Unpacking my library a talk about book collecting blogs

In 2006, jo steffens heard an architectural historian give a talk about packing and unpacking her books upon her first move to new york city. A talk about book collecting, the opening of which i reproduce here. I frame this attempt through the work of walter benjamin, whose unpacking my library essay serves as the foundation for my initial attempts to discuss and document my archival process of a digital collection. The library of congress blogs the signal digital and print. Unlike much other ephemera such as invitations, broadsides and the like, however, these items have that selfreflexiveness so characteristic of book art. Reminds me of walter benjamins unpacking my library. This workshop was jointly organized with the royal institute of southeast asian and caribbean studies kitlv and nlb. Artists and their books by jo steffens and matthias neumann unpacking my library. As words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means, the significance of the book as objectwhether pristine collectible or battered relicis growing as well. Jan 09, 2014 each time i move offices, i read walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. Benjamin, whose library has been packed in boxes during two years of instability caused by personal and political troubles, recalls his intellectual development as he pulls books out one by one. Like benjamin, i focus on the process, seeking to reanimate my experience of archiving, and interacting with my own archive of flash mobs. This entry was posted in history of the library, special collections and tagged architects drawings, architects libraries, architecture, sir robert taylor on 19 december 2014 by clare hillsnova.

Walter benjamin, unpacking my library a talk about book collecting. Collecting thoughts on collecting in contemporary collecting. Libraries include many threads of history, stories within the objects themselves, and the story of the. A talk about book collecting, the opening of which i.

At that time benjamin, having nearly two years earlier concluded his separation from his wife, dora, with a divorce, and having left his berlingrunewald residence, was in fact moving into his. Dec 08, 2009 such voyeurism is at the heart of unpacking my library, which examines in detailed photos the libraries of 12 contemporary new yorkbased architects. As i unpacked some of the book art from my library to show students on the first. Photographs of bookshelves displaying wellloved and. In this essay, written in 1931, walter benjamin narrates the process of unpacking his library. Unpacking my library provides an intimate look at the personal libraries of fourteen of the worlds leading architects, alongside conversations about the significance of books to their careers and lives.

I cannot march up and down their ranks to pass them in view before a friendly audience. The idea behind unpacking my library is that we can get to know writers better by peeking at their bookshelves and hearing them talk about their attitude toward book collecting, or maybe book owning is a better term. Prices where quoted are those that i have seen for sale and indicate an average price and are only for out of print books and reflects top price for books in almost mint condition. A reading from unpacking my library by walter benjamin a talk about book collecting i am unpacking my library. This keepsake, suggested by professors martin jay and catherine gallagher, has been designed and printed at the arion press in an edition of 300 copies for presentation to members of the roxburghe and zamorano clubs at the joint meeting in san francisco on october 16, 2010, and to arion press. Benjamin seeks to describe book collectors and the means they acquire their collectionsby writing books, borrowing them with intent of not returning, purchasing them, and inheriting them. Being at home with my 3yearold has been a joy and a struggle at the same time. Lee kofman is the author of five books, including creative nonfiction works imperfect 2019, ventura press and the dangerous bride 2014, melbourne university press, editor of split. The experiences of people of color in academia by rebecca hawkins and miguel. Thats how walter benjamin begins the essay which, not surprisingly, he calls unpacking my library.

The university librarys digital collections, encompassing more than 300 collections with over a million items, are now discoverable through the librarys articles discovery tool, powered by summon. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers home groups talk zeitgeist. Unpacking my library by walter benjamin a talk about book collecting unpacking my library. Moist, david banas, pages 99 pearce, collecting culture,in collecting in contemporary culture, 121. Writers and editors acquiring, swapping, or selling books. Writers and their books by leah price where are all the librarians of color. I read it in a collection of benjamins essays and reflections called illuminations that i purchased primarily to read his more famous essay, the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. So what i think he is hammering into my eyeballs here is that he is going to talk about the book collecting maniathat relationshipin terms of ways of gaining booksbut since this relationship is a. Jan 14, 2020 ntu history programme recently organised a workshop titled unpacking the asian library. I think i will just quote from the master of quotes without commentary or little commentary outside of this sentence, itself walter benjamins ultimate goal, from his own unpacking my library. This gorgeous second volume in the popular unpacking my library series explores the bookshelves of favorite novelists as words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means. Its been a comfort ever since to obsessive bibliophiles.

A bibliophiles farewell posted in blog 4 years ago by lavinia singer. A speech on collecting, and he used the occasion of pulling his almost two thousand books out of their. History of the taylor institution library and its collections. This classic essay meditates on the book collectors connection to his library through ownership and memory. Writers and editors acquiring, swapping, or selling. Reflections on walter benjamins unpacking my library on. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about unpacking my library. Ntu history programme recently organised a workshop titled unpacking the asian library. Unpacking my library by jo steffens yale university press. In his essay unpacking my library he takes a serious if not humorous look at the act of collecting and the relationship between the collector and his or her possessions.

