Banned Books Week resource

How did the Nazi book burnings fit in to the larger pattern of suppression of free speech that began in 1933? Why were books and libraries attacked? Who created the blacklists? What books were destroyed and why? How it was part of the Nazi party's campaign to forcefully promote their narrow idea of "German-ness" and "patriotism" to the German people?

Many years ago I did an exhibit for University of Arizona Special Collections entitled "When Books Burn" about the Nazi book burnings of 1933. The site looks very dated (my web design skills c.2001), but it shows how the book burnings and library raids of May 1933 were part of the Nazi party’s plan to silence all dissent. The translations were written by Dr. Roland Richter, a retired Professor from the UA Department of German who specialized in the literature of the 1930s. To my knowledge it was the first time the documents and speeches had been translated into English.

Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933, the first book/publisher/library suppressions happened in April, the book burnings were in May and by July a law was passed making Nazi Socialism the only legal form of political expression in Germany. Seven months was all it took, and the suppression of books and “cleansing” of libraries were key pieces of the plan.

They’re nasty reading, but take a look at some of the Nazi book manifestos. Are they similar to what you read and hear about today?

The site also has lesson plans created by UA Librarian Louise Greenfield.

• Homepage
• Timeline
• Manifestos
• Lesson plans
• Photos of the 2001 exhibit

Flam Chen goodness

I was able to talk to Flam Chen performers for the first time last week at the Mission Library's 30th anniversary -- once I got over my awe at seeing them close up, at least. They're a bit larger than life, as you can see on the left.

And now I find that they have posted videos of their performances online at vimeo. Take a look at my favorite, a performance piece featuring firedancing and creatures called "Kokapis" with live drum music from the Dambe Project. Flam Chen's website is being redesigned, but their MySpace is active: www.myspace.com/flamchen

For the video, picture people gathered on the grass in front of the old library on the UA Campus (now the Arizona State Museum) on a sultry evening in late June. The day has started too cool off and then they light the burners and the drums start...

Radiance from Flam Chen on Vimeo

80s flashback

I have been spending way too much time on a site that collects videos of 80s music. The range is huge: punk, new wave, pop, rat pack, glam, goofball, and a lot of European stuff I'd never heard of (and I lived in Germany in the 80s!). I don't listen to oldies radio stations so it had been years and years since I've heard most of this music, and wow, most of it doesn't hold up.

Still mesmerizing: Traci Chapman, Club Nouveau, Eurythmics, Fine Young Cannibals, Sade, Don Henley, Bangles, Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock, Neil Young, Nirvana (90s, I know), U2, World Party.
Soooo period: Duran Duran, Falco, After the Fire, INXS, Madonna, Love and Rockets, MC Hammer, Psychedelic Furs, Stray Cats, Kraftwerk.
Surprises: Clannad, Concrete Blonde.
They were better live: B-52s, The Police.
Vid disappointing but I'd put it on my iPod: Bananarama, Blondie, Golden Earring.
Still strange: Cameo, Joe Dolce, Divine, Mr. T, Plasmatics, the Residents.
Gratuitous Gene Kelly fu: ELO.
I liked them??? What was I thinking?: Billy Idol, Billy Squier, Dead or Alive, Quarterflash, The Romantics.
Ewww (you've been warned): Adam Ant, Apollonia 6, Culture Club, Lipps Inc.
Raw then, seems contrived now: Dead Kennedys.
No, no, no, no, even after all this time: Chris De Burgh, Hall & Oates, Wham.

Boue's Big Day

Boue's Big Day
Originally uploaded by BILLBINNS

When we get home DH always tells Arrow he's a good boy for guarding the house all day, but I know *this* is what he's really doing! If it weren't for the fact that Arrow disdains the sofa this pooch could be his clone. The time lapse video is only about 1 minute long. Too funny.

A Walk with Arrow

Every night we walk our dog Arrow, but some nights are more fun than others! Tonight we watched the sun set, kissed Oz, saw new blooms on the teddy bear cholla, watched Mike and Jo repainting a street sign, met Robbie and Barb, watched a coyote lope down the road, and watched the rest of the sunset. We're pooped!

A Must-Read Article in the New Yorker

I just finished reading "The Lion and the Mouse: The battle that reshaped children’s literature" by Jill Lepore, from the July 21 issue of The New Yorker. I heartily recommend it to anyone who loves children's books.

Lepore's account of the appalling history of early children's services alone makes the article worth reading, but from there it goes on to report on the conflict between Anne Campbell Moore, NYPL's influential children's librarian and the author E.B. White. When you evaluate a new children's book, are you a Miss Moore, or an Ursula Nordstrom?

The article make me wonder: When did I form my ideas about what makes a good children's book, and how to recommend them to others? Was it when I was in the 5th grade and learned that my grandmother (a former teacher who graduated c. 1914) had thrown out all 44 copies of the Nancy Drew series that I had devoured the previous summer? Was it when I was in the 6th grade and listened in frustration to a salesperson at the old El Con Bookstore flounder about when asked for a good book for a 12-year-old? (It was my first reference question, and I talked him into The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.)

At any rate, I really enjoyed this article because it made me think about and remember why we do what we do.

I need to read Stuart Little again.

Good night Giraffe?

Do you suppose that Dutch giraffe read Peggy Rathman's book Good Night Gorilla?

2008 Reading Rainbow Contest Winners Announced

The 2008 Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest winners have been announced!

You can now read the story that moved me so much, Adam Pace's story, Sweetcakes [pdf], which won in the Kindergarten category.

Congratulations to the winners, and to all of the young writers who sent in such excellent writing!

Word Journeys, an afterschool program

One of the things I get to do in my new job is to help with the special programming that my library is involved with. Many of these programs are targeted to specific populations, and so are not always visible to the community. Word Journeys is one of those programs.

Word Journeys is an arts and humanities afterschool program taught by the inimitable Marge Pellegrino, and run in conjunction with the Amphitheater School District. Every Thursday this school year, Marge helped teens from Amphi High School put on a multidisciplinary program for children from two area elementary schools. Three of the teen mentors and half of the younger children are recent immigrants to Tucson: Bantu refugees from Somalia.

The teens plan and setup the weekly workshops, encourage the younger students, model listening and participatory behaviors, journal, and reflect upon the week's experience. Each workshop includes a story, a writing springboard, and time for sharing, as well as time for mentors and mentees to explore the library via books and targeted activities. The photo on the left is from this year's big celebration for which the children created displays of their writing and artwork, and took turns reading from their favorite project. I have more photos on my library's Flickr account.

Much of the intensity of Word Journeys comes from the long-term relationships that this program fosters, along with projects designed to elicit heartfelt responses to the eternal questions of humanity: How do I have compassion for others? Who am I in the world?, and How can I make the world a better place?

I love my job.

Reed and Ruby on YouTube!

Okay, so this isn't library-related, but my nephew Reed starred in a movie on YouTube! His dad Brick and his sister Ruby also have roles. I love how perfect his timing is when he says "I'm the boss." Oh, and there's a funny outtake after the credits.

Great job, dooood!