Monday, September 30, 2013

Case Study No. 1020: Constance MacDonald

Constance's Library Primer
0:41
Head librarian Constance MacDonald dishes on how to maximize your library experience
Tags: books comedy Constance librarian Olson Kristen request book library humor strict forms Funny Humour
Added: 1 year ago
From: artandsoulko
Views: 21

[scene opens with a female librarian (short brown hair, black sweater, white blouse) speaking directly to the camera]
CONSTANCE: The book request form ...
[cut to a shot of the librarian holding up a piece of paper, entitled "Book Request Form"]
CONSTANCE: There are five fields.
[she points to the title (written in bold) at the top of the paper]
CONSTANCE: There's a title.
[cut to the librarian holding a "completed" book request form, featuring a dog and a flower drawn in crayon]
CONSTANCE: Why can't the adults figure this out?
[cut to another shot of the librarian speaking directly to the camera]
CONSTANCE: I love forms!
[cut to another shot of the librarian speaking directly to the camera]
CONSTANCE: In the talking areas, you can talk to me. Talk to me in the talking areas of the library.
[cut to another shot of the librarian speaking directly to the camera]
CONSTANCE: Chew some gum ... for god's sake. Freshen your breath.
[cut to another shot of the librarian speaking directly to the camera]
CONSTANCE: It's your fault ... that you didn't return the book on time.
[cut to another shot of the librarian speaking directly to the camera]
CONSTANCE: My name is Constance MacDonald ... "Old Lady MacDonald?" That's all you can come up with?
[cut to another shot of the librarian holding up a blank book request form]
CONSTANCE: [whispers] It's very simple ...
[the screen cuts to black, as "kristenolson dot com, copyright 2011 Kristen Olson" appears on screen]

Case Study No. 1019: Agnes Dolittle

The Visitors Trailer [HD]
2:20
A school librarian working late at night and frustrated with irresponsible students is about to take matters into her own hands. Little does she know...
Tags: trailer library short books fairies short film experimental
Added: 2 years ago
From: FairyMayhemFilms
Views: 1,854

Basil Sprig presents
a Fairy Mayhem Films production

[scene opens with an older female librarian (short brown hair, glasses, flowered dress) walking towards the high school that she works in after hours]
NARRATOR: Agnes Dolittle has had about enough of lazy high school students and their book-borrowing habits ...
[cut to Agnes unlocking the door to the high school gymnasium and turning on the lights, as rows of bookshelves can be seen next to the basketball court]
NARRATOR: Not to mention that her school library's been stuck out in the old gym.
[cut to Agnes putting down a box of books, as the camera focuses on a pail on the floor as water slowly drips into it from the ceiling]
NARRATOR: She's about to take matters into her own hands ...
AGNES: Stupid leak! How many times have I put in a request to have them fix this? But nooooo!
[she takes a nearby wastebasket and moves it in place of the nearly-full pail]
NARRATOR: But little does she knows what awaits her, as she works in the school library late at night ...
[cut to a young girl peeking in through the door, then to the librarian as she types at her computer]
AGNES: Three days late ... Fine!
[she continues typing, when the girl (and a young boy) materialize in front of her]
BOY FAIRY: Ahem ...
[she looks up from the computer, only now becoming aware of their presence]
AGNES: Oh! H-How'd you get in here?
[they ignore her question, as the girl hands her a book]
GIRL FAIRY: We'd like to check out this book.
AGNES: What's this?
[she examines the cover, as the girl rolls her eyes]
AGNES: Fairies?!
[cut to the librarian escorting the two out of the library, as she locks the door behind them ... but they simply smile and walk back towards the door before disappearing]
[cut back to Agnes in the library, when a book falls off the shelf (seemingly by itself) and onto the floor behind her ... she turns to investigate, then hears a loud crash as the scene cuts to her desk (where one of the drawers has fallen to the floor and spilled its contents everywhere)]
[cut to Agnes walking towards her desk (as the fairies' legs can be seen dangling from a bookshelf in the background]
[cut to the girl re-arranging books on the shelf]
[cut to the librarian looking around nervously, then to the fairies sitting on top of the bookshelf (calmly eating and drinking soda while watching her)]
[cut to a basketball, seemingly dribbling by itself through the stacks, as the fairies suddenly materialize in the bleachers section to watch]
[cut to Agnes looking around nervously, as the basketball bounces off the backboard (there is no hoop attached)]
AGNES: Umm ...

The Visitors
Coming Soon ...

---

From imdb.com:

"The Visitors" (2012)
20 min - Short | Comedy | Family

A crabby high school librarian is driven out of her wits by strange supernatural beings who visit as she works alone late at night. Who are The Visitors and what do they want? And more importantly for her, can she catch them in the act?

Director: Basil Sprig
Writer: Basil Sprig

Lydia Bishop ... The Librarian
Julieanne Weatherhogge ... Fairy

---

From blogspot.com:

In the past several years I wrote, directed, and produced several short youtube videos and a short film.

You can see the videos and trailers on my YouTube page: Fairy Mayhem Films.

Here's a concept photograph for the "fairies on the bookshelf" segment in my short film The Visitors.

I wanted a look here that was both beautiful and creepy. I believe I achieved it.

---

From komonews.com:

The Night of the Arts is coming to both Glacier Peak and Snohomish high schools over the next two weeks, and each will feature the art and entertainment from the students each school serves and other local artists.

Glacier Peak will be up first on May 10, while Snohomish HS has its night on May 17. Each event will go on from 5-8 p.m., with a sneak preview from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

What will be on display? Art from K-12 students will be displayed, there will be dance and musical performances, demonstrations of various types of art being created, multimedia presentations and a lot more.

There will also be a special screening of the short film "The Visitors" by Basil Sprig at the Snohomish High School on the 17th.

There will be some art on sale, and artists from around Snohomish and the surrounding area have been invited to take part.

The cost for each event is $5 for adults. Students get in for free.

Case Study No. 1018: Unnamed Female Librarian (Biogesic)

Stereotypical Librarian?
0:13
Biogesic TV commercial from the Philippines. See commentary here: http://filipinolibrarian. blogspot.com/2006/05/ stereotypical-librarian .html
Tags: stereotype librarian biogesic tv commercial philippines filipino
Added: 7 years ago
From: vonjobi
Views: 7,504

From blogspot.com:

If a picture paints a thousand words, what exactly would this TV commercial do for the image of librarians?

The commercial is set in a library. The librarian - wearing glasses and with her hair in a bun - is in the foreground stamping books. Meanwhile, the library user in the background causes the shelves to topple like dominos. This, apparently, causes the librarian to have a headache, the voiceover promotes Biogesic as a safe and effective painkiller, and after the librarian gets over her headache - presumably because she took Biogesic - she calmly tells the user, "Pulutin mo 'yan" (Pick that up).

I really don't know what to say.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Case Study No. 1017: Fel and Liz

OGP La Tale: Lv. 193 Blade Slinger / Judgement Gameplay @ Velfa Library
6:07
Finally made it to Lv. 193 on my Blade Slinger and Duelist. I'm not as strong as I can be, but im quite satisfied with my character.

One thing to point out is that, I only lag a bit because I was recording, so dont comment about that, some of you like to point out that my ping sucks, it doesnt, I live real close to the server.

Ignore the dislikes, some of Nova's retarded fans came thru my channel and gave me some free views.
Tags: OGP Planet La Tale Blade Slinger Judgement high level game play Velfa Library OC Remix Over Clocked Megaman Brainsick Metal
Added: 1 year ago
From: DarkSparkX9
Views: 2,047

[the player enters the lobby of Velfa Library, where he finds the young female librarians Fel and Liz]
LIZ: Welcome to Velfa, the temple of knowledge.
[the player selects "Conversation"]
LIZ: The magical library has a long history. It is said to hold the majority of the knowledge of the world.
[the player selects "Receive Quest"]
LIZ: I need your help. Can you help me?
[the player selects "Mysterious Accident"]
LIZ: Recently, there have been mysterious reports that monsters have been pouring out from the magical library deep in the forest.
["Mysterious Accident, Hermitage 0/30, Hermitage Hat 0/15" appears on screen, as the player enters the General Book Room, where several Hermitages (dwarf-like creatures) are pushing around wheelbarrows filled with books]
HERMITAGE 1: Yo ho ... Let's build a mountain of books!
HERMITAGE 2: None of the girls know about the book!
HERMITAGE 3: Let's clean up the books!
[the player begins killing several of the Hermitages (as well as demonically-possessed floating books called Ridewords)]
HERMITAGE 4: Ohhh!
RIDEWORD 1: How dare you ... you cannot read me!
HERMITAGE 5: Grr ... my back!
RIDEWORD 2: I will read you!
HERMITAGE 6: Don't interrupt me!
RIDEWORD 3: When you've finished reading, please put them in their correct place.
HERMITAGE 7: Tohoho!
RIDEWORD 4: Yum yum yum!
RIDEWORD 5: Ahh, my inner side is shy ...
["Warp to Library Lobby" appears on screen, as the player has completed the challenge, and returns to the librarians]
LIZ: Thank you for helping us out providing safety to guests.
["You've received the reward from the Mysterious Accident quest." appears on screen]

---

From wikipedia.org:

"La Tale" is a 2D side-scrolling online game developed by Actoz Soft. Gamers take the role of adventurers in a mythological fantasy world.

It was launched in South Korea in February 2006 where it was well received. In February 2007, Actoz entered into an agreement with Chinese game operator Shanda to open a server in mainland China. On March 18, 2008 OGPlanet signed a contract with Actoz Soft to bring La Tale to North America. Aeria Games launched La Tale in Europe on July 30, 2009, and closed the server on October 21, 2010.

