Early findings in an interdisciplinary study at Stanford University provide biological evidence that supports the value of literature. Neurobiological experts, radiologists, and literary scholars have joined forces to examine the relationship between reading, attention, and distraction, specifically the "cognitive dynamics of the different kinds of focus we bring to reading." Participants in the study are asked to read a chapter from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park in two different manners: first, to leisurely skim a passage and then to read more closely, as if they were studying for an exam. The experiment takes place while participants are in an MRI machine so that researchers can monitor the blood flow in the brain during these activities. This shows "where neurons are firing, and when" and also tracks eye movement. If you've ever had an MRI, this probably sounds a little bizarre, as the machine has very tight quarters and you cannot move while the test is in progress. In this experiment, the text is projected onto a mirror inside of the MRI scanner. In addition to color coding within the text, participants receive a verbal cue to switch reading styles (reading for pleasure versus reading with heightened attention). After subjects finish the chapter, they exit the scanner and write a short literary essay on the section they were asked to analyze closely. (All participants are literary PhD candidates from the Bay Area, chosen because researchers thought they would be more adep... [more Literary Neuroscience: Stanford Researchers Demonstrate Value of Literature Through Brain Imaging]

Henri Cartier-Bresson was one of the most renowned photographers of the twentieth century, considered by many to be the father of modern photojournalism and a "master of candid photography". From 1967-1997, the majority of Cartier-Bresson's beautiful black and white photographs were printed by Voja Mitrovic, a master printer at Picto, the famed Parisian photo lab. During the time they worked together, Cartier-Bresson presented Mitrovic with 28 inscribed prints, a number of which were never seen by the public. Now an upcoming auction at Christie's has brought these wonderful, previously unseen photos into public view. On October 4 & 5, Christie's will be auctioning off all 28 inscribed prints and an additional four signed prints by Cartier-Bresson. The collection is being offered by Peter Turnley, an award winning photojournalist who acquired the prints from Mitrovic in 2004, shortly after Cartier-Bresson's death. Turnley befriended both Cartier-Bresson and Mitrovic in the late 1970s when he began working as a printer at Picto. After Turnley became a successful photojournalist in his own right, Mitrovic began printing his images. Turnley said that Mitrovic offered him the rare collection because Mitrovic knew he "would preserve not only the collection but also this beautiful story of relationship with Cartier-Bresson." Through the auction, Turnley says the public will "become even more aware of the important contribution that a great photographic printer can make to the visual... [more Henri Cartier-Bresson Prints Going to Auction]

Recently, the ABAA committed to a redesign of its website, ABAA.org. We've hired a great design firm and are spending lots of time working on ideas. In 2013, we'll be rolling out a new site, better looking and easier to use, with more of the features we hope you will use to explore the world of rare books. To do this, we'd like your input. We have a simple survey with questions about use of the ABAA.org website and other online book buying, which can be found at the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CHZGBHP We'd very much appreciate your help with this, so please take a minute to take the survey. Thanks! [more ABAA.org Redesign: We Need Your Input!]

One of Mr. Locke's pay phone libraries (via his blog) John H. Locke, a Manhattan architectural designer, has found a unique use for NYC phone booths: turn them into libraries. With the advent of cell phones and smart phones, the use of public telephones has taken a nosedive in recent years but 13,000 still remain on city streets. In July, the Department of Information Techonology and Telecommunications began soliciting the public for ideas of what to do with the remaining booths once contracts expire in 2014. Mr. Locke is not interested in the city's initiative, however, but started the project to repurpose the pay phones to benefit city communities. He designed a custom set of bookshelves to fit inside the Titan brand of kiosks last winter. The bookshelves are lightweight and have hooks that allow them to be snapped into place without the use of any hardware. A fabricator in Brooklyn cuts the shelves and Mr. Locke paints, assembles, and intalls them himself. Once he snaps a bookshelf into place, he stocks it with a variety of books and then waits to see what happens. The whole installation process only takes about five minutes. Four pay phone libraries have been installed thus far. The first was empty in a few days and another lasted a month. One even saw people adding their own books to the shelves. "It's a spontaneous thing," Mr. Locke said. "People like it, people are inspired by it, but then it disappears again." Mr. Locke has been approached by publishers, bookstores, ... [more Pay Phone Libraries]

