https://sortedlibrary.com Sorted Library Wed, 17 Feb 2021 19:33:58 +0000 https://sortedlibrary.com en https://sortedlibrary.com/Home Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:38:25 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/Home The Sorted Library is a cultural organization that is dedicated to promoting and preserving&nbsp; private libraries.&nbsp;We foster engagement with private libraries by arranging tours and running a&nbsp; reading room that is organized in small collections made by our members. This act of organizing the library in collections offers an alternative way of engaging with and discovering books within a small space such as a private library.&nbsp; For the past five years we have run a demonstration space in NY where individuals can experience this method of organizing.&nbsp; After a year of construction, our permanent space is now open in Norfolk, CT. The library is available for members of the community to browse and engage. &nbsp; ** Recent Media: LitHub | Interference Archive Podcast | The Caret ** <img width="2000" height="1333" width_o="2000" height_o="1333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/10cef063737fb640118f280fb27819bc30632eca15345c9e27c0ad5eef9fd400/meredith-jenks-2.jpg" data-mid="99216122" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/10cef063737fb640118f280fb27819bc30632eca15345c9e27c0ad5eef9fd400/meredith-jenks-2.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="2667" width_o="4000" height_o="2667" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/05f01854ff95acaea197b5b418012f0ba5c106d576b22921e0a106645791caf8/sheila-barbard-4.jpg" data-mid="99216121" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/05f01854ff95acaea197b5b418012f0ba5c106d576b22921e0a106645791caf8/sheila-barbard-4.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="2667" width_o="4000" height_o="2667" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3de6cf7b9ae38a4f301b6274f42d6a573ba619c5bf32e2f6832b3e88f88a1186/sheila-barbard-3.jpg" data-mid="99216120" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3de6cf7b9ae38a4f301b6274f42d6a573ba619c5bf32e2f6832b3e88f88a1186/sheila-barbard-3.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="2667" width_o="4000" height_o="2667" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ec430133f2a33b2639ce931381161e0a499abb110a23ab52b6cc71d4b8f7aa41/sheila-barbard-1.jpg" data-mid="99216118" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ec430133f2a33b2639ce931381161e0a499abb110a23ab52b6cc71d4b8f7aa41/sheila-barbard-1.jpg" /> <img width="2000" height="1333" width_o="2000" height_o="1333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/294176335c4b87c76bf738f180c494e46c7ab2d899efc6bb1def77a1e2d9e98c/meredith-jenks.jpg" data-mid="99216124" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/294176335c4b87c76bf738f180c494e46c7ab2d899efc6bb1def77a1e2d9e98c/meredith-jenks.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="2667" width_o="4000" height_o="2667" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7c6ba77cdc1412a55fe9e32837b3765c349e802b6b473e96000fa173f4cc80cc/sheila-barbard-2.jpg" data-mid="99216119" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7c6ba77cdc1412a55fe9e32837b3765c349e802b6b473e96000fa173f4cc80cc/sheila-barbard-2.jpg" /> https://sortedlibrary.com/Merch Wed, 17 Feb 2021 19:33:58 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/Merch <img width="145" height="155" width_o="145" height_o="155" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cc48793a606c53247050db2f419b992eaf059c266db8c3c6608edb030ce00fd2/Screen-Shot-2021-02-17-at-2.41.21-PM.png" data-mid="99237548" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/145/i/cc48793a606c53247050db2f419b992eaf059c266db8c3c6608edb030ce00fd2/Screen-Shot-2021-02-17-at-2.41.21-PM.png" />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; SORTED SWEATSHIRT &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img width="141" height="156" width_o="141" height_o="156" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ebb84ef02167b5cb0726b38ced40740481ea819c768bc9cf75f3d72d80587ad4/Screen-Shot-2021-02-17-at-2.41.14-PM.png" data-mid="99237560" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/141/i/ebb84ef02167b5cb0726b38ced40740481ea819c768bc9cf75f3d72d80587ad4/Screen-Shot-2021-02-17-at-2.41.14-PM.png" /> SORTED TOTE &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; https://sortedlibrary.com/Research Thu, 17 May 2018 11:15:28 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/Research As part of our work, we visit private libraries around the world. These visits serve multiple purposes: enabling us to build relationships with potential estates and libraries we may eventually help preserve and promoting the important work these libraries do.