---

From wikia.com:

HP: 55,759
Habitat: Velfa Library
This fairy loves to read books and organize them on the book shelves. However, the result was so messed up that it worried the librarian.

According to Liz, "they used to be monsters that move books around in the library" ... They "were helpful," but something made them angry.

Case Study No. 1016: Geoffrey of Monmouth

"There are many futures"; The Coronation of Guinevere and Morgana
0:58
Just did a small little video about both the Coronations shown in this year's series of Merlin. Not really a storyline here, just one of the Coronations will actually happen, and the other is just a vision. You get to decided which Coronation is real, Morgana's or Guinevere's?




Uther: You cannot do this, you have no right to the Throne!
Morgana: No she does not, but I do.

Arthur: By the sacred laws invested in me...
Librarian: By the powers invested in me...
Arthur: I pronounce you Guinevere, Queen of Camelot.
Librarian: I crown Lady Morgana Pendragon, Queen of Camelot.

Morgause: There are many futures. Some are shrouded in mist, and others are as clear as cut glass...
Tags: Merlin Morgana Guinevere Gwen Queen of Camelot Coronation Morgause Arthur Uther Katie Mcgrath Angel Coulby
Added: 2 years ago
From: xbabyYOURafirework
Views: 4,887

From wikia.com:

Geoffrey

Also Known As:
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Noah
Fatty (by Gaius)

Race: Human
Gender: Male
Family: Unknown
Affiliation: Gaius
Enemies: None
Portrayer: Michael Cronin

Geoffrey of Monmouth is the court genealogist and keeper of the royal library in Camelot.

Biography
He first appeared when he discovered the forgery of the seal of nobility Merlin created for Lancelot, though he seemed an unsympathetic character it is only through his need to do his job (Lancelot).

He is an old friend of Gaius. Though he refuses at first, he helped Gaius by giving access to a secret volume concerning The Great Purge, even though he risked both of their lives. It is with this that Gaius discovered Edwin Muirden's true motives (A Remedy to Cure All Ills).

When Merlin was searching for a weapon that Arthur could use to kill the wraith of Tristan de Bois. He told Merlin of the old writings, which included a tale of a weapon forged with a dragon's breath, which aided Merlin in creating the weapon and killing the wraith (Excalibur).

Geoffrey hosted the wedding of King Uther and Lady Catrina and also hosted the coronation of Queen Catrina as the sole heir of Camelot (Beauty and the Beast).

He later gave Uther information of the laws of a woman competing in a duel (The Sins of the Father).

When he complained of a pain in his leg to Gaius, the Court Physician insulted him, saying he was surprised he could even stand up, and called him a "fattie". Geoffrey later forgave his old friend after discovering he was possessed by a Goblin (Goblin's Gold).

Geoffrey hosted the wedding of Prince Arthur and Princess Elena where they cancelled it and told their fathers they didn't love each other (The Changeling).

After Merlin saw Alice talking to a creature, he went to the library and found it in a book. Geoffrey asked if he could help, Merlin first declined but then accepted and asked him about the creature. Geoffrey told him that it was a Manticore, how it was last heard of around a thousand years ago and the ancients feared it, it's very name bringing terror. That night, Merlin sneaked into the library to get the book as Geoffrey slept but accidentally woke him up. However, by levitating the items on his desk with magic, he told Geoffrey he was dreaming and to go back to sleep to which he complied (Love in the Time of Dragons).

When Morgause conquered Camelot with an immortal army, Geoffrey was forced to crown Morgana queen in front of a restrained Uther (The Coming of Arthur).

Agravaine, who had taken charge of the kingdom in Arthur's absence, had the gate to the lower town closed to prevent food from running out. After finding out, Gaius angrily confronted him about it. Gwen and Geoffrey persuaded Agravaine to reopen the gate and he reluctantly agreed (The Darkest Hour).

When Uther died, Geoffrey crowned Arthur, King of Camelot (The Wicked Day).

Appearances
Series 1
* Lancelot
* A Remedy to Cure All Ills
* Excalibur
Series 2
* Beauty and the Beast: Part One
* Beauty and the Beast: Part Two
* The Sins of the Father
Series 3
* Goblin's Gold
* The Changeling
* Love in the Time of Dragons
* The Coming of Arthur: Part One
Series 4
* The Darkest Hour: Part Two
* The Wicked Day

Personality
Geoffrey was a very knowledgeable man being in charge of Camelot's library. He is a close friend of Gaius and illegally gave Gaius a book of records so that Gaius could find out about Edwin Muirden, even though he said Uther would have them both executed if he found out. He has a slightly strange, somwhat dry sense of humour. According to Gaius, Geoffrey was getting fat, though Gaius was possessed by a Goblin when he said this. Geoffrey also complained that young people were always in a hurry. On at least two occasions he has helped Merlin get information, not knowing that Merlin was a sorcerer.

Trivia
* The actor that plays this character wears fake eyebrows during filming.

Historicity
Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100-1155) was a British writer and clergyman who composed various histories relating to Arthurian Legend. Some of his more famous works include the Historia Regum Britanniae (1136) and Vita Merlini (1150).

According to one of the directors, the Geoffrey of Monmouth portrayed in this show is indeed meant to be the same Geoffrey that wrote the above books. It was perceived to be an 'interesting' idea that Geoffrey wrote these accounts as he had lived through the events described within them.

Case Study No. 1015: The Librarian (Cesar Laser)

Cesar Laser - Librarian (Preview)
2:03
You can download the track here:
http://cesarlaser.band camp.com/track/ librarian

Words and music by Cesar Laser.
Production by Cesar Laser and Sam Harris.

LYRICS

I went down to the library
To take out a book or two
At first there wasn't really much to see
But then, I ran into you

You have a body that's to die for (oh wooh)
Those heels are sexy and the glasses are much, much adored
I must say that you're everything I want
You're incredible
Oh incredible you

Lord have mercy,
Jesus, Mary, save me
'Cos I don't know what to do
Stop me, baby
I think I'm going crazy
When I say that I love you

CHORUS
Never thought you would come my way
Librarian
Never thought this would be the day
Librarian
Never thought I would fall for a
Librarian
I fell in love at the library, library

You said to meet you at the library
Behind the books on Section B
There you leaned in real close to me, and whispered
"I think you have a massive...overdue fee"

Lord have mercy,
Jesus, Mary, save me
'Cos I don't know what to do
Wait up, baby
I'm heading to the library
Just to say that I love you

CHORUS
Never thought you would come my way
Librarian
Never thought this would be the day
Librarian
Never thought I would fall for a
Librarian

I fell in love at the place where the books are borrowed

Shh!
Tags: Girl Preview movie Trailer song commercial tears for fears sex
Added: 1 year ago
From: CesarLaser
Views: 858

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Case Study No. 1014: David James Hudson

"When They Come for the Libraries" by David James Hudson (Hillside Festival, July 24, 2011)
4:47
Okay, so it's not best performance or video ever, but it's the first one in front of other librarians! For a slightly better performance, go here: http://youtu.be/ji_kKDD3fZQ ... or stay tuned.

Sign this: http://ourpubliclibrary.to/

Performed at the Hillside Festival in Guelph, Ontario on July 24, 2011. (c) David James Hudson 2011. Now go get a library card and use it.
Tags: library libaries austerity library cuts privatization Rob Ford Toronto Guelph librarianship librarians slam poetry Guelph Poetry Slam spoken word performance poetry Dave Hudson public service cuts community stop the cuts
Added: 2 years ago
From: davidjameshudson
Views: 1,063

[David gets up on stage and holds up a library card]
DAVID: Does anybody have one of these?
[there is a smattering of applause from the audience]
DAVID: Who knows what this is? Who can guess?
[some people yell out "Library card!"]
DAVID: It's a library card.
[audience applauds]
DAVID: I see a lot of really amazing librarians in the crowd. I am a librarian, too.
[audience applauds]
DAVID: Libraries do amazing things. Uh, how many people have been to the library or go to the library still? Public libraries, yes yes!
[audience applauds]
DAVID: Alright. Um, the thing is, they're under attack right now. Like a lot of public services. Uh, how many people are from Toronto?
[no response]
DAVID: Sorry ... Yeah, that's a solidarity thing. But, uh, yeah. Rob Ford is attacking your libraries, along with attacking your parks. Attacking arts grants, attacking public health things, just basically attacking anything and trying to privatize whatever they can. We need to keep public libraries public, okay? So make sure you look at what's going on in your community with your public library, make sure you use it. Get a DVD or a kids' book, y'know? Relax, and yeah, support your public libraries. This is called "When They Come for the Libraries," and it's for all my library mentors and colleagues.
[he steps away from the microphone, then launches into his spoken-word performance]

When they come for the libraries
With signs for the doors
Padlocks in hands
Hardhats and demolition plans in scrolls
Well, you know that they are not coming for the books
There are bookstores down the street
And saved preferences ready for one-click pick
To cart
To credit card
To door
To dusty shelves
They are not coming for the books
For the chambers of power are themselves
Lined with volumes of poverty plans
Sold with rich words
Sentences that push us towards margins
Deft sentences just like we are drowning in their data streams
They are not coming for the written word
No
Just like written words are not the frontier of civilization
That we would imagine they are
No, we know that it is our hands too
That know sometimes that
We know that it was words spoken
Comfort falling on ears
Direct and still on our bedside
On those nights that never seem to end
Those nights that shook with anxiety
When they come for the libraries
When that demolition ball stands
Momentarily motionless
Perfectly spherical
Efficient and technical
Capable neither of passion or memory
When they come at the libraries' walls
Know this
They are coming at our mutuality
For the best way to leave us helpless
Is to convince us that we cannot ask one another for help
And so, the empty library shelves
Which once housed documents of our common future and our common past
All its asymmetries and absences
Raspy whispers of silent voices
Haunting canons
Traces of text written over text
Traces of unfamiliar spirits meeting only where transluscent fingerprints
Etched across pages merge
As text passes from one hand to the next hand
To the next hand to the next hand
This is the library they are after
This is where an embrace of limits and scarcity
Is a refusal of limits to imagination
Cracked spines, aging pages
Renewed, rejuvenated under new eyes and new moments
Where curricula walls of textbook erasures
Give way to the pressure of curiosity and yearning
Standing in the stacks
Like "Damn, my stories have been told!"
Like "I knew those maps were wrong!"
Like "These are the names of my heroes and these are the words of my orientation!"
This is the library they are after
This is where an embrace of limits
Where the pleasure of give and take reveals itself
Revealing those who are, those who were, those who will be
This is the pleasure of return, of circulation
Like books through a system
Like a march through the streets
Like the blood that orbits our profoundest desires
But let us not remain entangled in heady romances
For they are coming
New York
Toronto
Detroit
UK
More and more library doors slammed shut
Do you see them?
Dots in the distance, moving closer
Do you smell the smoke from fires at hospitals and public schools
Smoldering along their trails
When they come for the libraries, will you fight?
Not just for bound spines
But for our very bonds
For the ties that bind
By which we thrive
Not the lonely bondage
By which we die

[audience applauds]
DAVID: Keep the Toronto library and all libraries public!

