Drake University law library: once an untamed war zone filled with gangs, prostitution, drugs and more, this library is now a haven for those whose quest for knowledge thanks to one man: Larry Lovell the librarian: this is his story. The Librarian: A Mockumentary, short 2007, Youtube 6.20
‘Just expect the unexpected; anything can happen here.’ ibid. Larry
‘I have a degree in library science. Library science!’ ibid.
‘I’m not in it for the glamour or the fame.’ ibid.
‘Zero tolerance: that’s the rule.’ ibid.
An obsessive genius pulls off hundreds of perfect crimes. No security can stop him … In 1985 librarians at Washington State University Library realised millions in rare books had mysteriously disappeared. Masterminds e53: The Invisible Man, History 2006
‘We determined 45 states, several Canadian provinces and the district of Columbia for more than 23,000 books stolen.’ ibid. Nicholas Basbanes, author
Stephen Blumberg: the greatest book thief the world had ever known. ibid.
His entire operation will soon be threatened by the only person he’s ever trusted. ibid.
A Hollywood-style heist: they struck with lightning speed … 2004: Lexington, Kentucky, police were called in to a robbery at the Transylvania University Library … Two men posing as researchers overpowered her [librarian] and stole the University’s most valuable books. Masterminds e57: The Transylvania Job
Go to the library. Get some opium. Peaky Blinders s5e5: The Shock, Tommy to Arthur, BBC 2019
Liverpool’s Lyceum was Europe’s first lending library, designed by Thomas Harrison in 1802 this fine little building has fine strong bones – Greek bones at that. Jonathan Foyle, People’s Palaces: The Golden Age of Civic Architecture I: Neo-Classical, BBC 2020
Liverpool was fast becoming the Athens of the North. ibid.
Their handsome Portico Library (founded 1806) … Just 100 yards from the Portico is the Royal Manchester Institution. ibid.
We’re gonna need the blueprints, we’re gonna need to know the exit and entry points, we’re gonna need to know the staff entrances and the fastest way out of the building at any given point in time. What do you say? American Animals 2018 starring Spencer Reinhard & Warren Lipka & Eric Borsuk & Chas Allen & Betty Jean Gooch & Evan Peters & Blake Jenner & Barry Keoghan & Jared Abrahamson et al, director Bart Layton, Warren to Spencer
I spent three days a week for ten years educating myself in the public library, and it’s better than college. People should educate themselves – you can get a complete education for no money. At the end of ten years I had read every book in the library and I’d written a thousand stories. Ray Bradbury