&nbsp; For each of these trips we bring a small number of members with us and create collections within the actual reading rooms and personal libraries of important creatives around the world. The Sorted Library purchases duplicate copies of&nbsp; the books chosen by our members. These books permanently reside in our reading room in Norfolk, CT. &nbsp; <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bf3acfce73e30401ffa2a2573a24390b8970e015e2f0ed1555f323ee0d2cef19/4.jpg" data-mid="99216129" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/bf3acfce73e30401ffa2a2573a24390b8970e015e2f0ed1555f323ee0d2cef19/4.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b025446f834872feb9a05e4ae7c5685d43492fa7bea4d17fca1eaba470b174c1/3-copy.jpg" data-mid="99216128" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/b025446f834872feb9a05e4ae7c5685d43492fa7bea4d17fca1eaba470b174c1/3-copy.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5c4b6e3280d48c6c94af38fafeba84f1749b6b2951e9fe30986a8d79474b4284/1-copy.jpg" data-mid="99216125" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/5c4b6e3280d48c6c94af38fafeba84f1749b6b2951e9fe30986a8d79474b4284/1-copy.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/413255211774ae1c67aa8890e98d87f0c2604f24292071bc0de1410a4d65433c/2-copy.jpg" data-mid="99216126" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/413255211774ae1c67aa8890e98d87f0c2604f24292071bc0de1410a4d65433c/2-copy.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cad5c881b7ce3acfb2e9d2f290baf713b264af84359d07c72bbacb326ddb8b48/-1.jpg" data-mid="99216130" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/cad5c881b7ce3acfb2e9d2f290baf713b264af84359d07c72bbacb326ddb8b48/-1.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c8c39522956698f07be2c0fd8fc3c0c9d4359a759eb98f0202521020b8d59ed2/3.jpg" data-mid="99216133" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/c8c39522956698f07be2c0fd8fc3c0c9d4359a759eb98f0202521020b8d59ed2/3.jpg" /> <img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b379081c1dd145ccc02ac3be8ef088e06f7c16add00f9d0913d28b4d3bf61aff/3c_o.JPG" data-mid="99216134" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b379081c1dd145ccc02ac3be8ef088e06f7c16add00f9d0913d28b4d3bf61aff/3c_o.JPG" /> <img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ce9102f838e83eb542292eae7ca272aaea77d819061d2d4b45729f80def6b7c1/5c_o.JPG" data-mid="99216135" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ce9102f838e83eb542292eae7ca272aaea77d819061d2d4b45729f80def6b7c1/5c_o.JPG" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6233098c87f065e63a34d168c7d465cd12d1ddd31a6c35b62ff439154d085a71/lib1.jpg" data-mid="99216136" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/6233098c87f065e63a34d168c7d465cd12d1ddd31a6c35b62ff439154d085a71/lib1.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7716528bcd2875337434dfea0a5248a772be12f2f6ab5c346bc35758cf58c06d/lib2.jpg" data-mid="99216137" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/7716528bcd2875337434dfea0a5248a772be12f2f6ab5c346bc35758cf58c06d/lib2.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6389b9a27cfb6a0e986b9d3b729468561d344747fe836fc39273768387e8c200/lib3.jpg" data-mid="99216138" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/6389b9a27cfb6a0e986b9d3b729468561d344747fe836fc39273768387e8c200/lib3.jpg" /> <img width="768" height="515" width_o="768" height_o="515" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1809cc13e6a4d8fa390ebab8986f12f952e5dd4718ab91e7aab1fe97cb7af196/lib4.jpg" data-mid="99216139" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/768/i/1809cc13e6a4d8fa390ebab8986f12f952e5dd4718ab91e7aab1fe97cb7af196/lib4.jpg" /> https://sortedlibrary.com/Contact Mon, 14 May 2018 14:15:23 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/Contact Sign up on our mailing list to be notified of our next open house. https://sortedlibrary.com/March-2017 Mon, 06 Nov 2017 07:23:23 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/March-2017 <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/07d429d158e6996ea2c06532c128be1ac14f0d8ac5e05db14da6ca8687b10ec5/6.jpg" data-mid="99216141" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/07d429d158e6996ea2c06532c128be1ac14f0d8ac5e05db14da6ca8687b10ec5/6.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2846ecca4b9c46ea4688fd07c1f610dc353c5d781a3eac216788bd9f6a26cd0e/5.jpg" data-mid="99216140" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2846ecca4b9c46ea4688fd07c1f610dc353c5d781a3eac216788bd9f6a26cd0e/5.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/07258bda09add62de736c8783dd3aff0e8ee37ca55aa7d0125decd8618103c0e/3.jpg" data-mid="99216142" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/07258bda09add62de736c8783dd3aff0e8ee37ca55aa7d0125decd8618103c0e/3.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3efdd8d69e36a28c83ee427b7fe1d479fbdd17fd21f5de06b4dc780dfca18670/10.jpg" data-mid="99216143" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3efdd8d69e36a28c83ee427b7fe1d479fbdd17fd21f5de06b4dc780dfca18670/10.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2548010493e936a27de885ad410fdce7de9ad9452ede374a1935d9f92911254f/2.jpg" data-mid="99216145" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2548010493e936a27de885ad410fdce7de9ad9452ede374a1935d9f92911254f/2.