An Odyssey In Print: Adventures in the Smithsonian Libraries

by Mary Augusta Thomas, Michael Dirda (Contributor), Storrs L. Olson (Contributor)

Situated at the center of the world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution Libraries links the holdings of 22 Smithsonian museums and research centres into one system encompassing 1.5 million books and manuscripts. The expansive collection includes many rare and unusual works equal to the celebrated art and artifacts of the Smithsonian's museums. This illustrated accompaniment to a new Smithsonian Libraries exhibition of the same name provides a three-part expedition through the collection. The first presents works such as a 1511 edition of Ptolemy's Liber geographiae (Book of Geography) and the pop-up book Buck Rogers, 25th century, featuring Buddy and Allura in Strange Adventures in the Spider Ship to illustrate how the world has been imagined, seen, and recorded by Europeans and Americans. The second journey explores how scientists have extended our understanding of the world, and includes a 1641 edition of Galileo's Systema cosmicum (System of the world) and a copy of Walden inscribed by Henry David Thoreau to Spencer Baird, then assistant secretary of the newly founded Smithsonian Institution.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, History

179 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2002

Reviews

[John Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice showcase of the SI libraries but a bit thin on depth. The book presents some nice items of the collection and provides some history about how the collection came to be but ultimately ends without providing enough. Wanted more. Recommended only if you are interested in the SI.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a lovely book, gorgeous illustrations, detailed history... and somehow managed to leave me wet fish cold. And I was so excited to find this at a library book sale. Then when i got it home, well... perhaps i'm simply not it's ideal target audience. It's obvious how much work Thomas put into writing it. I am certain someone else will adore it.

[Linda Benedict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully photographed books, illustrations and pages, they almost seem 3 dimensional. I enjoyed reading the history of the Smithsonian Libraries, and the essay by Storrs L. Olson, "The Curator and the Book" on how the museum staff makes use of the libraries.

[Mills College Library]

027.573 S6649 2002