in front of the library for the full 24 hours, so this means that we need as many people as we can to fill the slots of designated times. After you join, don't stop there. Help us spread the word however you know how—listservs, bulletin boards, social media, word of mouth, and find us on Facebook and Meetup. Tell your friends and family to sign up. To register for a 20-minute slot, e-mail: savenyclibraries@gmail.com. Volunteers are also needed to set up, break down, move tables, and lots of other odd jobs. Late night and early morning people are particularly appreciated! If you can't volunteer, don't fret—there are other ways you can help. We are taking in donations of art supplies (crayons, markers, glitter, etc.), signs and banners, cardstock, and of course—coffee! Apart from our Read-In we will be building a petition for the three library systems, and our goal is to have every attendee of the event sign it, as well as write a postcard to the City Council. We need to make clear to the elected officials that public library funding cuts and layoffs are unacceptable and must be stopped! We need to stick together to keep libraries open!