Ex Libris Summer Interns Carlos Bello, Jody Collins, and Kristina Hyriakova
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E X L IBRIS The Newsletter of the American Library in Paris September 2012 May we pick your brain? Library patrons will be invited to take an on-line survey in early October. It’s a chance for us to learn more about your habits, your preferences, your sug- gestions, your critiques, so we can continue to deliver a better Library. A collection reunited The survey will reach the American All summer long a crack team of librarians, summer interns, and vo- Library’s 2,600+ members, and nearly lunteers has been executing a dramatic rearrangement of the Library’s the same number of non-members who major book collections. The effort was designed to make browsing or fin- receive our biweekly e-Libris, this ding a book — navigating our physical site, so to speak — much simpler. newsletter’s electronic sibling. For as long as anyone here can remember, for reasons of space and If you’d like to take the survey, sign history, to find a biography, or an art book, or a novel, or a mystery, you up for e-Libris now on the website or, had to have the help of the card catalog to know on which of two Library better yet, join the Library. There’s floors the item could be found. One biography of Charles de Gaulle might much in store this fall, as you can see be upstairs, another on the main floor. One Agatha Christie upstairs, ano- from the rest of this newsletter. ther on the main floor. Thanks in advance for taking the Thanks to the heroic labors of the summer, all of these books in the time to complete the survey when it Library’s most popular categories are now consolidated in single sequen- shows up. We’ll be paying close atten- ces — the mysteries upstairs, and the art books, biographies, and fiction tion to what you say, and report what on the main floor. Members may expect other, less dramatic relocations you tell us. If you prefer a paper ver- of other materials in the months ahead as we try to open up more space sion, just ask for one at the front desk. for more uses. Continued on page 2 On the occasion of the centennial of her birth, the American Library in Paris presents a special evening de- Remembering voted to the life and work of Mary McCarthy(1912-1989) , the pre-eminent American woman of letters (essayist, short story writer, novelist, critic, and public intellectual) Mary McCarthy who spent the last three decades of her life in Paris. The symposium gathers her friends, her colleagues, and her admirers for appraisal and reminiscence. Laura Furman Vincent Giroud Molly Haskell Diane Johnson Frances Kiernan Robert Pounder Lily Tuck Margo Viscusi Sophie Wilson Tuesday 16 October 19h30 Please check the Library website to learn more about Mary McCarthy and the panelists. OPEN HOUSE 3 BOOK GROUPS 4-5 CALENDAR 10 INSIDE THE LIBRARY Ed Aguila becomes Music at the Library Thanks to a special gift from longtime Library patrons and sup- Assistant Director porters Tom and Carol Rose, in Eudaldo Aguila has been appointed assistant direc- June members were treated to a tor of the American Library in Paris. special concert by the celebrated Aguila joined the Library in 2008 and became cir- Hoffmann Quartet, featuring culation manager the following year. As assistant di- pieces by Debussy, Beethoven and rector he will have responsibility Haydn. The Library is exploring for the circulation, collections, ways to bring more music into our and reference departments, and space — for example, the jazz will continue to oversee informa- quartet playing at the September tion technology at the Library. 23 Open House. Your suggestions for music programs are most welcome. “The Library is very fortunate to have the professional skills and personal qualities Ed Aguila brings to us,” said Charles True- A three-year hitch heart, the director. “His new title If you know you’ll be in Paris for a while, formalizes the growing responsi- why not benefit from our special new three- bilities he has assumed and rec- year membership rate in the family and indi- ognizes the difference he is making in enhancing our vidual categories? By signing up for three information resources and customer services.” years, you’ll benefit from savings of at least Aguila was born in Havana, Cuba, and grew up in ten percent — and even more if Library mem- Miami. He holds library science degrees from the bership rates go up. For more information, 3 University of Miami and Florida State University and inquire at the circulation desk or visit the began his career as a librarian at the New York Public