Case Study No. 1013: Aaron Schmidt

Kinky Librarian part 1
1:46
Remember Aaron? Did you get to see his tattoos? No? We did... and now you can!

Aaron's tattoo's became the inspiration for a new and exciting video-channel on You Tube: The Kinky Librarian. Karen Bertrams famous for her work at ProBiblio has a gift. She can be very convincing! Within a couple of seconds she talked Aaron out of his shirt. We promise you, he will not be the only one... We are always on the lookout for librarians with a speciality. No we are not thinking of page-markercollectors. It must be something you wouldn't expect a librarian to do.

So who's next? Suggestions, applications, offerings and requests in the comments.
Tags: Aaron Schmidt tattoos tattoo ProBiblio librarian Karen Bertrams
Added: 5 years ago
From: kinkylibrarian
Views: 891

The Kinky Librarian Part 1
Aaron Schmidt
Male librarian shows his tattoos ... not just for everyone

[scene opens with a young male librarian speaking directly to the camera]
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] You are?
AARON SCHMIDT: I am Aaron Schmidt. I have completed my lecture at ProBiblio.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Okay.
AARON SCHMIDT: Now I have my real job at hand. I have to take my shirt off ...
[he starts unbuttoning his shirt]
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Okay, lemmee see something!
AARON SCHMIDT: To show off my tattoos. And I have requests ... Not something I do for just everyone.
[she lauhgs]
AARON SCHMIDT: Slowly, I'll take my shirt off ...
[he takes off his shirt (while still wearing an undershirt) to show his arms covered in tattoos]
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Wow!
AARON SCHMIDT: So, here we go ...
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] That's something, eh librarian? Lemmee see.
AARON SCHMIDT: Yes, there's no stereotypes in libraries, right?
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] No.
AARON SCHMIDT: Good.
[the camera zooms in on a tattoo of a red cross with cyrillic script on his right forearm]
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] What's your ... I see here, Russian thing?
AARON SCHMIDT: Yes ... No, Greek.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Greek?
AARON SCHMIDT: It means "fish."
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Fish?
[he points to a tattoo on his left forearm, showing a skull (wearing a mortarboard) sitting on top of a book, with a key clenched between its teeth]
AARON SCHMIDT: My favorite one is this, I think.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Yeah?
AARON SCHMIDT: It's my librarian tattoo. I have my book ...
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Wow.
AARON SCHMIDT: I have a key. I have my mortar ... uh, hat that we call that, when I graduated school.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Wow.
AARON SCHMIDT: Very good.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] And you have it done at the same tattoo place?
AARON SCHMIDT: Yes. Mostly all at the same place in Chicago, actually ...
[the camera zooms in on his right arm, and focuses on his tattoo of a bonsai tree]
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Here we are in Japan ...
AARON SCHMIDT: Yes, mm hmm.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] And you think more librarians should have a tattoo?
AARON SCHMIDT: If they like them, absolutely.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Yeah.
AARON SCHMIDT: You should not be ashamed to ... Do you have any?
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Um, not yet?
AARON SCHMIDT: No?
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Yeah.
AARON SCHMIDT: Maybe we can go later?
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Okay ... And-and I saw one there, when you lifted your shirt?
[the camera zooms in on his midsection, as he laughs]
AARON SCHMIDT: Oh, yes ...
[he lifts his undershirt points to reveal a small circular tattoo above his left hipbone]
AARON SCHMIDT: There's one right here, too.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Okay.
AARON SCHMIDT: My first one ...
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Oh, that was the first one?
AARON SCHMIDT: That's all you get to see, though.
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Okay.
AARON SCHMIDT: Later, maybe more ...
KAREN BERTRAMS: [from off camera] Thank you!
[they laugh, as the scene fades to black]

The Kinky Librarian
Who's next ...

---

From walkingpaper.org:

In the past eight years Aaron Schmidt has been a circulation clerk, reference librarian, and library director. Shortly after completing his MLIS at Dominican University, Schmidt saw the potential of applying new media technology to libraries and launched successful programs at his suburban Chicago public library. Helping the library connect to its community through things such as instant messaging, weblogs and social software led to Aaron publishing articles in Library Journal, School Library Journal, Library High Tech News, Online, and others. He has presented on the topic of library technology and usability throughout the United States, and in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands and Spain. In 2005, Schmidt was named a Library Journal “Mover & Shaker.”

Schmidt moved to Portland, Oregon in 2006 and became the director of a nearby public library. He helped the library grow and gain full membership in the Washington County Cooperative. During this time he continued to write, give presentations and workshops and work for other libraries as a consultant.

Currently he is the Digital Initiatives Librarian for the District of Columbia Public Library but still lives in Portland. He helps plan forward thinking, fun projects for the library, helping them connect to the community and teach them about the Read/Write Web. He also assists with website visioning, conducts usability testing, leads the library's Library 2.0 Interest Group and helps coordinate and generate ideas for the library's digital research and development project called DC Library Labs. He was part of the team that created the first iPhone and Blackberry online catalog searching applications.

He maintains a library and website usability weblog, walkingpaper.org and can be reached at librarian [at] gmail [dot] com

Case Study No. 1012: Unnamed Female Librarian (Her Alibi)

Her Alibi (1989) -Tom Selleck - Chat at the Library
1:59
No description available.
Tags: Tom Selleck Her Alibi love
Added: 5 months ago
From: VindobonaNorikum8
Views: 197

[scene opens with Phil and his friend Sam speaking in the library]
SAM: You think she's really trying to kill you?
PHIL: No ... Yes. Maybe.
[he laughs and shrugs his shoulders]
PHIL: Of course not ... I don't know, why do you ask?
[a male patron walks by, so they lower their voices]
SAM: Because if she kills you, I'm next, that's why!
PHIL: She's not gonna kill me ...
[he starts walking away, so Sam follows him]
SAM: Oh? She just using you as target practice?
PHIL: That was an accident.
SAM: There's no such thing as accidents, Phil. Only plans other people make and don't tell you about!
[another male patron walks by]
SAM: I hope she's a tornado between the sheets ...
[he sighs]
PHIL: I haven't slept with her yet ...
[he starts to walk away again, as Sam stares at him in disbelief]
SAM: You haven't slept with her?!
[he raises his voice, causing a nearby older female librarian (white hair, glasses, striped blouse) to look up from her book and give them both a dirty look]
SAM: [quietly] Sorry ...
[she closes her book, looks down her glasses at Sam, then walks away]
SAM: What's the point of this?
PHIL: [quietly] I love her ...
SAM: [pause] Oh, right. I keep forgetting that ...
PHIL: Doesn't anybody recognize love anymore? The tensions, the pain, the uncertainty?
[he looks down the hallway at Nina (who is sitting on a chair and reading a book entitled "Fine Wine"), then turns back to Sam]
PHIL: The cold sweats, the nauseous feelings that swell in the pit of your stomach ... I mean, where the hell has romance gone today?
SAM: I'm sorry, I don't buy this whole thing with her. Now, you're jeopardizing a gigantic best-seller, I think you should just end it with her!
PHIL: No, Sam, you don't understand ... Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do that! I need her for this story. I'm not writing it alone, we are! I don't know what comes next.
SAM: Lie! That's what writers are paid for!
PHIL: That's not gonna ring true, Sam! Look, ever since she moved in, the story just ... it flows.
[they both stare down the hallway at her]
PHIL: Sometimes she seems like a ... lost child. Other times, I think she's hiding something.
[she suddenly looks up and waves to them, as they awkwardly smile and wave back before slinking back into the stacks]
PHIL: I love her ... I'm terrified of her.
SAM: Sounds like the normal relationship.

---

From byui.edu:

HER ALIBI (1989). Tom Selleck is a writer. He discusses his new book with his editor while standing in the library stacks.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Case Study No. 1011: "The Librarian Conspiracy"

Learn Vocabulary and Pronunciation English Lesson 14: The Librarian Conspiracy
5:59
This new vocabulary and pronunciation lesson will help you learn new word through interesting lessons of a bizarre nature. Your host, Teacher Phil, is an experienced alpha male genius who crafts the finest ESL lessons in the world.
Tags: Learn English vocabulary pronunciation how to speak talk ESL EFL language fluent no accent reduction
Added: 2 years ago
From: TeacherPhilEnglish
Views: 1,265

Vocabulary and Pronunciation
Lesson 14: The Librarian Conspiracy
All lessons: www dot teacherphil dot com

Librarian (n) [lahy-brair-ee-uhn]

A person who works in a library. A librarian usually has a lot of knowledge about the books in the library. Another responsibility is choosing new books to stock.