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6cdc9982c1587c283417b01f4fcfbb58bc29ef3dc439a15ef5f2244041a345a/9.2.jpg" data-mid="99216146" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b6cdc9982c1587c283417b01f4fcfbb58bc29ef3dc439a15ef5f2244041a345a/9.2.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a557742a294baf2412ba16fb97252b997294bfbd07a4c8737d87974a280d7a5c/8.jpg" data-mid="99216147" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a557742a294baf2412ba16fb97252b997294bfbd07a4c8737d87974a280d7a5c/8.jpg" /><img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2bed09b5001c31cd5c64ea36b1faac1620b7bcb7cb553c1637e03427f82e3257/1.jpg" data-mid="99216148" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2bed09b5001c31cd5c64ea36b1faac1620b7bcb7cb553c1637e03427f82e3257/1.jpg" /> I went home to Victoria, BC to visit the first library I ever expereinced at my school in Grade 1. It was a formative library. Warm, comfortable --- where the librarian taught us the dewey decimal system and where we would huddle around the encyclopedias looking up things we were forbidden ot. The library is in a converted home with remnants of times past, marble fireplaces and a small sun room. It was designed by Rattenbury the british architect as his personal residence at the same time as the legislative buildings were begin deisgned for the provinical parliemnt -- his most famous commision. The library was small. Formative. It was comforting to be back. 20+ years later. https://sortedlibrary.com/February-2017 Mon, 06 Nov 2017 07:23:23 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/February-2017 <img width="2400" height="1350" width_o="2400" height_o="1350" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eb64bd17366fab22339037a0d9fbf66e2d07485dc3f6b335b5b7684793f676e8/Soleri_Image1_Cosanti_Credit_KenHowie.jpg" data-mid="99216156" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/eb64bd17366fab22339037a0d9fbf66e2d07485dc3f6b335b5b7684793f676e8/Soleri_Image1_Cosanti_Credit_KenHowie.jpg" /><img width="1425" height="1038" width_o="1425" height_o="1038" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/df5cf869b51325697ded8b7c0a220ec0f5a84a54dae777ec0444d1227d4d1a8d/Aabi023-J150.jpg" data-mid="99216151" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/df5cf869b51325697ded8b7c0a220ec0f5a84a54dae777ec0444d1227d4d1a8d/Aabi023-J150.jpg" /><img width="1425" height="1044" width_o="1425" height_o="1044" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e54d5ea987bcd75b63ba500831d4dc8ad2fc28a1d956ad025581c92f3aeae32e/Aabi027-J150.jpg" data-mid="99216155" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e54d5ea987bcd75b63ba500831d4dc8ad2fc28a1d956ad025581c92f3aeae32e/Aabi027-J150.jpg" /><img width="1425" height="1045" width_o="1425" height_o="1045" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/732ca2692e965de1a2cf29aca901e4faa4c7401c25b1891c5b159c27ac956c3a/Aabi024-J150.jpg" data-mid="99216152" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/732ca2692e965de1a2cf29aca901e4faa4c7401c25b1891c5b159c27ac956c3a/Aabi024-J150.jpg" /><img width="1425" height="1045" width_o="1425" height_o="1045" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/af022e8e37358b2a351e7c0831d223ef13246d3a1bf7f56dd3299c898a3b841b/Aabi022-J150.jpg" data-mid="99216149" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/af022e8e37358b2a351e7c0831d223ef13246d3a1bf7f56dd3299c898a3b841b/Aabi022-J150.jpg" /><img width="1425" height="1045" width_o="1425" height_o="1045" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/852e63e37aa552934d67c5011d9cceb826d8fb4459c7e1485073ade37a6668e2/Aabi025-J150.jpg" data-mid="99216153" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/852e63e37aa552934d67c5011d9cceb826d8fb4459c7e1485073ade37a6668e2/Aabi025-J150.jpg" /><img width="1425" height="1037" width_o="1425" height_o="1037" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/383d6852adaa78e75e07b370d786288b67e7e250451f9fc34dd32c12fa427c8e/Aabi026-J150.jpg" data-mid="99216154" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/383d6852adaa78e75e07b370d786288b67e7e250451f9fc34dd32c12fa427c8e/Aabi026-J150.jpg" /> In February I travelled to Arcosanti to spend three weeks participating in the workshop to understand and learn about the architect Paolo Soleri and to work on writing the next draft of wriing my book. One of the unexpected finds at Arcosanti was the Archives run by Sue Kircsh. She has been at Arcosanti for over 20 years and commands an impressive archive of notebooks, sketches, aluminum types and various photos and forms collected during his life time. I asked her if Paolo Soleri ever thought about designing libraries or put thought into ways of organizing information. She preceded to go into the back and put white gloves on and roll out a 5+ meter scroll that contained his initial plans for a library designed in 1956 in Torino Italy. It was never built. This is his proposal. It was called ' light underwater silence' He reproduced these images