Which ones have happy endings?
August 22, 2006 7:50 AM Subscribe
Red-Hot and Filthy Library Smut. Scanned photos of the insides of some of the world's hottest, youngest and dirtiest libraries. Some of the best from the book by Candida Hofer.
Dude, you are SO pandering to 50% of the judges. Shameless!!
posted by jonson at 8:11 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by jonson at 8:11 AM on August 22, 2006
Can't see the site, but I did run into students having sex in the Georgetown library frequently as an undergrad. All over the place. I should have mapped the locations and overlaid the Dewey.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 8:22 AM on August 22, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by The Jesse Helms at 8:22 AM on August 22, 2006 [1 favorite]
Loaded very, very slowly for me, but it was worth the wait. Beautiful pictures. Thanks for posting.
posted by Western Infidels at 8:24 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Western Infidels at 8:24 AM on August 22, 2006
This post needs a "barebook" tag.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:40 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:40 AM on August 22, 2006
If I had a gazillion dollars I would buy me Trinity College Library.
posted by Justinian at 8:41 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Justinian at 8:41 AM on August 22, 2006
Librarians do it between the covers.
posted by stinkycheese at 8:56 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by stinkycheese at 8:56 AM on August 22, 2006
Libary of Parliament in Ottawa is absolutely stunning.
I give serious consideration to running for office every time I see it.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:57 AM on August 22, 2006
I give serious consideration to running for office every time I see it.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:57 AM on August 22, 2006
*fans self*
You should see what the amateurs are doing out there, too - the Bookshelf Project is very sexy too, in a rough and ready kinda way.
Some of the images even have their own notations!
*goes for a cool shower and a lie-down*
posted by Jilder at 9:00 AM on August 22, 2006
You should see what the amateurs are doing out there, too - the Bookshelf Project is very sexy too, in a rough and ready kinda way.
Some of the images even have their own notations!
*goes for a cool shower and a lie-down*
posted by Jilder at 9:00 AM on August 22, 2006
jacquilynne--your Google skills far exceed mine: I was going to post the same comment but couldn't find a picture that wasn't embedded in a Flash site. I'd highly recommend to anyone a visit to the Library of Parliament, and for that matter the rest of the Parliament buildings, to anyone visiting Ottawa.
(Although when I think about it who would visit Ottawa and *not* go to Parliament Hill? Never mind!)
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:04 AM on August 22, 2006
(Although when I think about it who would visit Ottawa and *not* go to Parliament Hill? Never mind!)
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:04 AM on August 22, 2006
Did I emphasize the "to anyone" part enough in the previous post? I did. Good.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:05 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:05 AM on August 22, 2006
Reminds me of the intro to Polanski's Ninth Gate. I think Frank Langella's character is in Hell, it looks a lot like the best of these photos, but he can't touch any of the books.
posted by Shane at 9:07 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Shane at 9:07 AM on August 22, 2006
I did an image search for 'library parliament ottawa'. I'm not sure that qualifies as l33t g00gl-fu.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:12 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by jacquilynne at 9:12 AM on August 22, 2006
The New York Public Library at 42nd Street has a great reading room. I love libraries. The British Library is one of my favs, interesting reading room.
The history of libraries.
These days my favorite libraries are all on the monitor of my computer, Google is my ocean to explore. There's the Internet Archive, Gutenberg and the Internet Public Library. And all the spontaneously, ever-changing created web books, blogs.
But there is something truly special, sacred maybe, about being in a library, a really good one, surrounded by those beautiful creations, books.
posted by nickyskye at 9:19 AM on August 22, 2006
The history of libraries.
These days my favorite libraries are all on the monitor of my computer, Google is my ocean to explore. There's the Internet Archive, Gutenberg and the Internet Public Library. And all the spontaneously, ever-changing created web books, blogs.