Librarians are known for being very quiet, secretive and sneaky.
So far, no crimes have ever been reported by librarians. This statistic shows how well librarians can hide their crimes from police.
Librarians always have books and thus have more knowledge than the average person.

[These are 2 librarians, trained in the art of library operation.]

Conspiracy (n) [kuhn-spir-uh-see]

A secret plan committed by people upon other people. It is usually evil, but doesn't have to be bad. A conspiracy can simply be a plan to do something to a person.

The librarians are conspiring (v) to brainwash everyone with a secret plan.
The Librarian Conspiracy is assumed to involve teaching children to become servants to all librarians.
This conspiracy has never been written on paper. There are no records. It is very secret.

[These books will be used to turn all children into slaves when they grow up.]

Secret (n) [see-krit]

Something that is done with nobody else knowing about it. Secrets can be good or bad. The purpose of a secret is to have information not known by others.

The librarians are very secretive (adj) about their plans. Nobody knows about them.
It is believed that the librarians do not meet to plan their conspiracies. It is believed that they communicate telepathically to tell one another ideas to keep everything a secret.

[The secrets of the librarians may be held somewhere in a church.]

Telepath (n) [tuh-lep-uh-thist]

A person who can communicate using the mind only. No words are needed. No speaking or hand communication. All thoughts are transferred using the mind.

It is believed that all librarians are telepaths. No person has ever seen a librarian talk before so it is assumed that they talk using direct mind-to-mind telepathy (n).
It cannot be proven that a person is a telepath because the technology does not exist. In addition, telepaths don't want non-telepaths to know of their powers.

[It is believed that this librarian is a telepath, capable of great powers.]

Lasers (n) [Ley-zers]

A concentrated beam of light designed to produce either great heat or a visible mark. Lasers can be used to cut metal, do welding, printing and also for classroom use.

It is believed that all librarians can shoot lasers from their eyes.
No proof has been offered because it is assumed that all people who see the lasers are instantly vaporized by the lasers.
Obviously, all librarians have lasers in their eyes as proven by this logical statement.

[We believe all librarians have this laser implanted into their skulls.]

Case Study No. 1010: Frances Norburg

Playing Games from "Enemy Of My Enemy" | TOUCH | FOX BROADCASTING
1:12
Amelia inadvertently demonstrates her clairvoyance.

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We are all interconnected. Our lives are invisibly tied to those whose destinies touch ours.

Blending science, spirituality and emotion, the series follows seemingly unrelated people from across the world, all of whose lives impact each other in ways seen and unseen, known and unknown. At the center of the story is MARTIN BOHM (Sutherland), a widower and single father who struggles to communicate and connect with his emotionally challenged 12-year-old son, JAKE (David Mazouz). Determined, thoughtful and caring, Martin continues to try anything - and everything - to reach his son. But Jake still hasn't spoken.

Playing Games from "Enemy Of My Enemy" | TOUCH | FOX BROADCASTING
http://www.you tube.com/user/FoxBroadcasting
Tags: Touch (television series) thriller drama series premonition numbers clairvoyance kiefer sutherland maria bello danny glover FOX science spirituality emotion mute martin bohm jake bohm lucy robbins Professor Arthur teller television Kiefer Sutherland tv Fox Broadcasting Company tim kring francis lawrence david mazouz gugu mbatha-raw Jack Bauer 24 Madrid
Added: 7 months ago
From: FoxBroadcasting
Views: 1,308

[scene opens with Frances and Amelia sitting at a table, as the older woman is setting up a board game]
FRANCES: This is a game of chance, with a little skill thrown in. It's fun, I'll show you how to play.
[she continues setting up the game, while Amelia stares blankly at the ground]
FRANCES: So what did you think of that book?
AMELIA: I prefer non-fiction, but I liked it.
FRANCES: You read the whole thing?
AMELIA: I liked the part where Scott says you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... "Until you climb into his skin, and walk around in it."
FRANCES: [pause] I don't remember that.
AMELIA: Page one seventy seven, twelve lines from the bottom.
FRANCES: So, first I roll ...
[she rolls the pair of dice]
FRANCES: Five ... I take my piece and move it five spaces.
[she takes the green piece and moves it on the board]
FRANCES: Now you go.
[Amelia takes her red piece and (without rolling) moves it nine spaces]
FRANCES: No honey, you have to roll the dice first. That way--
[Amelia takes the dice (seemingly not listening to what Frances is saying) and ends up rolling a nine]
FRANCES: [pause] Amelia ... did you know the dice would land on nine?
AMELIA: Your turn.

---

From wordpress.com:

TOUCH (S2E4) Enemy of My Enemy Recap

The book at Amelia's house is "To Kill A Mockingbird". Frances (Linda Gehringer) says, "Today won't be a workday; it's a chance to get to know each other." Amelia is speed reading.

Frances gets out a red board game called Tokeekol [not a real game name]. Amelia talks about the book, about "not understanding a person until you see their point of view." It's on page 177, 12 lines from the bottom. Amelia moves her piece then rolls the red dice (which match, number 9). The woman asks her if she knows what she'll roll next. Amelia moves the woman's piece 2 moves; the woman rolls snake eyes. Amelia sees herself winning the entire game.

---

From wikia.com:

The mother of Calvin Norburg. She is called to be Amelia's handler in protective custody.

First Appearance
Frances makes her first appearance in the episode "Closer" (Season 2 Episode 2).

High school librarian Frances unexpectedly retires, claiming she plans to travel. She confesses to her heartbroken boyfriend, Carl, that she's entering witness protection and gives him her new phone number.

At BreakWire, Trevor shows a video of Calvin's speech to Martin, who sees a potential ally against Aster Corp. Trevor stops the video at 5:00, when Vikash Nayar approaches Calvin, and offers to find out where Vikash is staying.

Vikash meets Calvin at his hotel, confirming he's taking his money out of Aster Corp. He gets a call and insists on leaving alone, but his bodyguard secretly follows. Outside, Martin contrives a story to share a cab with Vikash, but soon he's warning about Aster Corp. and asking to contact Calvin. Nearly at his destination, Vikash bails. Martin follows, paying the driver to wait.

On the pier, a bubbly girl named Soleil befriends Jake, and Lucy chats with Soleil's mom.

The black van pulls up near Vikash. Thugs demand ransom for his father - the riverbed sculptor. Martin runs up, and a shootout ensues when Vikash's bodyguard arrives. Martin hustles Vikash into the cab, saying the kidnapping is a ruse: Aster Corp. plans to kill him. They head to BreakWire.

In Barcelona, the man who killed Frederick LeMay plots a Fibonacci spiral on a map and tattoos numbers from the Amelia Sequence on his bicep. At a posh reception, he charms Rosemary Mathis, designer of a new cathedral, who has the same gift of seeing patterns. Later, she confesses she would give up her gift, choose a different path, just to be normal. Even so, he's tempted not to kill her . . . but ultimately he slashes her neck.

While Martin talks to Lucy outside BreakWire, the kidnappers nab Vikash. With Jake's help, they foil the thugs at the riverbed camp. When the sun hits the sculpture, Lucy is amazed to see an image of Amelia projected on the trestle.

Frances meets Amelia, telling the girl she's going to take care of her from now on.

The Other Son
In the episode "Eye to Eye", it is revealed in an article from the Santa Monica Times that Frances has another son who suffered severe brain damage in a car accident (and this is why Calvin had Amelia kidnapped so that he could study her brain patterns in search of a cure for his brother).

blueorbsearch.com/SantaMonicaTimes
Longtime local librarian retires
Yesterday was Frances Norburg's last day behind that desk, and after nearly 2 decades behind the counter, she said she's ready for retirement. Her many regulars, while admitting they're happy for Frances, seem more reluctant to lose their longtime librarian. "Ms. Frances is the BEST. We will Miss You" reads a handpainted sign still hung outside.
Frances is looking forward to spending more time with her two children, William and Calvin, and also hopes to do some travelling with some of her newfound free time. She will, however, retain her position on the board of executives at the Greyber Institute, which is an exclusive brain injury facility here in Santa Monica.

Death
In the episode "Broken", an unseen person breaks into the home where Calvin has Frances and Amelia staying; when Calvin eventually returns to the house, he finds that Amelia has gone missing and his mother has been killed with a single gunshot wound to the head.

---

From imdb.com:

[Frances enters the library of West Los Angeles High School and finds the staff waiting to throw her a surprise party]
Louise: If you'd given us a little more notice, we coulda done better than a grocery store cake and a banner from our dot matrix printer.
Frances: I didn't expect anything like this! Thank you, really!
Louise: Uh, we need plates. Ava, plates. You've never said anything about retiring before.
Frances: Sometimes these things just come over you in a flash. It's time to make a change.
Louise: Like what?
Frances: Oh, I don't know. Travel.
Louise: Where?
Frances: Paris.
Louise: Paris! Oh, I've always wanted to go to Paris!
Frances: I have to.
Louise: Well, we are really gonna miss you around here. When you get back from your trip, please come by and show us your pictures. We'll set up a slideshow in the AV Room.
Frances: Thank you, Louise. Thank you everybody, this is so sweet!

[...]

