The document provides fun facts about libraries. It discusses how libraries are more than just books and are places where imagination and creativity thrive. Some unique facts mentioned include the Library of Congress housing the world's smallest printed book, Dolly Parton starting a mobile library program, and the Guinness Book of World Records holding the record for the most stolen library book. The document also notes some libraries around the world using unconventional methods like donkeys and camels for mobile libraries, and programs that allow people to borrow seeds, tools, and art from libraries.

1. LIBRARIES:
Fun Facts
Deanna McCarthy ~ Perkins
deanna.perkins@eagles.usm.edu

2. More Than Books…
Libraries are more than books.
They are places where dreams soar,
the guy gets the girl, everything is
strange and wonderful, maybe
something is funny or dark. A library
is a keeper of imagination and a
giver of creativity.
Libraries also have history.
The history of any given library is not
always just about brick and mortar,
the budget, or who it is named
after.
As you will see in the following slides,
some libraries have their own story
to tell…
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Photo courtesy of Houston Public Library

3. TINY BOOK
The Library of Congress houses the smallest printed book entitled, Old
King Cole. The title falls under the subject heading of children’s
literature/nursery rhymes and it measures1.25 millimeters square.
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Photos courtesy of LOC. See Digital References.

4. Dolly Parton Owns A Library!
 Launched in 2005.
 Books mailed to
children.
 Books mailed out to
date: 60,000,000.
 Mississippi has affiliate
programs with Dolly
including Bay St. Louis.
 Dolly Parton has
improved literacy in as
many as 750,000
children.
For more information see
Dolly’s Website here:
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https://imaginationlibrary.com/

5. Guinness World Records Holds The Record!
 Guinness World Records,
known to so many as The
Guinness Book of World
Records, holds two world
records itself:
1) Best selling copyrighted series
of all time.
2) The most stolen book in public
libraries.
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6. Rent a human at the Library!
 Human Libraries around the
world total 150.
 Challenges stereotypes and
promotes diversity.
 Humans rented are
considered ‘interactive books’
and speak 30 minutes.
 Library catalog of human
books are available to search
at events.
 Programming idea for
community action in libraries.
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Photo courtesy of http://humanlibrary.org/

7. Library burros & camels
 Biblioburro is a mobile library
ran by a teacher in Columbia
who takes books to remote
areas via donkeys.
 Photo courtesy of Itzuvit
 Kenya National Library Service
began a mobile library in 1985
by way of camels.
Photo courtesy of BookAid.org
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8. SMALLEST LIBRARY?
 ‘Little Free Library’ was the
first one of its kind started in
Downtown Manhattan in
2013.
 Green Oasis Community
Garden is where it is now
located.
 Patrons use the honor system
to borrow and return books.
 Designed to hold one patron
at a time.
 Began a trend of small
libraries in the northern
region which spread all over
the country. To find a ‘tiny
library near you see:
http://littlefreelibrary.org/.
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Photos courtesy of Stereotank/Designboom

9. MORE TINY LIBRARIES!
Even down here on the
Mississippi gulf coast tiny libraries
are beginning to pop up. What
began in Manhattan has made
its way to Ocean Springs. Just
last week in the local
newspaper, the Sun Herald, an
article was written about one of
the tiny libraries available to the
community. The articles states it
is doing well with many patrons.
For more information see the
article at:
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/21/6427347
_tiny-libraries-popping-up-in-ocean.html?rh=1
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10. Noteworthy Lending
Books are not the only material one
may borrow from a library. Libraries
across the nation are lending out the
odd and artsy.
 Seeds: Many libraries let patrons
borrow seeds with the agreement
seeds or clippings of the harvest
are returned.
 Tools: Libraries, such as Oakland
Public Library in California, lends 2
to 8 tools to its patrons for one
week. They have over 5,000 to
loan.
 Art: Multiple libraries now allow
patrons to check out art pieces for
up to 2 months. Pieces include
posters, local artist works, and
framed gallery pieces.
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Photo courtesy of Pima Library
http://www.library.pima.gov/seed-library/
Public domain clip art

11. “In a good bookroom you feel in some
mysterious way that you are absorbing the
wisdom contained in all the books through
your skin, without even opening them.”
― Mark Twain
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Photo Courtesy of twainweb.net

12. ANTHROPODERMIC BIBLIOPEGY?
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Harvard’s Special Collections in
Houghton Library has a chilling book
amongst its stacks. Bound in human skin,
Destinies of the Soul, dates back to the
mid 1800’s. For more information view
the above news video from RT news.
Photo courtesy of Houghton Library Blog, Harvard
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/houghton/files/2013/05/WKR-8.1.10001.jpg
PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL BOOK!

