Seriously Ghoulish Books

Warning: This post is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

Here's something just in time for Halloween--anthropodermic books.  What kind of books are these, you ask?  Simply put, they are books bound in human skin.  Yes, you read that right.  Actual human skin.  Now how and why did such a practice ever start?  Well, allow me to explain.

Anthropodermic bibliopegy, as the practice of binding books with human skin is formally called, has been done over centuries.  It was rumored to have started in the Middle Ages, but the first reliable accounts of the practice go back to 17th century Europe.  Anthropodermic books became more common during the Reign of Terror in France when the skin of those executed was used in book binding (ironically, a copy of the Rights of Man was bound in human skin).  In 19th century Great Britain, the skin of hanged criminals was also sometimes used in book binding as an additional punishment (you gotta love those Victorians).

So, how many anthropodermic books are there?  The exact number is unknown, but according to The Anthropodermic Book Project, 50 books have been identified as allegedly anthropodermic and 18 have been confirmed as human.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your opinion), our library does not have any anthropodermic books.  If you must see some of these books, however, you can find them at Harvard University, Brown University, and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, among other libraries in the world.

I can't say that I'm a big touchy-feely person, so handling a book bound with human skin wouldn't be up my alley.  I have nothing, though, against leather-bound classics.  On second thought, maybe I'll just play it safe and stick to paperbacks.

With safe Halloween wishes from the perch.

Ever Evolving Libraries

Libraries.  I probably don't have to tell you, but they're places traditionally associated with books, silence, and shushing librarians.  Although books are still the mainstay of libraries, the silence and stereotypical shushing librarians are gone.  Libraries have evolved to become community spaces where people can learn in open environments filled with chatter.

Many librarians today specialize in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), teaching both children and adults things you would have normally learned at one time in a classroom.  Storytimes are made to be fun and informative, educating children on everything from human bodies to celestial bodies.  Libraries are going beyond the promotion of reading and literature.

Additionally, libraries and librarians are dealing with electronic devices and information.  People of all ages with questions about using computers or finding information on the Internet can get help from librarians. There's a reason why the library degree today is called an MLIS as opposed to the older MLS--it's a degree in library and information science.

Libraries have always been gateways to information, but today they are so much more than simply places to get books.  If you want to read a classic, though, that's okay, too.  Just choose whether you want to read that classic in print or electronically.

Actually and virtually yours from the perch.

Re-Visiting Downton Abbey

Since six seasons of Downton Abbey weren't enough for us, we now have Downton Abbey, the movie.  The Crawleys are back with their staff, estate, and ever-evolving intrigues that are oh so proper and British.  There's just something about large castles in quiet pastoral settings and formal dinners waited on by servants in coattails and white gloves.  It's a window into another time and culture in which everyone knew his or her place in a stifling class system.

If you're a fan of the show or the movie and are interested in all things Downton Abbey, there are a number of items that can be checked out from the library for your reading or viewing pleasure:

• The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton  New York's elite in the 1910s live in a world of etiquette and strict social conventions that don't include nonconformist women.
• Downton Abbey, Seasons 1-6 DVD  The original source and best place to start.  Get to know the Crawley family beginning in the 1910s, shortly after the heirs of the estate perish in the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  
• The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy  Three generations of an upper middle class British family are presented from the 1870s to the 1920s.
• Howard's End by E. M. Forster  In the early 1900s, two families dispute over which will inherit a home in the English countryside.
• The Manners of Downton Abbey DVD  Shows the roles and responsibilities of the nobility in contrast to those living a life in service.
• Parade's End DVD  Focuses on a love triangle--an aristocrat, his socialite wife, and a suffragette--in England during the Edwardian era.

So, get out your hats and cravats, sip your tea, and enjoy your journey to the past.  Is there a better way to begin the fall season?

Prim and properly yours from the perch.

Schools Need Librarians!

The start of the school year got me thinking about all the people going back to classes--the students, the teachers, and the librarians.  Yes, librarians are an important part of the school staff, too!  And it also got me thinking, with all the budget cuts school districts have made around the country, so many school libraries are without librarians because they have been let go.

School librarians are no less valuable than language arts, social studies, math, or science teachers.  They teach students just like teachers of other subjects.  In addition to teaching students how to use the library, school librarians teach how to conduct research, a skill that's valuable not only in writing papers and creating projects, but also in real life.  This has become even more important in today's age when information abounds but may not always be accurate.  Librarians teach how to evaluate various resources and tell which ones are trustworthy.

Beside teaching and helping students, school librarians also help teachers.  They assist teachers in getting the right materials for specific class lessons, build classroom libraries, and get in touch with community resources, such as local authors.  Librarians and teachers are partners in education, promoting learning and finding ways to motivate all students, even those who may be difficult and reluctant learners.

Librarians turn the library into a safe and welcoming space for students and teachers to study, work on group projects, or simply hang out and read.  As a loner who felt she didn't fit in with different crowds in school, I saw the library as a sanctuary.  It may have been crowded and noisy out in the hall, but the library was peaceful and filled with books that took me away to different places.  And the librarian was always welcoming and ready to help me find whatever I needed.  The library was one place where I felt I fit in.

Never underestimate the importance of school libraries and librarians, especially concerning the development of children.  Let your school district know just how much your school librarian means to you.

Sincerely yours from the perch.