[Frances is shelving books when a library volunteer confronts her]
Carl: Frances. You're really leaving.
Frances: I have to.
Carl: Is it someone else?
Frances: It's not someone else.
Carl: Oh, I can see it. You got the new laptop, the Facebook account. I should've known.
Frances: I didn't meet anyone, Carl, online or anywhere else.
Carl: Well then, what is going on?!
Frances: I'm making some changes in my life. Big changes. They will require all of my energy and my focus. There just won't be time for anything else. It's really as simple as that.
Carl: Paris! Paris was supposed to be about us!
Frances: I'm not going to Paris.
Carl: I heard you tell Louise, I heard you tell her!
Frances: I had to say something.
Carl: Well then, what is going on? Where are you going?!
Frances: I can't really talk about it, but I have to go underground for awhile, and no one can know where I am.
Carl: Not even me?
Frances: Especially you! I don't want you getting involved in this! I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt.
Carl: I am hurting right now.
Frances: I am so sorry, Carl. I don't have a choice.

[...]

[Frances is leaving the high school as Carl chases after her]
Carl: Don't do this, Frances! Don't cut me out of your life!
Frances: You are making this so much harder!
Carl: It should be hard! It should be impossible!
Frances: It is.
[he kisses her]
Frances: I can't tell you what I'm doing, or why.
[she writes a phone number on a piece of paper]
Frances: This is my new phone number. Please, don't tell anyone.

[...]

[Frances enters a house where Amelia is being held against her will]
Frances: Hi, Amelia. My name's Frances. I'm gonna take care of you from now on. Just me, no one else. I know you've been lonely. I know you miss your mother. I'm sorry she left you. I'm a mother, and it breaks my heart to see a child so all alone. I'm alone, too. We can keep each other company. Maybe we'll go to the beach tomorrow. You love the beach, don't you?
Amelia: I like the tides.
Frances: I brought you a book on tides.

Case Study No. 1009: Enoch the Librarian and Sebastian the Resourceful Clerk

Let's Play Shadow Hearts FtNW 6 - No comics in the library?
9:25
Screw the adventures in Ulysses. I want to see the adventures of Spider Man.
Tags: let's play shadow hearts from the new world
Added: 3 years ago
From: TheLastCaipora
Views: 620

[Johnny and his party members enter the school library at Arkham University, and speak with the male clerk standing behind the front desk]
SEBASTIAN THE RESOURCEFUL CLERK: Yes, did you want something? If you want to find or check out a book, just let me know.
[he walks over to a female patron sitting at a table]
RELAXED BRENDA: I like the ambiance of the library. Not too dark, not too bright ... You don't feel the passing of time.
[he checks one of the bookshelves]
JOHNNY: All these books look so hard. I wonder if they have any comics?
[he walks over to a stuffy-looking male librarian sitting with his arms folded at a nearby table]
ENOCH THE LIBRARIAN: Excuse me, this is the library, so if you can't be quiet, please leave immediately.
[he checks another bookshelf]
JOHNNY: An insect guide ... oh! It's gross how real they look. Different from books I read when I was a kid.

---

From wikipedia.org:

"Shadow Hearts: From the New World" is a role-playing video game developed by Nautilus in 2005 and was published in Japan by Aruze in North America by XSEED Games, and in Europe by Ghostlight. It is the third official game in the Shadow Hearts series.

The game series departs from Europe and centers around the "New World", the Americas. It is not directly related to the previous games in the series but it occurs in the same universe. The main characters' quest is to investigate mysterious "windows" from which vicious monsters pop out.

Plot
It begins in North America in the year 1929 and features two new main characters: a 16 year old New Yorker named Johnny Garland, and a 21 year old Native American woman named Shania, who has powers of fusion similar to Yuri and Kurando in the previous Shadow Hearts entries, however, Shania is not a harmonixer. She makes pacts with spirits while Yuri and Kurando turned into demons. The story begins with Johnny, a private detective, being hired by a man named Gilbert to find one Marlow Brown. When Johnny finds the man, however, a mysterious 'window' opens, and from it emerges a monster. The rest of the game follows Johnny, Shania, and company as they attempt to uncover the truth about Gilbert and his plans.

Meanwhile in Brooklyn, a wanted criminal who was severely injured was being pursued by the police. He met a mysterious woman who rescued him by finishing off his pursuers with ease. Then, she healed his wounds with the 'Kiss of Malice.' Nobody knows what her intentions or motives are, nor did she speak a single word. The man who identified himself as 'Killer', called her 'Lady' and thereafter followed her where ever she would go.

Shania later teams up with Johnny, accompanied by her guardian, Natan to investigate the strange happening Johnny has witnessed. Arriving at Arkham University, they meet Gilbert, who reveals his true intentions to open the Gate and rain Malice upon the world. Gilbert later teams up with Lady and Killer to achieve his goal. Johnny continues his pursuit to stop Gilbert and meets new allies along the way. They include: Frank; a wacky ninja, Ricardo; a lone guitarist, Master Mao; a cat specialized in the Drunken Fist and Hildegard Valentine; sister of the vampire brothers Joachim and Keith Valentine in the Shadow Hearts series.

Together, Johnny and his friends travel across the globe to stop the evil plans of Gilbert, Lady and Killer. Johnny finds out a shocking truth along the way - that he was revived using the Emigre Manuscript and that Lady was actually his sister, Grace Garland. Their father had revived them after losing them in an accident. He was eventually killed by Grace as she had transferred all her Will into Johnny in exchange for his Malice. This explains why Lady does not speak; she has no memories and is only acting instinctively on the Malice in her body.

---

From wikia.com:

Well known university to the north-west of New York City. The first client of Johnny, Gilbert, is a professor here. Following the story, Gilbert leaves and is eventually replaced. The new professor is capable of offering 'pit fight' challenges to the party, similar to Sarah in Shadow Hearts: Covenant.

On the outside, the appearance of Arkham seems very ordinary; there are classrooms, a library, a chemistry lab, and an outdoor athletics field. Underneath, however, is a small maze that serves as Gilbert's experimental sanctuary. The party must manuever through this area to reach Gilbert's lab. Along the way, Frank joins the party.

Gilbert's Office
Gilbert's Office is a large but messy room towards the west of the University. When the door is locked the only other entrance is through the Underground Passage. Upon entering the room, the group discovers Gilbert sitting at his desk. Gilbert will summon Igornak, and the group finds out about his evil intentions.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Case Study No. 1008: Jason Chen

Ding! by Outside the Lines
7:56
This hillariously morbid short film is a dark comedy offering a modern spin on the classic tale of "boy who cried wolf."

This film was produced for the 2011 48 Hour Film Project (Singapore).
CITY: Singapore
Genre: Dark Comedy
Character: Jason Chen, librarian
Prop: Apple
Line: "Time will tell."
Tags: This film was produced for the 2011 48 Hour Film Project (Singapore).
Added: 2 years ago
From: J0hnnybravoWins
Views: 236

Team: Outside the Lines
Date: 1 May 2011
City: Singapore
Title: Ding!
Genre: Dark Comedy

This film is made for the 48 Hour Film Project 2011

[scene opens in a middle school library, where a male librarian (Caucasian, red hair, white shirt, brown pants, striped tie) is sitting at the front desk and reaching for an apple, when a paper airplane hits him in the arm]
[the camera pans around to show the rambunctious children in the library, as the librarian gives an annoyed look before checking his cell phone]

Honey (+6598412501)
Remember our dinner party at
6pm. Don't be late!

[cut to the librarian giving a dirty look to a young boy standing next to the front desk, as his cell phone rings ... he turns away from the boy to answer it]
JASON CHEN: Hello?
[with his back turned, the boy takes the opportunity to grab the apple off his desk]
JASON CHEN: Okay. Alright, I'll see you then. Bye.
[he hangs up (not noticing as the boy takes a bite of the apple), then attempts to grab a paper clip ... except when he lifts it off the desk, it's part of a long strand of interconnected paper clips]
JASON CHEN: Ah, you stupid kids!
[he tries to disconnect the paper clip, as the boy suddenly stops chewing and grabs at his throat before falling over]
[cut to a shot of the boy lying on the floor, then to the librarian who glances over with an annoyed look on his face]
JASON CHEN: I'm not falling for that ...
[he continues trying to dislodge the paper clip, as the school bell rings, and the camera pans out to show the other students beginning to leave]
[cut to another shot of the now-empty library (with the boy still lying on the floor), as the librarian gets up to turn off the lights ... except when he walks back to his desk, he suddenly realizes that the boy really did choke to death on the apple]
JASON CHEN: Great, now I'm gonna lose my job ...
[cut to the librarian trying to shake the boy awake ... when that doesn't work, he grabs a nearby blanket and starts putting it around the body, when his phone rings again]
JASON CHEN: Hello? Uh, I'll be home soon, honey. I, I'm just wrapping things up. Alright.
[he hangs up, then cut to the librarian carrying the body out of the library, where he tries to stuff it into one of the recyclable bins (except the boy's head won't fit through the hole on the top)]
[he gives up, then cut to the librarian carrying the body to his car, where he tries to put it in the trunk (except there's not enough room and the boy's legs stick out)]
[the librarian then takes the boy and throws him into the backseat, then gets in and prepares to drive away]
[just as he's about to pull out of his parking spot, a police car slowly drives by, so the librarian (trying not to arouse suspicion) nervously waves and forces a pained-looking smile ... the police car eventually leaves, and the librarian drives off]
[cut to a parking garage, where the librarian stops and carries the body into an elevator]
[cut to the librarian's apartment, as his wife and some friends are drinking and speaking to one another]
[cut to the librarian exiting the elevator, as he takes the body into the "refuse chamber" and contemplates throwing it down the chute ... thinking better of it, he brings the body to his apartment, then (making sure the coast is clear) sneaks over to the bathroom and sits the boy down on the toilet]
FEMALE GUEST 1: [from off camera] I'll be right back, I'm going to the loo.
[the librarian quickly takes the body out of the bathroom, and throws it in the nearby broom closet ... just moments before the female guest shows up around the corner]
FEMALE GUEST 1: Excuse me, is the bathroom over here?
JASON CHEN: Yeah, it's the first door on the left.
FEMALE GUEST 1: Okay, thank you.
[she heads off, then cut to the librarian as he walks up to his wife with the rest of the partygoers]
JASON CHEN: Hi.
MRS. CHEN: Hello, you're back!
JASON CHEN: I'm finally back, yeah. Yeah ...
MRS. CHEN: How are things? Okay?
JASON CHEN: Good. Good, yeah, it was--
MRS. CHEN: Dinner's almost ready.
JASON CHEN: Interesting day, trust me.
MRS. CHEN: Oh, I need to get napkins from the storeroom.
[he gets a nervous look on his face, then starts backing away]
JASON CHEN: Uh, don't worry about it, honey. You stay with your party, I-I'll go get it.
MRS. CHEN: You sure?
JASON CHEN: Yeah.
MRS. CHEN: Oh. Thank you.
[cut back to the broom closet, as the librarian opens the door and removes the body]
MRS. CHEN: [from off camera] Hey guys, it's time to party!
[the lights go out and music begins playing (while strobe lights appear on the walls), as the librarian takes the opportunity to sneak past his guests (by pretending that he's "dancing" with the body) and head for the kitchen]
[cut to the librarian alone in the kitchen, as he looks at the refrigerator before shaking his head, then turns to the oven]
[he opens the oven door, then cut to the librarian shoving the body inside and closing the door]
[cut to the librarian joining the party, as he awkwardly begins dancing along]
[cut to everyone sitting at the dinner table, as one of the female guests taps her wine glass with a fork]
FEMALE GUEST 2: Guys, let's toast our lovely host and hostess!
[everyone raises their glasses and says "Cheers!"]
FEMALE GUEST 3: Mmm, something smells lovely!
MALE GUEST 1: So, what's for dinner?
MRS. CHEN: Oven-roasted chicken!
[the guests all "ooh" and "aah"]
FEMALE GUEST 1: I hope it's good!
MRS. CHEN: Time will tell ...
[cut to a closeup of the librarian's face, as the oven timer goes off ("Ding!") and his eyes suddenly bug out in horror]
MRS. CHEN: [from off camera] Dinner time!
[the librarian slowly turns his head towards the direction of the kitchen, as the scene fades to black]