Getting selfpublished books into local libraries isnt always easy, but, with the right strategy, indie authors can make it happen and increase their readership. This keepsake, suggested by professors martin jay and catherine gallagher, has been designed and printed at the arion press in an edition of 300 copies for presentation to members of the roxburghe and zamorano clubs at t. Library tech talk blog um library homepage um library. Library stories history of medicine blog series blogs. Parents have always been their kids first teachers, and this has never been more true than over the past few weeks. Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collectors passion borders on the chaos of memories. With the exception of unpacking my library, spectors works in the books on books collection fall into the category of ephemera. Unpacking my library walter benjamin on collecting books notes from somewhere bizarre blog walter benjamin on book collecting. Be ready to share with me a bit of the moodit is certainly not an elegiac mood but. The inspiration for this essay was the act of unpacking his library after its twoyear storage. Benjamin, as a writer collecting books, finds that the act of collecting borders on the chaos of memories 59. Taking its inspiration from walter benjamins seminal 1931 essay, the unpacking my library series charts a spirited exploration of the reading and book collecting practices of todays leading thinkers. This gorgeous second volume in the popular unpacking my library series explores the bookshelves of favorite novelists as words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means, the significance of the book as objectwhether pristine collectible or battered relicis growing as well. Objects, practices, and the fate of things, edited by kevin m.

Be ready to share with me a bit of the moodit is certainly not an elegiac mood but, rather, one of anticipationwhich these books arouse in a genuine collector. In 1931, walter benjamin wrote a brief essay entitled unpacking my library. A collection of books, then, can contain both shortterm memories for the reader and. Publication date 2010 note originally published as a chapter of his illuminations.

A talk about book collecting included in the collection illuminations 1968. Collections are rarely begun without some attachment to the object, some memory tied to the physical thing. Unpacking my library by walter benjamin in the art of the personal essay an anthology from the classical era to the present. And so my library remained in the garage in boxes for the year that we lived there. I read it in a collection of benjamins essays and reflections called illuminations that i purchased primarily to read his more famous essay, the work of art in. A talk about book collecting, 1931 even the dream of a better humanity in which our children would have a better life is only a sentimental fantasy reminiscent of spitzweg when it is not, at bottom, a dream of a. Some items may not be specific to the main collection, but can enrich the historical context, and create further threads of study see walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. Unpacking benjamins collection by pil and galia kollectiv, coelacanth journal, london. The collection begins with walter benjamins apt essay, unpacking my library. This is a book about books, but it even more importantly highlights the role. As words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means, the significance of the book as object, whether pristine collectible or battered relic, is growing as well. One of prices better questions asks what books are not in the photographs lots of cookbooks. What is the particular power that printed books have over us, and why. Nov 30, 2009 what does the collecting of books have in common with the practice of architecture.

The books are not yet on the shelves, not yet touched by the mild boredom of order. In 1931, walter benjamin wrote an essay called unpacking my library. Making blogs work for you and your library services hla 2006 how to you keep it up. Reflections on walter benjamins unpacking my library on the. He goes on to develop this idea further in the influential work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction 1936, where he. In 1931 the critic walter benjamin described in his essay unpacking my library the intimate side of collecting books, how each book brings with it a particular memory or association. He is a true collector, more specifically a book collector. I have enjoyed them and shared them with other book and paper. Each time i move offices, i read walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. At first, i thought i had to have every minute of the day planned out. Such voyeurism is at the heart of unpacking my library, which examines in detailed photos the libraries of 12 contemporary new yorkbased architects.

A talk about book collecting, 1931 even the dream of a better humanity in which our children would have a better life is only a sentimental fantasy reminiscent of spitzweg when it is not, at bottom, a dream of a better nature in which they would live. Writers and their books spotlights the personal libraries of thirteen favorite novelists who share their collections with readers. Nov 29, 2011 this gorgeous second volume in the popular unpacking my library series explores the bookshelves of favorite novelists as words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means, the significance of the book as objectwhether pristine collectible or battered relicis growing as well. Writers and their books spotlights the personal libraries of. In his essay unpacking my library he takes a serious if not humorous look at the act of. Dec 11, 2008 i think i will just quote from the master of quotes without commentary or little commentary outside of this sentence, itself walter benjamins ultimate goal, from his own unpacking my library. Apr 30, 2009 he is a true collector, more specifically a book collector. What i am really concerned with is giving you some insight into the relationship of a book collector to his possessions, into collecting rather than a. Um librarys digital collection items are now included in library search. Writers and their books from the worlds largest community of readers.