Saturday, June 18, 2005
Quick, Nicholson... Into the Bookmobile!
Remember when Nicholson Baker nailed the San Francisco Public Library for recklessly throwing out books? Well, it's happened again, reports today's Guardian:
The Octagon library at Queen Mary, University of London, in Mile End, east London, is in the process of refurbishment and decided that it would have to dispose of its surplus books. These have now been dumped in skips outside the library, to the outrage of staff and students who were clambering through them yesterday to find what they described as literary gems. "This is a crass display of philistinism," said one staff member. "There are books dating back to the 18th century, there are first editions, there are copies of Voltaire."
Couldn't they have at least tried calling Richard Booth? Or any used book dealer at all?
The Octagon library at Queen Mary, University of London, in Mile End, east London, is in the process of refurbishment and decided that it would have to dispose of its surplus books. These have now been dumped in skips outside the library, to the outrage of staff and students who were clambering through them yesterday to find what they described as literary gems. "This is a crass display of philistinism," said one staff member. "There are books dating back to the 18th century, there are first editions, there are copies of Voltaire."
Couldn't they have at least tried calling Richard Booth? Or any used book dealer at all?