Producers
John Winski
Ricky Polim
Liew Chuk Kee

Directors
John Winski
Yong Shu Ling
Liew Chuk Kee

Director of Photography
Yong Shu Ling

Camera
Yong Shu Ling
John Winski

Editor
Phann Sopheaktra

Assistant Editors
John Winski
Yong Shu Ling

Screenplay Writers
Liew Chuk Kee
Ricky Polim
Priscillia Polim

Contributing Writers
Natalie Tjen
Robin Tanzania
Mindy Lobb
Yong Shu Ling
Luis Copeland
Aurora Celaya
Dave Lobb
Mindy Lobb

Sound Design
Yong Shu Ling
Claudio Torres

Photoshop Design
Phann Sopheaktra

Location Sound Recordist
Claudio Torres

Gaffers
Luis Copeland
Ricky Polim
Liew Chuk Kee
Dave Lobb
Robin Tanzania

Music composed by
Marc-Antoine Robillard

Production Assistants
Priscillia Polim
Ricky Polim
Robin Tanzania
Natalie Tjen
Annie Law
Francisca Baquedano
Aurora Celaya
Dave Lobb
Alice Early

Make-up Artist
Annie Law

Craft Services
Jacqueline Devaras
Liesel Duhon

Cast
Steve Early as Jason Chen
Rowan Lobb as Manny (1)
Alexander Winski as Manny (2)
Sarah Winski as child
Meredith Lobb as child
Kathleen Early as child
Sophie Robinson as child
Mariane Copeland as child
Jimena Copeland as child
Sebastian Torres as child
Annie Law as Jason's Wife
Natalie Tjen as guest
Priscillia Polim as guest
Robin Tanzania as guest
Alice Early as guest
Francisca Baquedano as guest
Antonia Escudero as guest
Dave Lobb as guest
Mindy Lobb as guest
Phann Sopheaktra, voice of guest

Special Thanks
Family and friends for your patience and support
Mindy for sharing her birthday with us
Singapore Mannequins
Han West for technical guidance
Meghan Shea and Michael Rogers
Crocs Asia Pte Ltd
Avid
Sinema Old School
Persistent Productions
IS Magazine
Golden Village
Far East Organization

Case Study No. 1007: Peggy Hill (Wannabe Librarian)

Librarians
0:18
Lady comes to her senses and recognizes a semi truth...there are some that aren't tough
Tags:
Added: 1 year ago
From: Camilodeza
Views: 36

[Peggy Hill is sitting at her kitchen table with Nancy, depressed and drinking a glass of wine]
NANCY: They've done studies with newborns, and if given the choice, babies would rather go to pretty strangers than their own ugly parents.
PEGGY: Well, obviously, babies are not as stupid as they look ...
[she suddenly perks up]
PEGGY: That's it! Nancy, that's what I need ... Beautiful people! If I populate the open house with beautiful people, no one will notice the ugly ones!
[Nancy smiles]
PEGGY: And who are the best-looking people in town? Well, librarians after they take off their glasses ... And actors!
[she pauses]
PEGGY: I will go with the actors.

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From wikipedia.org:

King of the Hill
Season 12, Episode 17
"Six Characters in Search of a House"
Original Air Date: April 6, 2008

Peggy, a passionate realtor, finds a great home listing that she must sell within two weeks. One catch, though, the home is currently occupied by the strangest family in Arlen. Peggy does not feel they are visually appealing enough to get the home sold in time, so she decides to bring in a "Hollywood" family to sell the home.

Case Study No. 1006: Staff of the Malatestiana Library

Biblioteca Malatestiana
2:58
Immagini, stampe, codici e corali in formato digitale.
La Biblioteca Malatestiana di Cesena e stata proclamata dall'UNESCO Memoria del Mondo.
E il primo bene italiano ad ottenere questo prestigioso riconoscimento.
Tags: Touch screen biblioteca codici manoscritti stampe Malatestiana UNESCO Memoria del Mondo Malatesta Novello Cesena Memory of the world corali
Added: 10 months ago
From: wmldesign
Views: 316

[scene opens with a closeup of an interactive touch-screen table in the Malatestiana Library (whose screen displays the message "Biblioteca Malatestiana, Memoria Del Mondo"), when a person reaches in from off camera and "swipes" through various images from the library's collection/architecture]

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From touchwindow.it:

From today, visitors to the Malatesta will find a welcome change: within the library Piana, just below the portrait of a generous Cesena Pope, Pius VI Braschi, lover of the arts and books, was placed a computerized table with interactive touch screen technology high and of great emotional impact.

Thanks to it, in fact, you can browse some of the most prestigious library of codes - from the magnificent choir of the Cathedral, the books of Malatesta Novello, manuscripts of the collection of Pope Pius VII - and still navigate between images and photographs, reading short descriptions or interacting with the illuminated pages.

Particularly fascinating vision of the choir, the intense notes of Gregorian chant performed by the Choir "Music Enchiriadis" in Cesena directed by Pia Zanca.

All images (over 300) are in high definition (thanks to the photographer Ivano Giovannini and wmldesign) and this allows you to zoom in stunning fashion, with a simple touch of the hand, so that the smallest details can finally be caught in all their beauty.

Even the photographs of Cesena and the library - from the historical to the latest - if you zoom in duty, reserve surprises and discoveries to no end and details not otherwise appreciable.

With this touch table - produced by Touchwindow of Cervia - the Malatesta, as well as offering a service to date and worthy of the title that belongs to UNESCO Memory of the World, confirms the choice to work through the new technology and informatics to foster knowledge and disclosure of a truly extraordinary historical heritage.

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From wikipedia.org:

The Malatestiana Library (Italian: Biblioteca Malatestiana), also known as the Malatesta Novello Library, is a public library in Cesena, Emilia-Romagna (Italy). It was the first European civic library, i.e. belonging to the Commune and open to everybody. It was commissioned by the Lord of Cesena, Malatesta Novello. The works were directed by Matteo Nuti from Fano (a pupil of Leon Battista Alberti) and lasted from 1447 to 1452.

The Malatestiana Library is the only one in the world, of the type called humanistic-conventual, which has preserved structure, fittings and codexes since its opening for more than 550 years. The main doorway was the work of Agostino di Duccio (1418-1481). The wonderful walnut door dates back to 1454 and was carved by Cristoforo da San Giovanni in Persiceto.

Inside, the library shows its geometric design, typical of the early Italian Renaissance. The aula has a basilical shape ("temple of culture"), with three naves which are divided by ten rows of white, local stone columns; the campates are eleven for each aisle, pole vaulted . The central nave is barrel vaulted and ends with a rose under which is the gravestone of Malatesta Novello.

The fittings are composed of 58 desks, with coat of arms at the sides. The light comes in through the 44 Venetian style windows, which were perfectly designed for reading. Inside are conserved 340 precious codexes covering various fields such as religion, Greek and Latin classics, sciences and medicine. The oldest manuscript in the library is a copy of Isidore's Etymologiae.

In 2005 UNESCO included the Library in the Memory of the World Programme Register.

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From unesco.org:

MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER
The Malatesta Novello Library

The Library of Malatesta Novello, the last ancient library dating from immediately before the invention of printing, embodies the very concept of a humanist library.

