The Strand’s Literary Application Exam
Venerable New York City bookstore The Strand has a 50-question, multiple-choice exam that all new employees have to take. There is no minimum score requirement, and The Strand admits that they don’t take it all that seriously in the hiring process. It does, however, have meaning: it signals that working there means needing to know about books. You can read more about the history of the quiz and take a shot at it yourself here.
The Oldest Library in the World Re-Opening Next Month
After extensive renovations, Khizanat al Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco, is re-opening next month. Founded in the 9th Century by a woman named Fatima al Fihria, the library has long housed rare manuscripts and religious texts. Take a sneak peek inside the library here.
Next Librarian of Congress Confirmed
Carla Hayden was confirmed the Senate last week as the first woman and person of color to hold the position of Librarian of Congress. Hayden is a former president of the American Library Association and has been an outspoken advocate against mass surveillance in public libraries. She says that the biggest challenge facing the Library of Congress is technology and modernization. Under new law, her term will be ten years (previously, Librarians of Congress held lifetime appointments like Supreme Court justices).
We’ve got a pack of adult coloring books to giveaway. Go here to enter for a chance to win or just click on the image below.
