The crisis is this: As in the U.S., the number of teacher-librarians or librarians in schools has declined precipitously. Why? “Many principals opt to replace them with cheaper ‘library officers’ and ‘library assistants,’ often with no qualifications or educational training.” – ABC (Australia)
Author: ArtsJournal2
Blenheim Palace’s Gold Toilet Is Stolen, Flooding The Palace
Though a man has been arrested “in connection with” the burglary, Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork hasn’t yet been recovered. “The golden lavatory, named America, drew large crowds when it was exhibited in New York. It had been installed in a wood-panelled chamber opposite the room where Churchill was born.” – The Observer (UK)
The Hidden Box Of Dr. Seuss
Theodore Seuss Geisel died in 1991, but his widow was cleaning out a closet in 2013 when she came across a box of his unpublished, and some unfinished, manuscripts. Or, as the Times headlines it, “Yes, They Found It in a Box.” – The New York Times
Los Angeles Opera Opens Without A Resolution About Placido Domingo
Here was the situation the day before Saturday’s opening night: “With Domingo staying away from Los Angeles while an internal investigation is underway, the company pushed ahead Friday on season-opener plans with its general manager absent and rumors swirling about whether he will step down.” But of course, the show must – and did – go on. – Los Angeles Times
Biographer Jean Edward Smith, Who Brought Grant And Eisenhower Out Of Obscurity, Has Died At 83
Smith not only cleared up the reputation of President Ulysses Grant – showing that “Grant’s poor reputation as president had been fostered in part by biased graduate students at Columbia University who wrote the first studies of Reconstruction” – but restored to prominence the contributions of John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. (And he also wrote a scathing biography of the 43rd president, George W. Bush.) – The New York Times
Sculptor Wendy Taylor Wants Pro-Leave Brexiters To Stop Using Her Work As A Symbol
Taylor’s sundial sculpture Timepiece has been used – or, as she thinks of it, co-opted – by a pro-Brexit party called the Time Party, who are using it both on their website and in their merchandise. Taylor said, “I was bloody livid when I found out. … Quite frankly it feels like my work is being manipulated without my permission.” – The Observer (UK)
The Girl Who Published Her First Novel At 12, And Then Disappeared At 25
Barbara Newhall Follett saw her first book – about a wild little girl who longs to be free from structures of brick and glass – published when she was 12. By the time she was 25, “Barbara began to feel her dreams slipping away to the familiar tune of work and domesticity. She still wrote, but her work was no longer in favour with publishers and the rejections hurt. And then, in 1939, on 7 December, Barbara Rogers, née Newhall Follett, walked out of the apartment she shared with her husband. She left no note, took only a few dollars and some shorthand notes. She was never seen again.” – The Guardian (UK)
Ireland Gets A New Museum Of Literature ‘In A Battle For The Soul Of Dublin’
Well, that’s poetic, and sounds incredibly Irish. The director of the new Museum of Literature Ireland says, “We’re in competition with a lot of venues backed by private drinks companies, with all their marketing budgets.” And, says the writer, “He’s right, in Dublin, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s all about the distilleries, and the Guinness Storehouse.” No longer. – The Irish Times
The Royal Visit In The New Downton Abbey Movie Is Easy Peasy Compared To Reality
For one thing, there’s a limit to what you can portray on screen (who knew?): “The film depicts only a fraction of the staff required for similar occasions, as they would simply not fit on the screen, said Alastair Bruce, the historical adviser on both Downton Abbey the movie and the show.” – The New York Times
Study Shows That Gendered Discrimination, And A Lack Of Parental Support, Create Massive Barriers For Women Theatre Designers
Sometimes you just need a study to back up what seemingly everyone (at least the women) already knows: “The fields of design, production, and technical theatre are the most male-dominated,” and the reasons? Er: Ninety percent of respondents “reported having experienced a negative work environment, gender-based harassment, and/or pay disparity,” especially in lighting and sound design. – American Theatre