With its building, furnishings and manuscript collection, it constitutes a monumental and bibliographical complex of outstanding importance and is acknowledged the world over as the only fifteenth-century library still intact. The architectural design, which is possibly by Leon Battista Alberti, is splendid and innovative, but the focus and essence of the library are the books themselves. Besides the great works of medieval culture, Malatesta Novello collected the fruits of the classical Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Arab traditions so that he could realize his project of a universal culture along humanist lines. The precious 343 codices are still in the place where they have lain for the past five centuries and are still linked to their original fifteenth-century chain on the same reading benches. The whole constitutes a book collection and an ideal endowment worthy of the library of a prince of the first half of the Renaissance.

Thanks to this cultural project, Cesena, despite its remote position and in company with Florence, Milan, Ferrara and Rome, was a driving force of humanist culture, the foundation of Western civilization. The Malatestiana, which started life as a gentleman's library, was donated by Malatesta Novello to the local commune for public use and thus became one of the oldest public libraries in Europe.

Inclusion in the Memory of the World Register would undoubtedly help the Malatesta Novello Library to make the best use of the management's longstanding activities regarding conservation of the Library and universal access to it. This is proved by the project Catalogo Aperto dei Manoscritti Malatestiani (Open Catalogue of Malatesta Manuscripts). The catalogue has been operational for the past year on the Internet under the WWW.ISIS 5.0 programme and offers unprecedented iconographical, textual and bibliographical material. Access is easy, the service is free of charge and information is plentiful.

The Library of Malatesta Novello consists of 343 codices of different provenances and eras. To establish this collection, the Lord of Cesena added 126 codices, homogeneous in their writing and decoration and produced by his own scriptorium, to the codices owned by the Convent of St Francis and to the bequest of a group of manuscripts, some of them bought or received as gifts, from Giovanni di Marco, his personal physician. Their binding conferred a uniform appearance on the corpus of the Cesena manuscripts, all of which are nowadays still kept, as they were in Malatesta Novello's time, in the building erected to house them.

In the mid-fifteenth century, Malatesta Novello built a library in the Convent of St Francis that would transmit to his descendants his reputation as a book-loving prince. Even as the library was being built, he started to prepare a valuable collection of manuscripts which, in keeping with his unifying cultural project, was to become the ideal endowment for a humanist library. The variety of genres demonstrates the founder's desire to establish a universal collection for public use.

The present arrangement of the manuscripts still reflect today the main outlines of the old order: the codices, five per bench, are divided by subject with, on the right, as a rule, the sacred writings, the Church Fathers, Bible commentaries and theological works; on the left are legal, classical and historical texts, contemporary writings and Hebrew manuscripts.

The manuscript collection in the Biblioteca Malatestiana has remained intact over the centuries as the result of a whole series of special measures and precautions.

First of all, Malatesta Novello did not entrust his library to the Franciscans, the convent where it was set up, nor to his own descendants, but to the Commune of Cesena. He introduced strict regular controls, which were exercised even during his lifetime by the town magistrates, who drew up reports that can be found in the records of the commune's proceedings. Because of this completely innovative rule, the Malatestiana codices survived unharmed both the end of the Malatesti domination and other eventful periods of history that elsewhere caused the dispersal and loss of famous aristocratic and monastic libraries.

At the end of the fifteenth century, the commune was especially strict in its protection of the manuscripts. It refused to lend them even to influential persons such as the Bishop of Verona, Gian Mattei Giberti (1532) and Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1540), the nephew of Pope Paul III. When the French revolutionary troops arrived, the codices were virtually walled up for fear of confiscation and were not returned to their place until 1804.

Detailed inventories of the manuscripts were compiled in 1471 and 1474: on the basis of these inventories, written and printed catalogues regularly certified and minutely checked the consistency of the collection and noted its history, vicissitudes, restorations and codicological and artistic aspects.

Even contemporaries celebrated the library's importance and renown, among them the humanists who visited it after 1467, Flavio Biondi, who praised it during the same century as "melioribus Italiane aequiparanda" (comparable to the best in Italy) and the famous typographer, Paolo Manuzio, who found that it possessed "cose mirabili" (wonderful things), not to mention the many scholars who have examined and admired the precious manuscripts over the centuries. The names of the greatest nineteenth-century philologists and historians appear in the library's registers. They include Theodore Mommsen, who frequently consulted St Isidore, and Charles Yriarte, Pierre de Nolhac and Aby Warburg.

The Malatestiana is the model of an aristocratic humanist library which is both unique and universal. Its building, furnishings and books are in a state of perfect and complete preservation. The collection accurately reflects the culture, taste and interests of a cultured fifteenth-century prince inspired by the canons of the humanist civilization which, midway through the fifteenth century, was to become the guiding light and pattern for that age's culture.

Insofar as the formulation of humanism, the complex evolution of its theorization and the developments thereof can be achieved through libraries, then the Malatestiana represents the sole, intact and perfect witness to such a fundamental moment.

Choice of language early modified Malatesta Novello's original concept of a library: as a direct result of humanist theory and practice, which adopted the language of the ancients, the collection included only volumes in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. However, the Library's catalogue is not confined to the most illustrious examples of classical literature but is enriched by ancient treatises on science and technology, ranging from geographers to mathematicians, doctors, students of agriculture and the authors of naturalist encyclopaedias. There are also translations of the major scientific, medical, philosophical and mathematical works of the Arab world, represented by Avicenna, Averroes, Albumasar, Haly Abbas, Rhazes and their commentaries. Besides contemporary authors, Malatesta Novello supplemented the ancient classics with the texts of Christian thought (Bibles and biblical commentaries, also in Hebrew) and many of the works of the Church Fathers, among whom St Augustine, St Jerome and St John Chrysostom stand out by their importance and fame.

The choice of each manuscript accords with the end in view, namely, to provide an exhaustive general view of the cultural principles on which the Library is based.

The world significance of the Malatestiana is strengthened by the decision to open the collection to the public under the supervision of the communal authorities.

Against the broader background of Renaissance experimentation, Cesena enjoyed at mid-fifteenth century, under the overlordship of Malatesta Novello dei Malatesti, an extraordinary period of artistic and cultural splendour culminating in the vast Library project.

With his passion for culture and books, Malatesta Novello was by no means alone among the lords of his time, who were extraordinary propagators and patrons of humanism. These were splendid years for the history of books and libraries in Italy, as well as in the rest of Europe.

For an idea of just how favourable the times were to Malatesta Novello's project, it is perhaps worth mentioning what had been happening in Florence during the previous decade over and beyond the major collections. In order to save the extraordinary collection of the famous book-lover Niccolo Niccoli, and to fulfil the latter's testamentary wish that his codices be made available to the public, Cosimo I de' Medici had commissioned the construction by Michelozzo of a new library in the Convent of St Mark while continuing to enrich and complete the collection. In 1442, the registration of loans by the neighbouring Este Library had begun. During the same period, Pope Niccolo V had expressed a desire to create a specific site for a large library for the use of scientists.

Given the prevailing cultural climate, it is therefore unnecessary to say that the creation of the Malatestiana was not an exceptional event. What is exceptional is that it is the only library to have remained almost intact down to the present day even in the most minor details. We can therefore talk of a "miracle".

The work of bibliographical renewal undertaken by Malatesta Novello forms part of the ancient collection of the Convent of St Francis, which comprised some 50 volumes, among them works on religion and medieval scholasticism together with patristic literature. The task was to fill in the obvious gaps in the collection: the copying workshop set up by Malatesta Novello, which operated from 1450 to 1465, produced some 130 codices intended to renew and complete the Franciscan collection as well as texts with a humanist tinge (literature, science and history), with special emphasis on the Church Fathers. The donation by Giovanni di Marco, Malatesta Novello's personal physician, also a devotee of the precious codices, supplemented the collection with works on fundamental medicine, astronomy, philosophy and literature.

The Malatestiana codices demonstrate from the artistic viewpoint a standard of production that in its elegance, richness and refinement makes them worthy of mention in the same breath as the most important manuscript collections of Italian humanism. A group of miniaturized manuscripts by artists of the Ferrara school, including the great Taddeo Crivelli, is of incomparable value.

The Library has always permitted direct access to the collection, subject to adequate safeguards aimed at preserving the material, historical and cultural integrity of the documents. Following a reasoned request, scholars and researchers are allowed to consult works in a special room enjoying suitable safety and conservation conditions.

Since March 2002 there has been general access to this heritage via the "Catalogo Aperto dei Manoscritti Malatestiana", which can be viewed on-line on the Library's web page (www dot malatestiana dot it). The Catalogo Aperto (Open Catalogue) is continually evolving thanks to information added flexibly at local level over the network. The presence of a related database compiled as a result of development of the WWW.ISIS 5.0 application gives its pages functionality, versatility and dynamism.

In addition to the large and steadily increasing number of digital images, the Catalogo Aperto dei Manoscritti provides bibliographies, codicological descriptions, a discussion forum and specific texts that supplement knowledge of individual manuscripts.

Conservation and protection of the Malatesta Novello Library are the main duty of the Malatestiana, which complies with the security and conservation regulations laid down by the Italian State for libraries.

The preservation service consists of a librarian/conservator (with a master's degree), a librarian (with master's degree), a photographer and 10 operator/guides. For special projects, use is made of outside specialists.

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From homolaicus.com:

The Malatestiana is the only example of a monastic humanist library, perfectly preserved in the building, furnishings and book collection, as UNESCO acknowledged by its inclusion in the Memory of the World Register, the first in Italy.

The idea of the library is attributed to the friars of St. Francis, who intended to construct one for use as a studium, annexed to their 14th century monastery.

For this purpose, in 1445 they received permission from Pope Eugene IV to make use of a bequeath and began work on the building, probably in 1447.

In 1450 the initial participation of Malatesta Novello was documented, a Cesena noble who adopted the friars' project and constructed his own library in their monastery.

