Will Dutch library ban on 'Black Pete' books spell end for 'racist' festive tradition?

The portrayal of Santa’s Moor servant ‘Zwarte Piet’ is widely seen as offensive. Protesters applaud the decision to remove the character from children’s books Public libraries across the Netherlands are removing from the shelves children’s books depicting a black-faced Zwarte Piet, a side-kick to Sinterklaas, in the latest sign that the country is turning the page on a festive figure widely seen as being racist.For at least a decade, there have been protests against the practice of white people with blackened faces, curly wigs and exaggerated bright red lips depicting the character at the nationwide parades held in early December to herald the feast of Saint Nicholas. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-15 10:10:52 UTC ]
News tagged with: #latest sign #white people #early december #public libraries

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Tired of buying airport books? These airports are installing Little Free Libraries.

A great idea! Marshall University students in Bret Masters’s building technology class are currently building bookshelves to install Little Free Libraries in Yeager and Huntington Tri-State Airports. The idea for the project was originated by Kelli Johnson, associate librarian at Marshall, when... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-02 18:12:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great idea #free libraries #san diego #libraries


50 years later, ‘The Monster at the End of This Book’ is still selling — and inspiring authors

The children’s book has influence out of proportion with its 24 pages and its cardboard cover devoid of medallions. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-27 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inspiring authors #children’s book


Edinburgh International Book Festival switches venue for August event

The Edinburgh International Book Festival will run from 14th to 30th August at a new location: the Edinburgh College of Art. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-27 10:17:35 UTC ]
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Umberto Eco tracking down a book in his massive library is your new competence porn.

The late Umberto Eco—professor, novelist, children’s book author—was a man of many talents. One of which, as seen in a video clip posted on Twitter by writer Ted Gioia, was quickly finding books in his famously massive personal library. I once got to meet Umberto Eco—who was very memorable. But... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-21 20:36:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children’s book


ACE makes £152,000 grant for library e-books and audio

Arts Council England (ACE) is awarding £152,000 to help public libraries buy e-books and digital audio products after demand soared during the pandemic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-21 11:35:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library e-books #public libraries


This gorgeous new children’s book celebrates Black Lives Matter

“As a graphic designer, we can play a role in standing up for something.” During the protests for racial justice this past summer and over the past few years, Black Lives Matter became a movement and rallying cry, a message of optimism and hope, and a simple statement of affirmation: the lives... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-01-19 08:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #past summer #graphic designer #racial justice #rallying cry #children’s book


BiblioBoard, PW’s BookLife Launch New Library E-book Program for Self-Published Authors

BookLife Elite will offer public libraries access to a curated collection of unlimited, simultaneous-use indie e-books, meaning library readers can access the books instantly—no holds lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published authors #public libraries #e-book


Daunt Books Originals acquires 'landmark work' of Black studies professor

Daunt Books Publishing has acquired Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe, a work of creative non-fiction about memorial and remembrance.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-11 23:40:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #creative non-fiction #books publishing


2020 was a great year for at least one thing: digital book loans from public libraries.

If you, like me, could really use some nice library-oriented news right about now, you’re in luck. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the impossibility of going to physical libraries for much of the year, readers borrowed record numbers of ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines from public... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-07 15:34:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great year #digital magazines #public libraries #libraries #digital book


Majority of borrowed books across Ontario libraries in 2020 weren't published this year

In a year dominated by a global pandemic and American politics, some might find it fitting that the library book most likely to be checked out across Ontario was a hopeful memoir written by the former first lady of the United States. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2020-12-31 09:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year dominated #global pandemic #american politics #library book #memoir #libraries


Jeremy O. Harris is donating a collection of plays by Black writers to libraries across the country.

On Late Night with Seth Meyers this week, Slave Play and Daddy playwright Jeremy O. Harris announced he is donating a collection of 15 plays by Black playwrights to 53 libraries and community centers across the United States—and is donating one such collection to Northwestern University in Seth... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-09 17:29:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black writers #late night #seth meyers #black playwrights #community centers #united states— #northwestern university #literary hub #libraries


The Most Popular Under-The-Radar Books in U.S. Libraries: July–September 2020

Take a peek at the most popular under-the-radar books in public libraries across the United States for the 2020 third quarter. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-12-09 11:33:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public libraries


Okayama City libraries let patrons sterilize their books with the power of UV light.

Another win for technology! Library users in Okayama City are able to check out library books without fear of illness, thanks to a high-tech ultraviolet light sterilizer that cleans books thoroughly. The sterilizer also blows air on the books to clear off potential dust. Said one library-goer,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-08 16:44:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


Vintage Books Podcast teams up with Black Ballad and Evans

The Vintage Books Podcast is marking its 10th anniversary by partnering with digital media platform Black Ballad for a special Christmas episode with Diana Evans. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-06 18:09:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diana evans #black ballad #10th anniversary #digital media


Amazon Publishing in Talks to Offer E-books to Public Libraries

The potential deal would be a breakthrough moment in the library e-book market as Amazon currently does not make its digital content available to libraries. It would also be a major coup for the Digital Public Library of America's upstart e-book platform and its SimplyE library reading app. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #public libraries #potential deal #digital content #e-book


Allegheny County Jail has reversed its policy banning book delivery to its incarcerated population.

Here’s a heartening update to a terrible story: In November, Allegheny County Jail came under fire for instituting a draconian policy banning its incarcerated population from receiving physical books in the mail, only giving them access to 263 pre-approved eBooks on prison-owned tablets. Now,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-03 17:31:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #incarcerated population #terrible story #literary hub #ebooks


How Steve Martin and illustrator Harry Bliss ended up working on the ‘upbeat book’ we all need right now

The actor-writer-musician and illustrator teamed up on the new book “A Wealth of Pigeons.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-16 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #steve martin


Revisiting Katherine Paterson on Happy Endings in Children’s Books

In 1988, Katherine Paterson wrote in the Book Review that children need not only the happily-ever-after of fairy tales, but also “proper endings” in which “hope is a yearning, rooted in reality.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-11-06 10:00:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #happy endings #fairy tales #book review


Jacaranda launches online book festival

Independent publisher and bookseller Jacaranda is to launch an online book festival in December, celebrating a new wave of black British authors.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-05 08:45:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookseller #independent publisher #online book


As Covid-19 Cases Surge, PRH Again Extends Temporary E-book, Digital Audio Terms for Libraries, Schools

Penguin Random House executives this week confirmed that the publisher is extending its "temporary" digital license terms for e-books and digital audio in libraries and schools through March 31, 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital audio #libraries #penguin random house