Book of the Month

November 18, 2009 9:28 AM

Book of the Month is a feature that the University of Glasgow Library has been running for over a decade now. The format is simple, a single book is selected from their collections, written up and accompanied by pictures, maps and photographs scanned from the books. With over a 100 books to select from, it's hard to know where to start, but anywhere is good because they're all lovely. Still, here are a few, Charles Darwin's The Expression of the emotions in man and animals, a beautiful 15th century illuminated copy of Livy's Roman history, Treatises on Engines and Weapons, Valentines and Dabbities, The Birds of Australia, Facts and Observations on the Sanitary State of Glasgow, Ibn Jazla's The arrangement of bodies for treatment and finally, The Curious Case of Mary Toft, MetaFilter superstar.
posted by Kattullus (6 comments total)

Ol' bunny cunny's back!
posted by Abiezer at 9:42 AM on November 18, 2009

Wow, that's wonderful—thanks for posting it.

*crosses Glasgow off list of cities to visit when time machine becomes operational*
posted by languagehat at 10:59 AM on November 18, 2009

The Glasgow University library is a gem, and the special collections department is one of the best parts. It's a compact little room on the top floor of the library's 12-storey building, with a dedicated staff who are smart and helpful. Despite having some real treasures, they're not in the slightest snooty -- you can trudge up there as a snotty undergrad and they'll still dig virtually whatever you're looking for out for you.

Best of all, it has an incredible view of the Campsie Hills on the north to look at while you're waiting (the rest of the library has cracking views too, but to the south and east). I've spent a lot of happy hours in that place.
posted by bonaldi at 11:29 AM on November 18, 2009

Thanks so much! I foresee many happy hours spent here, followed by panicked scrambling to meet deadlines.
posted by dogrose at 4:13 PM on November 18, 2009

Don't be so hard on the place, languagehat, most cities anywhen all over the world are pretty unsanitary. This might make you reconsider should you have a Victorian Gothic bone in your body.
posted by Kattullus at 7:42 PM on November 19, 2009

Wow, very cool, thanks Kattullus! (Shamefully, despite having studied at Glasgow – and, indeed, being able to see the University's spire from my living room window – I had no idea about this project. Time to get reading ...)
posted by Len at 5:08 PM on November 20, 2009