website. Library. Before and after his move to Paris in 1992, he worked in information technology as a manager and consultant for such companies as Seagram’s, A gift of books from Texas Cushman & Wakefield, Marsh & McLennan, and Once again this year members of Bowne. the Library are the beneficiaries of The position of assistant director has been vacant a gift of fifteen books for young since the retirement of Adele Witt in 2009. people, winners of the Texas Blue- bonnet Award and the Texas Lone Star Reading List. The Marvin Wurzer family of Houston is re- Room for one more book? sponsible for this annual contribu- The Library opens its doors to hundreds of used- tion to the Library’s youth collec- book buyers the first weekend of every month. It’s a tion, and we extend them our continuing thanks. Please way to give new life to the torrent of books donated to ask to see these books the next time you visit the Library. the Library during the year, and to bring in some modest revenues to help us buy new books. Hard- backs €3, softcovers €2 and €1, plus special treasures The great consolidation that can run into the two figures! Continued from page 1 Upcoming book sales on Saturday and Sunday: The consolidation was the brainchild of Yan Wan and October 6 and 7, November 3 and 4, Decem- Matthew Bennett of our circulation team, who worked ber 1 and 2, January 5 and 6. with their colleague Amy Carlin under the supervision of Simon Gallo and Ed Aguila to carry it out. A league of vo- lunteers helped out too: Patrick Ezongo, Kevin Harold, Ahmed Taofik, Asha Visweswaran, Wenyi Zhou, as well as Ex Libris summer interns Carlos Bello, Jody Collins, and Kristina Hyriakova. None of it would have been possible without The newsletter of the American Library in Paris the time, talent, and toolbox of Alan Lewis. is published four times a year, Even with this historic streamlining, it’s always a good idea to start with the catalog (from the comfort of your in March, June, September and December. own home if you wish) to see if a book is available and where it is to be found. Or ask a librarian! 2 SPECIAL EVENTS OPEN HOUSE Art on view Explore the Library! Register to vote! Join a book club! Enter a raffle! Make art with an artist! Listen to jazz! Voyages Ann Bruce Hénaff SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER Tuesday 4 September- 13h00 - 19h00 Sunday 21 October Bring a friend! Meet the artist at Open House Check the website! on Sunday 23 September Art on view Proustian landscapes Photographs of the place Proust called Combray by Brita Lomba Tuesday 23 October - Sunday 9 December In association with this exhibit, a leading scholar of Proust and author of ‘Murder Chez Proust’ Elyane Dezon-Jones will speak about the author’s fictional Combray on Tuesday 6 November 19h30 3 Discussion groups How to sign up Three book groups and a historical tour group are now inviting new members for the fall season. Three other ongoing Library groups — on memoirs, mysteries, and “Strangers in a Strange Land” — are fully subscribed already. Any member of The American Library in Paris may participate in these groups. Anyone who wishes to participate may join The American Library. There is no extra fee for the groups, which are led by volunteers with special skills and interests. To sign up: ■ Please write us at the email address below and The ‘Kiss’ at the Library indicate — in the subject line — the name of the group you wish to join, as well as your Library mem- One of the great American art critics of the last half- bership number. The group leader will confirm your century, Arthur C. Danto, recalls his life-changing dis- participation (up to twelve members per group) and covery of a painting, and through it, Pop Art, at the Ame- send further details — including, in the case of the rican Library in Paris: walking tour, full information about meeting points “I had become very excited about Pop art in consequen- and other logistics. ce of having seen a painting by Roy Lichtenstein reprodu- ced in ARTnews, at the time the leading art magazine in [email protected] America. I was living in the south of France, writing the ■ Library membership is required to participate. If you Analytical Philosophy of History, and had driven up to are not yet a Library member, please join now or be pre- Paris for the Christmas holidays. I was eager to read up on pared (and leave time) to register or renew at the first what was happening in the New York art scene, so I went session (check/cash/credit card, photo ID and proof of to the American Library to look at the art magazines. residence required).