The Library Cast

When most people think of a library, chances are they think of librarians working there.  While that's very true, librarians aren't the only ones.  Like actors who can't make a movie without all those working behind the scenes, librarians can't run a library without all those working in various positions.  Today I'd like to talk about some of the other members of the library cast who may not be as well-known as librarians.

The circulation desk is where everyone goes to check out and return library items.  Depending on the size of the library, it's possible that the person checking out books to you isn't a librarian but rather a paraprofessional known as a circulation clerk or library technician.  This person keeps things moving along, checking items out and in.  The circulation clerk will also be the one to contact you if you have an item on hold or an item that's overdue.

Shelvers or pages are important jobs in the library, but they rarely get the credit they deserve.  Many are part-time employees, and some are even high school students or unpaid volunteers.  These people are responsible for getting items back on the shelves for you to peruse and check out.  They push around carts filled with items, bending low and reaching high to get things back where they belong and keep shelves looking orderly.  Many librarians, including yours truly, began their library careers as shelvers.

Nowadays, information technology (a.k.a. computers) is a big thing, and libraries are fortunate to have an IT expert on staff.  Although librarians are skilled in helping patrons use technology, including e-mail, the Internet, and electronic databases, they need help in maintaining and repairing computers when needed.  That's where an IT expert comes in.

Of course, the library is normally a welcoming and clean place to spend time reading a book, studying, or playing a game of checkers.  If the library is tidy and the bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper, that's because of the cleaning crew ensuring patrons are comfortable and have what they need.  They make the library a place where you want to spend your time.

These are just some of the many members of the library cast who help the library function successfully.  Take a moment the next time you visit your library to realize that beside librarians, there are other people at work who contribute to making your library experience a good one.

With gratitude to the all the library employees from the perch.

The Play's the Thing

For those of you who may not know, before I became your friendly, neighborhood perch librarian, I was a college instructor teaching theatre courses, such as Introduction to Theatre and American Theatre.  I was also involved in college theatre productions, working in various capacities from props and costumes to dramaturgy.

You might be surprised, then, to hear that I was a little nervous when I was asked to help with the library's drama club this summer.  Although I was no stranger to the theatre, working with a group of actors who had not reached their tweens was a new and unfamiliar experience for me.  I was unfazed by Shakespeare, Molière, and Aeschylus, but doing Hansel and Gretel with nine kids ranging in age from 3 to 7 petrified me.

For 8 weeks, there was a lot of trial and error with acting warm-ups and drama games.  We learned to be flexible, however, letting the kids develop their own version of the classic story.  The play was turned into Hanna and Gretel when a boy declined the role of Hansel and a girl wanted to play it.  There was a Deer, a Dog, a Unicorn, and even a Super Dinosaur that came to Hanna and Gretel's aid.  In a twist of fate, the Witch wanted Hanna and Gretel as guests for dinner, not as dinner.  It may sound cliché, but it really was rewarding to see how the kids progressed.

What I started with trepidation and the potential for failure turned into a successful and positive experience.  Despite their young ages, the kids came through, proving that they could follow directions and do more than what was expected of them.  I learned not only what theatrical exercises worked with very young actors, but also how to be comfortable and actually enjoy doing theatre with kids.  The kids must have enjoyed it as well since half of them asked if the library was going to do the drama club during the school year.

I suppose the lesson to be learned here is to be open to things outside of your comfort zone, because you can learn and have fun with something new.

Theatrically yours from the perch.

The Moon--50 Years Later

We got a big day in history coming up.  This Saturday, June 20, marks the 50th anniversary of when a human being set foot on the moon for the first time.  Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the moon followed by Buzz Aldrin.

Many people today can't imagine a world that doesn't include space travel, the International Space Station, and satellites doing everything from sending pictures to Google Maps to beaming your television broadcasts.  The moon was far and mysterious, something that impacted ocean tides and supposedly caused lunacy (note how the words lunacy, lunatic, and lunar all have the prefix luna, which means "moon").  Astronomers studied it and writers fantasized about it throughout the centuries.

For those of us who want to celebrate the golden anniversary of Apollo 11, there are a number of books and movies about the moon landing and the space program:

• Apollo 11 (DVD)  Original color footage of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon and the moon landing are put together.
• Apollo 13 (DVD)  The "successful failure" of the Apollo 13 mission in which three astronauts didn't land on the moon as planned but came safely back home.
• Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys by Michael Collins  An Apollo 11 astronaut shares his experiences from his first flight to the moon landing.
• The Dish (DVD)  The little known but true story of how scientists used one of the world's largest radio telescope dishes in Australia to transmit a live video feed of the first moon landing to the world.
• Eight Days Gone by Linda McReynolds  A book educating children (and adults) on the Apollo 11 mission and the history of NASA's mission to the moon.
• First Man (DVD)  Focuses on the professional and personal challenges of astronaut Neil Armstrong.
• Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly  Tells the story of four African-American female mathematicians who contributed to some of the greatest moments of NASA's space program.
• Mission to the Moon by Alan Dyer  A children's book addressing the Apollo 11 moon landing as well as other moon missions that followed.
• Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca  Presents the story of the Apollo 11 mission from Earth all the way to the moon.

Take one (or several) small steps to the library, but one giant leap into the history of space exploration.  Come in and check out a book or DVD that will put your head in the clouds.

With out of this world wishes from the perch.