But there is something truly special, sacred maybe, about being in a library, a really good one, surrounded by those beautiful creations, books.
posted by nickyskye at 9:19 AM on August 22, 2006
I did an image search for 'library parliament ottawa'.
See? I typed in "pretty beaver book place." ;-P
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:37 AM on August 22, 2006
See? I typed in "pretty beaver book place." ;-P
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:37 AM on August 22, 2006
I'm embarassed to admit that this post made me think of jessamyn.
posted by SenshiNeko at 9:38 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by SenshiNeko at 9:38 AM on August 22, 2006
That truly is some library porn. Those reading rooms strike me the same way big silicon breast implants do: wonderful to look at, but likely difficult to navigate and harder to use.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:44 AM on August 22, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:44 AM on August 22, 2006 [1 favorite]
The Library of St. Gall takes the cake in beauty, age and importance. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site, dates back to pre-Charlemagne.
posted by stbalbach at 9:44 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by stbalbach at 9:44 AM on August 22, 2006
Libraries have been hands down my favorite places in the world to spend time ever since I was a little brat who had to stand on tiptoe to see over the check-out counter. The photos at this site reinforce why this is the case. I definitely need to find this book. Thank you for this.
posted by blucevalo at 9:46 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by blucevalo at 9:46 AM on August 22, 2006
Thank [diety] I don't have to dust any of those places....
posted by ilsa at 10:29 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by ilsa at 10:29 AM on August 22, 2006
*gah*
posted by redsparkler at 10:30 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by redsparkler at 10:30 AM on August 22, 2006
What, no London Library?
The one that I'm not surprised to find absent is Eton College Library -- as distinct from Eton School Library -- because it's not very well known to those outside the school. It's one of those places where you walk past a small, not terribly impressive glass case on your left as you enter, and you wonder what's in there, and you glance at it and it's the school's Gutenberg Bible. Like that.
Plus the wood panelling is lovely.
posted by Hogshead at 10:53 AM on August 22, 2006
The one that I'm not surprised to find absent is Eton College Library -- as distinct from Eton School Library -- because it's not very well known to those outside the school. It's one of those places where you walk past a small, not terribly impressive glass case on your left as you enter, and you wonder what's in there, and you glance at it and it's the school's Gutenberg Bible. Like that.
Plus the wood panelling is lovely.
posted by Hogshead at 10:53 AM on August 22, 2006
Here's more information about the book it came from:
Libraries - Candida Hofer (Introduction by Umberto Eco)
* ISBN 0500543143
* ISBN-13 978-0500543146
Amazon for $62.97
posted by geoff. at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2006
Libraries - Candida Hofer (Introduction by Umberto Eco)
* ISBN 0500543143
* ISBN-13 978-0500543146
Amazon for $62.97
posted by geoff. at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2006
Thanks for the links. I think the Seattle Central library somehow fits into this category, like a cybernetic pleasure bot with fishnet stockings.
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:34 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Staggering Jack at 11:34 AM on August 22, 2006
Huh. Is the constant change of lighting patterns in that room as annoying as it looks when you're actually in there?
posted by jacquilynne at 11:49 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by jacquilynne at 11:49 AM on August 22, 2006
I think the Seattle Central library somehow fits into this category
Whoa dude! Looks like the alien mothership just touched down.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 11:52 AM on August 22, 2006
Whoa dude! Looks like the alien mothership just touched down.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 11:52 AM on August 22, 2006
Wow...
Library pervs may also enjoy Paul Dickson's _The Library in America: a celebration in words and pictures_, ISBN 0816013659.
The Library of Parliment in Ottawa is beautiful. And, unlike the US Library of Congress, children can tour it, which is why the only thing I remember from my trip to Ottawa is that library, and the only thing I remember from a trip to DC two years later is...actually...I don't remember anything from that trip.
posted by QIbHom at 11:57 AM on August 22, 2006
Library pervs may also enjoy Paul Dickson's _The Library in America: a celebration in words and pictures_, ISBN 0816013659.
