2,131 books fell over... and the librarians cheered
June 15, 2013 5:05 PM   Subscribe

 
Wow.

Favorite bit: there's a stretch of books in rainbow order around the 2:00 mark.
posted by Peevish at 5:48 PM on June 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


2,131 books
27 volunteers
112 slices of pizza

...that's 14 pizzas... 4.14 slices per person! Just wanted to get down to the important parts of this record.
posted by not_on_display at 6:00 PM on June 15, 2013 [3 favorites]


I want to see it done with Kindles.
posted by fredludd at 6:30 PM on June 15, 2013


So there is still a use for paper books!
posted by spitbull at 6:34 PM on June 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


The stuffed toys are propped to look like they're reading books. Because while you're asleep, they are probably reading books you keep on your shelves, which is why you can't always find those books in the places where you left them. /kidthink
posted by datawrangler at 6:35 PM on June 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


I love the *thump* *thump* *thump* sound the books make when they fall.

I feel sorry for the poor librarian who has to put all of those books back
posted by littlesq at 6:41 PM on June 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


That was really well done, and a lot of physics involved there, too. Cool.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:49 PM on June 15, 2013


I watched this with my six year old daughter tonight and reminded her that this is just one of the reasons we need to make sure that books remain in the world in the advancing digital age. It was slightly in jest, but I like seeing reminders of libraries and books having a physical presence that are as much about aesthetics, and the joy that comes from it, as about retaining knowledge.
posted by SpacemanStix at 6:57 PM on June 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


I feel sorry for the poor librarian who has to put all of those books back

good news...
The books used were either donated or are out of date, and are now being sold by the Friends of Seattle Public Library to help raise money for library programmes and services.

from the official press release: "if the fifth attempt had not been successful, there wouldn’t have been enough time to try again. “We had to be packed up and out of the building by midnight,” she said. “Everyone was so happy that we were able to break the record.”
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:58 PM on June 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


also...
Books used in the record-setting event can be purchased at upcoming Friends of The Seattle Public Library book sales. Each book will have a special sticker identifying that it helped set the book domino world record, as well as the Web address so the book buyer can watch the video.

they should be selling them online; I'd buy one for whatever-plus-shipping
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:00 PM on June 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


Books used in the record-setting event can be purchased at upcoming Friends of The Seattle Public Library book sales. Each book will have a special sticker identifying that it helped set the book domino world record, as well as the Web address so the book buyer can watch the video.

Oh man. I might actually need to brave the Friends of the Library sale this year to try and snag one of these.
posted by palomar at 7:31 PM on June 15, 2013


Cute, Book 0 = Before the Fall
posted by Ms Vegetable at 7:39 PM on June 15, 2013 [2 favorites]


I love the *thump* *thump* *thump* sound the books make when they fall.

Yeah, that annoying music in the video was completely unnecessary. Nice filming, though.
posted by LeLiLo at 7:44 PM on June 15, 2013


Even though I knew it'd work, I still watched the whole thing slack-jawed with my heart in my mouth. And then at the end both my boyfriend and I cried. Yep. BOOKS ARE THE AWESOME.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 8:04 PM on June 15, 2013


I have a list of amazing things I love about this city. (#27: watching my kid play soccer in a converted military airplane hanger at Arena Sports, #21: watching wild sockeye salmon run through the Ballard locks every summer). Anyway, the Seattle Public Library is #14, we go there every 2 weeks, my kids carry their library cards everywhere, and they spend far more time with books than iPads thanks to this amazing public service.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:04 PM on June 15, 2013 [6 favorites]


*no books were harmed in the making of this video*
posted by pianissimo at 8:33 PM on June 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


This was very pleasing to watch.
posted by MillMan at 10:16 PM on June 15, 2013 [1 favorite]


I like when the girl looks so proud to have caught the last one at the end.
posted by John Cohen at 11:09 PM on June 15, 2013


Awesome. I hadn't expected it to be so nifty: f ex these books going uphill, or the splitting at some point.
posted by Namlit at 12:19 AM on June 16, 2013


This was really lovely. But I was also amused by the apparent parallel attempt on the record for the most clichéd feelgood/quasi-inspirational video in history.
posted by howfar at 6:06 AM on June 16, 2013


Clicking around on Youtube a bit after this, I am understanding that awesome domino stuff is a nerd niche of some sort.
I like it that it's books in this example. Must be more difficult too, to lay it all out so it doesn't malfunction.
posted by Namlit at 6:21 AM on June 16, 2013


« Older Instant Server   |   The Mad Hatterpillar Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments