Today people in the United States and parts of Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo ("fifth of May"), which often seems synonymous with margaritas and other trappings of Mexican revelry. Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over the French army at the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862.
Today we celebrate Preservation Week! Organized by the American Library Association (ALA), the event reminds us of the importance of preserving not only our personal past, but also the vast resources of our libraries. In 2005, a comprehensive national survey showed that US institutions hold over 4.8 billion items, 63% of which are in libraries. Uncounted items held by individuals also include books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, ephemera, audio recordings, and objects.
In 2013 Adam Scott won the Masters at Augusta National after beating Angel Cabrera in a two-hole playoff in the rain. The Masters tournament exemplifies who so many people truly love the sport of golf--including many legendary authors.
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. The book would be the first of twelve Bond novels and two short-story collections that Fleming wrote himself, and the first in a long line of Bond novels by multiple other authors like John Gardner and Raymond Benson.
The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress continues its celebration of the written word with the 2013 National Book Festival. Yesterday this year's line-up was announced, and the event promises to be exceptional. This week we sat down with Dr. John Y Cole, founding director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Under Dr. Cole's leadership, the center plays a crucial role in the annual National Book Festival; for example, Dr. Cole has served as its principal author coordinator since the festival was established in 2001. We discussed the role of the festival, along with the future of books, reading, and literacy.
The rare book community is gearing up for the 53rd annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair, the biggest book fair in the world. The fair is one of the many reasons that New York has become an epicenter of literary culture. Here's a look at what famous authors have thought of New York City.
Next week we'll be taking a field trip (of sorts) to the Big Apple. The occasion? Only the biggest and best book fair in the world! If you'll be in the area, be sure to come and visit. You can also check out several other literary hotspots nearby.
This year Alan Noel Latimer "Tim" Munby would be 100 years old and the ABAA recently blogged about an upcoming conference at King's College to mark Munby's centenary year. Bibliophiles and rare book collectors around the world are anticipating the event, and it's the perfect time to explore Munby's contributions to bibliography, collecting, and authorship.
We're excited to take Books Tell You Why on the road this week! We're heading to the 52nd Annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair at the Park Avenue Armory, April 12 - 15. Stop by Booth #A-22 to peruse our offerings.
Today marks the anniversary of the first manned lunar landing. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin left Michael Collins to man the Columbia and took the Eagle to the surface of the moon. Think you know all about the Moon and the lunar landing? Bet you hadnt heard of these tidbits.