Mark Catesby was a British naturalist who in 1722 was sent by the London Royal Society to explore the southeastern American colonies, specifically the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and the Bahamas. He spent four years travelling through the region and documenting flora and fauna, and spent the subsequent twenty years compiling his writings and illustrations into a thorough two volume book, Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. Catesby's tome was the first published, and fully illustrated, natural history of North America. (The volume included over 200 beautifully illustrated plates, all done in Catesby's hand.) This November marks the tercentennial of Catesby's exploration and the Catesby Commemorative Trust plans on celebrating in a very special way. From November 4-9, a symposium will be held in which experts from America and Europe will discuss Catesby's influences, drawings, science, and impact on natural history. In addition to these meaningful discussions, participants will be treated to a tour of places visited by Catesby and have the chance to view some of his beautiful etchings. The six-day, three-city symposium will take place in Richmond, VA, Washington, D.C., and Charleston, South Carolina. Catesby's Natural History will be on display in all three cities: in Richmond at the Wilton House, in D.C. at the Natural History Museum, and in Charleston at the Charleston Library Society. Please note that one does not have to participate in the entire ... [more Mark Catesby's Tercentennial in America: A Celebration of Natural History]

I came across this cool blog called Underground New York Public Library that uses photographs to document what New York subway riders are reading. The blog is of obvious interest to me as a New Yorker, avid reader, and daily subway rider, but I recommend checking it out. Besides providing me with a great place to read, my favorite part of riding the subway is scoping out what other people are reading. Now you can do the same while avoiding the crowds, smells, and other unpleasantries of the subway system (ok, those links make it seem worse than it is: don't be scared of NYC's public transportation system, I don't know what I and other millions of residents would do with out it!). Plus, the site has really nice photos. [more Underground Library]

Artists Sebastian Schmieg and Silvio Lorusso have released a pretty awesome piece called 56 Broken Kindle Screens. It's a compilation of photos depicting broken Kindle screens. Oh, and did I mention that it is a print on demand paperback? From Schmieg's website: The book takes as its starting point the peculiar aesthetic of broken E Ink displays and serves as an examination into the reading device's materiality. As the screens break, they become collages composed of different pages, cover illustrations and interface elements. [more A Book of Broken Kindles]

Next Monday, September 10, John Crichton, past-President of the ABAA and proprietor of Brick Row Book Shop, will give a talk on The Bay Area Antiquarian Book Trade, 1850-2000 (Second Edition, Revised). Sponsored by the Book Club of California and the Northern California Chapter of the ABAA, the talk will take place at 6pm at the Book Club of California (312 Sutter Street, First Floor, San Francisco, CA). Libations and hospitality will commence at 5pm. [more Member Lecture on the Bay Area Antiquarian Book Trade]

These items were still reported missing as of June 12, 2019. The following books, among others, have been recorded as stolen in August 2012 from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection of the Temple University Libraries (Philadelphia, Pa.): Asimov, Isaac. Currents of Space. 1952. First edition. Asimov, Isaac. Foundation. 1951. First, with d.j. Asimov, Isaac. Foundation and Empire. 1952. First, with d.j. Burroughs, Edgar Rice. Tarzan of the Apes. Chicago, McClurg, 1914. 1st. Dick, Philip. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1968. First, d.j. Lovecraft, H. P. Beyond the Wall of Sleep. Arkham House, 1943. d.j. Lovecraft, H. P. Notes and Commonplace Book... 1938. Lovecraft, H. P. The Outsider and Others. Arkham House, 1939. Lovecraft, H. P. The Shunned House. Recluse Press, 1928. Verne, Jules. 7 Hetzel editions: Claudius Bombarnac ... L'ile Mysterieuse .. Mathias Sandorf. 1885. Mirifiques Aventures de Maitre Antifer. Robur-le-Conquerant.. Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-vingts Jours. Une Ville Flottante .... 1872. If you have any information on these volumes and selected other science fiction or fantasy titles which may have indications of Temple ownership please contact Margery Sly, Director of Special Collections, at msly@temple.edu. [more Rare Science Fiction Lit Missing From Philadelphia Area]

Update: We are pleased to report that these items have been recovered. Three volumes of a 5-volume set of the Works of Rabelais, printed by John Hart for Brindley, 1750: Volumes II, III, and V, 12mo volumes, approximately 6²x4², dark brown leather, with plates. Lost in Berkeley, CA. Please contact: Stephen Whitehead classicalsteve@comcast.net 510-457-8066 cell 510-842-3063 home [more UPDATE: Rabelais Works Missing from Berkeley, CA area]