etched onto aluminum that could be rubbed and reproduced. https://sortedlibrary.com/January-2017 Mon, 06 Nov 2017 07:23:24 +0000 Sorted Library https://sortedlibrary.com/January-2017 <img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9cde41d8ea1ba10786b5d88f55f10e3e6a893759187c490c36b20b874440f971/4_o.JPG" data-mid="99216164" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9cde41d8ea1ba10786b5d88f55f10e3e6a893759187c490c36b20b874440f971/4_o.JPG" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cb5ca120c07f30a2a10817d35a2bc8ad47997986c983eb60e5e26cf6fbe0fb84/1_o.jpg" data-mid="99216163" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cb5ca120c07f30a2a10817d35a2bc8ad47997986c983eb60e5e26cf6fbe0fb84/1_o.jpg" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0270f1815d7b574a3d902214dd3019995471e06e2d0303bbd74cb9310a4150fb/DSC09527_o.JPG" data-mid="99216157" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0270f1815d7b574a3d902214dd3019995471e06e2d0303bbd74cb9310a4150fb/DSC09527_o.JPG" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a81fc2d8abbb2c9784c3fd08e324c491365bdd2c1b80c849d5a0d3df0d3eb946/DSC09545_o.JPG" data-mid="99216165" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a81fc2d8abbb2c9784c3fd08e324c491365bdd2c1b80c849d5a0d3df0d3eb946/DSC09545_o.JPG" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3176aa3f845c38755b6589fd18b5ceb3c44205bd5fd0947897c0bcf9754ff8ec/DSC09526_o.JPG" data-mid="99216158" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3176aa3f845c38755b6589fd18b5ceb3c44205bd5fd0947897c0bcf9754ff8ec/DSC09526_o.JPG" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/82c673a88e14160bdd335d5264cec4244e017ca1d63326374fd3725f6cdc964c/2_o.JPG" data-mid="99216161" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/82c673a88e14160bdd335d5264cec4244e017ca1d63326374fd3725f6cdc964c/2_o.JPG" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c85eeefcf0ddccaaabda68d3c7ec1be115af0ae059ca96b2bdd45707bb15d826/3_o.JPG" data-mid="99216162" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c85eeefcf0ddccaaabda68d3c7ec1be115af0ae059ca96b2bdd45707bb15d826/3_o.JPG" /><img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e11af092bb195071bd779b40e69af55b6fa297bc5b77331276513496f633f46f/DSC09543_o.JPG" data-mid="99216159" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e11af092bb195071bd779b40e69af55b6fa297bc5b77331276513496f633f46f/DSC09543_o.JPG" /> I started researching libraries in Cuba. There wasn’t a lot online but I found out that in 2012 there were a whole series of small independent libraries that had opened up to showcase books that weren’t featured in the biblioteca nacionale. It seemed interesting, it was a story that had been written about and there was an organization friends of the cuban libraries in NY that was helping to support their resistance. My immediate thought was that I should explore that but then I went back to my original purpose behind the library --- alternative ways of indexing, cataloging and organizing books. These individuals were using the library in a way that wasn't necessarily related to that and it all felt a little political and involved (considering I don't speak spanish) so I put the research aside and decided that instead I would simply ensure that when I was down there I would make the journey to the national library and just visit and see what happened. The first attempt at visiting was fairly anticlimactic. It was closed. The guard out front let us see inside but alas we weren’t allowed in. He told us to come back the next day. Alright --- we get there the next day, not really having any particular plan other than to make the journey, to visit and to look further. As we enter the library the 2nd time another guard approaches us and tells us that we are not allowed to be there and points us towards a kind middle aged Cuban (librarians have the same demeanour around the world it seems) who told my friend that foreigners in fact weren’t allowed to wander around the library unsupervised. There were public tours but that we could wander around on the first floor where there were the card catalogs and the a small gallery space that featured some highlights from the library old propaganda from the revolution and old copies of newspapers from the communist daily. We took her up on the offer and my friends and I walked around the main floor. We came to the card catalogs and as I pulled one of the drawers open in the large CUB the guard who was close by came and put me in my place. Not for foreigners. This whole experience reminded me just how political and important, guarded information still is. Even in the simple ways of organizing, what you include what you don’t include is an act that a government protects. It seems almost a given that ‘information wants to be free’ that everything is accessible that the value is no longer in information but what you do with it. And yet here in CUBA the government and the guard in front of me was proving the opposite to still be true. Information, organizing has power.