The Library of Parliment in Ottawa is beautiful. And, unlike the US Library of Congress, children can tour it, which is why the only thing I remember from my trip to Ottawa is that library, and the only thing I remember from a trip to DC two years later is...actually...I don't remember anything from that trip.
posted by QIbHom at 11:57 AM on August 22, 2006
It's the Seattle library. On those 3 days when the sun is out, you don't want to be in there anyway.
posted by Andrew Brinton at 11:58 AM on August 22, 2006
posted by Andrew Brinton at 11:58 AM on August 22, 2006
> If I had a gazillion dollars I would buy me Trinity College Library.
The contents of my HD look just like that, if you could only see it.
posted by jfuller at 12:09 PM on August 22, 2006
The contents of my HD look just like that, if you could only see it.
posted by jfuller at 12:09 PM on August 22, 2006
Dear God. Please fetch me my fresh underpants.
posted by loquacious at 3:01 PM on August 22, 2006
posted by loquacious at 3:01 PM on August 22, 2006
The British Library reading room isn't in the round room anymore - it's moved up to Euston Rd. Now the round room is for reading texts at the British Museum.
To be honest, as pretty as the old British Library is, there isn't a chance in hell they could fit everyone in that uses the current building. I can't imagine fitting in everyone in the humanities room, let alone everyone else.
posted by jb at 4:43 PM on August 22, 2006
To be honest, as pretty as the old British Library is, there isn't a chance in hell they could fit everyone in that uses the current building. I can't imagine fitting in everyone in the humanities room, let alone everyone else.
posted by jb at 4:43 PM on August 22, 2006
robocop is bleeding writes "Those reading rooms strike me the same way big silicon breast implants do: wonderful to look at, but likely difficult to navigate and harder to use."
Heh, you're missing the biggest advantage of ornate libraries. I've seen the Suzzallo reading room at the University of Washington intimidate undergrads (honest-to-Ranganathan undergrads!) in to an awed and cellphone free silence. If the price I pay for that is a longer trip to my book, it's a price I'm willing to pay.
Or, more succinctly, SHUSH, BITCHES!
posted by stet at 7:50 PM on August 22, 2006
Heh, you're missing the biggest advantage of ornate libraries. I've seen the Suzzallo reading room at the University of Washington intimidate undergrads (honest-to-Ranganathan undergrads!) in to an awed and cellphone free silence. If the price I pay for that is a longer trip to my book, it's a price I'm willing to pay.
Or, more succinctly, SHUSH, BITCHES!
posted by stet at 7:50 PM on August 22, 2006
the round room is for reading texts at the British Museum
oh wow, thank for that info jb. I used the British Library to read 18th Century texts in the mid-1970's. Had to go to a special room to do it. I was researching a book on demons I wrote. Got to look through huge old handwritten, -spooky- demonologies, all wonderfully illustrated.
Have you ever read AS Byatt's book, Possession about the couple working the the British Museum Library? It's one of my favs.
posted by nickyskye at 8:54 PM on August 22, 2006
oh wow, thank for that info jb. I used the British Library to read 18th Century texts in the mid-1970's. Had to go to a special room to do it. I was researching a book on demons I wrote. Got to look through huge old handwritten, -spooky- demonologies, all wonderfully illustrated.
Have you ever read AS Byatt's book, Possession about the couple working the the British Museum Library? It's one of my favs.
posted by nickyskye at 8:54 PM on August 22, 2006
At Home With Books shows what can be done with just a tad less than a gazillion dollars. Included is Keith Richard's library, which is really quite nice.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:34 AM on August 23, 2006
posted by IndigoJones at 5:34 AM on August 23, 2006
omg Keith Richards reads? And reads that much he has a quite nice library? Whoda thunk?
posted by nickyskye at 9:34 AM on August 23, 2006
posted by nickyskye at 9:34 AM on August 23, 2006
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posted by geoff. at 8:10 AM on August 22, 2006