The model inaugurated by Michelozzo (1444) in the Dominican monastic library of St. Mark in Florence inspired the Malatestiana in Cesena, upon which Matteo Nuti, glorified to alter-Daedalus in lhe epigraph seen by the entrance, laid his insignia: "MCCCCLII Matheus Nutius Fanensi ex urbe creatus Dedalus alter opus tantum deduxit ad unguem" (1452. Matteo Nuti, born in Fano, known as Daedalus, brought such an opus into being).

Crowning the tympanum of the portal is the elephant, emblem of the Malatesta family, with the motto "Elephas Indus culices non timet" (The elephant fears not the culidae - a genus of the mosquito), whilst to the sides of the architrave and on the pilaster capitals there are the heraldic coats of arms showing the pícket fence, three heads and chequy.

The dark wooden door ís the work of Cristoforo da San Giovanni in Persiceto and dated 15 August 1454, a solemn and festive day for the town which in that period celebrated the important fair of "fiera d'agosto".

The carvings, the Gothíc style, repeat rosette motifs and helixes, laid out in such a way as to recall the Malatesta chequy.

The Malatesta coat of arms is also reproduced in the interior, on the capitals of columns in the hall and on the 58 pluteuses (29 each side), the imposing wooden desks in whích the codices are held.

The creation of this harmonious, light-filled hall does not seem greatly different to that of the designer of the Malatesta Temple in Rimini, Leon Battista Alberti, with similarities in a whole series of geometric and proportionate relationships in the layout and elevation of the building, reminiscent of the new Renaissance culture of perspective codified in the De re aedifìcatoria, a celebrated architectural treatise also by Alberti.

Absolutely innovative, in fact, is the triple nave plan, all three with vaulted ceilings: the central vault barrelled, with slightly wider and lower cross vaults to the sides.

The light, distributed through ogival arch windows, two per span, spreads along the side naves, whereas for the central nave, marked by twenty elegant columns with escutcheoned, pendent-leaved capitals, is lit longitudinally by the great oculus in the end wall.

From here a fascínating beam of light falls on the floor epigraphs, commemorating the donor: "Mal(atesta) Nov(ellus) Pan(dulphi) fil(ius) Mal(atestae) nep(os) dedit" (Malatesta Novello son of Pandolfo grandson of Malatesta gaveth).

Even the colour plays a precise role: the white of the central columns, the red of the terracotta floor and half columns, and the green of the plastering, brought back to light in the 1920s, redolent of the colours of the Malatesta family coats of arms.

To equip hís collection with a series of volumes adequate and appropriate for the planned líbrary, the Cesena noble appointed a scribe who, through well organízed and planned tasks, in a time span of around twenty years produced over a hundred and twenty codices.

The collection is inspired by the humanist model in both its littera scripta, albeit certain codices are in Gothic or semi-Gothic script, and in its texts whích include classic authors, Doctors of the Church and translated Greek works, wíth a particular predilection for the historians and the discoveries of contemporary humanists.

Memorable among the scribes were Jean d'Epinal who copíed at least thirty-six codices, Jacopo della Pergola to whom Malatesta Novello entrusted the transcription of onerous works such as the splendid De civitate Dei by Saint Augustine (D.IX.1), and also Brother Francesco di Bartolomeo from Figline, who was also the first custodian of the library.

Among the Malatesta copyists used mainly for the humanist works, also worthy of mention is Andrea Catrinello from Genoa who undersigned one of the copied codices on the day Malatesta Novello died (20 November 1465).

Along with this group of scribes, also active at the court of the Cesena noble were another six or seven Nordíc writers who used the Gothic script.

Among these, the German Mathias Kuler, who in the explicit to the S.IX.3 described himself as a lover of the good life and pleasures of the company of women: "Amen. Bonum vinum in taberna, consortia mulierum consumpserunt omnia. Venite exultemus".

At the behest of a single patron and produced in a short time, the collection has a strongly systematic, encyclopaedic character, since it is destined not for the personal interest of the commissioner, but lo the studies of an entire community.

This unitary character is also evident in the manuscript decoration.

Malatesta Novello declared his role as promoter, instructing that each initial page of every codex should bear his richly and antiquely decorated coat of arms, and the initials M. N. depicted in gold or other colour on a rectangular, gold leaf background.

The manuscripts commissioned or acquired by Malatesta Novello (around 150 specimens) therefore integrated with the pre-existing monastic setting, composed in the 14th century yet rich in even older codices, such as the 9th century Etymologiae of Saint Isidore (S.XXI.5).

Added lo the collection were medical and scientific texts, and also literature and philosophic texts, donated by Giovanní di Marco from Rimini, doctor lo Malatesta Noveìlo and an equally enthusiastíc collector of codices.

Fourteen Greek codices, very likely acquired by Malatesta Novello in Constantinople, seven Hebrew codices and others donated to Novello, plus a number of other codices added in later centuries complete the collection, which totals 343 manuscripts.

Still today, the volumes are held in their desk, which the dual role of an inclined lectern and deposit for books on the shelf below.

Here the codices, normally five per pluteus and subdivided by subject, are laid horizontally and bound to the desks with wrought iron chains.

This habit was probably born from the necessity to provide adequate protection for such precious books.

The Cesena noble, who perceived the Library as an undying symbol of his renown for posterity, ordered, by an entirely original and intuitive decision, that the library also be entrusted to the care and attention of the Cesena community.

In fact, already in 1461 the municipal council began to perform rigorous controls every two months on books held in the pluteuses.

In 1466, after the death of Malatesta Novello, the council even obtained permission to excommunicate anyone removing the codices.

Double control of the collection therefore developed, one by its custodians of St. Francis Monastery who guaranteed its use, and the other by the local Council, who supervised its integrity and respect.

Nomination of the custodian-librarian, according to the wishes of Malatesta Novello, also fell to the municipal council.

In this way the history of the Malatesta Novello Library and its prodigious preservation, which still today represents the greatest pride of Cesena, is also the history of a symbol felt to be the property of, and loved with exceptional loyalty by, Cesena citizens.

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From boston.com:

A small library in Italy whose history rivals its volumes
By Irene S. Levine

If you're a lover of books and libraries like I am, you'll get a rush stepping inside what is said to be the first public and monastic library in Europe, the Malatestiana Library. The experience is made even more remarkable when you learn that despite wars and natural disasters, the building, its furnishings, and manuscripts have all remained virtually untouched since the structure was built in the middle of the 15th century.

On a recent road trip along the Via Emilia (the ancient Roman road that runs from Rimini to Piacenza), my husband and I had visited impressive fortresses, castles, and churches in a land that is rich with layers of history. When we stopped to tour the small town of Cesena, near the center of the province of Emilia Romagna, we chanced upon the Malatestiana Library, a gem at the foot of the verdant Appenine Mountains.

The local tourist office provided a delightful English interpreter, Nicoletta Spinolo, who accompanied us on the short walk along cobbled streets to the Basilica of Domenico Malatesta Novello, which houses the library in a wing of the monastery between its two cloisters. Once there, a custodian welcomed us in Italian and used two large keys to unlock the imposing dark wooden doors. Carved in an ornate Gothic style, the doors have repeated rows of rosettes and helixes in a checkered design, celebrating the library's benefactor, Malatesta Novello, a wealthy Cesena nobleman. At the top of the doors is the familiar elephant emblem of his family that we had seen in the duomo in Rimini.

Entering the long, rectangular hall with terra-cotta floors, you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Some have called the library a church in miniature. It is divided into three naves. The wide center aisle is flanked by 20 impressive white, floor-to-ceiling columns, each bearing the Malatesta coat of arms at its top. On each side of the center nave are 29 rows of dark wooden "pluteuses'' that look like pews but multitask as seats with inclined lecterns and bookshelves beneath. They, too, are embellished with Malatesta heraldry, painted in red, white, and green.

Metal braces, placed there by ingenious engineers centuries ago, support the beautiful vaulted ceiling that has survived a series of earthquakes in the area. Used only during daylight hours, the light-filled hall is illuminated by arched windows on both sides and a circular window at the front. Chained to each of the desks are the large leather-bound books, the size of unabridged dictionaries, which were all hand-written before the invention of the printing press.

The idea for the humanist library, which was built between 1447 and 1452, is attributed to the Friars of St. Francis, who wanted a study area annexed to their monastery. In what has been called the golden age of this city, Malatesta Novello agreed to finance the project. This entailed both building the structure and acquiring and commissioning the books. His team of "librarians'' organized a two-decade-long effort to transcribe books they found elsewhere in Europe and return to Cesena with their contents. Six or seven Nordic writers were charged with copying the books into gothic or semi-gothic script; others were tasked to illustrate and bind them.

The library holdings, totaling 343 manuscripts, include legal, medical, scientific, literary, theological, and philosophical works as well as 14 Greek codices and seven Hebrew ones. While it was open to the public, it was not a lending library. The books remain attached to the wooden desks by heavy wrought iron chains as they were then, subdivided by subject and kept in precise order.

The people of Cesena always took great pride in their library as they still do today. In 1461, Malatesta, who turned out to be the last of the town's noblemen, entrusted the Cesena community to maintain strict controls over the library jointly with the friars who were responsible for overseeing its use. This explains the dual key security system that was in place for so many years: One key was for the town officials and one for the monks.

After Malatesta Novello's death, the Town Council obtained permission to excommunicate anyone who attempted to remove one of the volumes. Today, the library's holdings represent a treasure trove for scholars. Because of its unique place in history, in 2005, the library was recognized as the first UNESCO Memory of the World site in Italy.

Malatestiana Library
Piazza Bufalini, 1, Cesena
011-39-0547- 610892
www.malatestiana.it