13. LIBRARY LOOKOUT!
 The above photo is taken from one of the webcams
at the library that stays continually active. You can
see a face between the rails.
 To try and capture some ghoulish figures yourself go
to WillardGhost.com
http://www.willardghost.com/ghostspottings/
 To see more about Willard Library Haunting view the
video below from The Weekly Special.
WILLARD LIBRARY: THE GREY
LADY
Willard Library in Evansville,
Indiana has ghosts to boast
about. Mainly, the ‘Grey
Lady’ appears and:
 Water turns on.
 Perfume may be smelled.
 Touches patrons hair.
 Makes patrons cold.
 Noises are heard.
 Items, including books are
moved.
 Items appear.
Willard Library: Unexplained Occurrences-See References
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14. Thank You for Viewing!
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For more information see References.

15. References
Cole, H. (2013, May 24). Bound in Human Skin. Harvard: Houghton Library Blog [Web blog].
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/houghton/2013/05/24/bound-in-human-skin/
Deholde, A. (n.d.) 16 Wonderfully Weird Libraries Around The World. Lifehacks. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/16-
wonderfully-weird-libraries-around-the-world.html
Goodreads. (2015). Quotes About Libraries. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/libraries
Kickassfacts. (2015, January 14). 25 Interesting Facts About Libraries. http://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-
libraries/
Library of Congress. (2015). Books: Old King Cole http://www.loc.gov/item/86125497/#about-this-item
Library Outsourcing. (n.d.). 10 Interesting Facts About Libraries. http://libraryoutsourcing.com/10-interesting-facts-libraries/
McKinley, C. (2015, September 7). Human Library Lets You Check Out People, Aims to Foster Diversity. Goodnews Network.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/human-library-fosters-diversity-by-checking-out-people/
News.DM. (2013, February 18). Did You Know: The Guinness Book of World Records Holds the Record for Being the Book Most Often
Stolen from Public Libraries? http://www.news.dm/did-you-know-the-guinness-book-of-world-records-holds-the- record-for-being-
the-book- most-often-stolen-from-public-libraries/
Parton, D. (2015). Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Home. http://imaginationlibrary.com/
RT American. (2014, June 5). Book bound in human skin found at Harvard Library [Video blog].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXRMxqoLBkw
Sturgeon, J. (2015, July 22). 8 Weird Facts From the History of the Library. Flavorwire. http://flavorwire.com/526833/8-weird-facts- from-
the-history-of-the-library
The Weekly Special. (2012, October 11). Willard Library Ghost Cams [Video blog].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRVSGEJRrCk
Willard Library. (n.d.). Ghost. http://www.willard.lib.in.us/about_willard_library/ghost.php
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16. References - Digital
Abergel, R. (n.d.) Human Library [human library logo]. Retrieved from humanlibrary.org
Biblioburro. [photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/16-wonderfully-weird-libraries-around-
the-world.html
Camel Mobile Library. [photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/16-wonderfully-weird-
libraries-around-the-world.html
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library [screen shot]. (2015). Retrieved from https://imaginationlibrary.com/
Harvard. (2013). Destinies of The Soul [photograph]. Retrieved from
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/houghton/files/2013/05/WKR-8.1.10001.jpg
Houston Public Library. (n.d.) Library [clip art]. Retrieved from http://houstonlibrary.org/
Library of Congress. (2015). Old King Cole [digital image]. Retrieved from http//hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/min.0001
Looney Tunes The End Sign [clip art]. (n.d.). Retrieved from Bing / creative commons / ‘library’.
Mark Twain Forum. (2015). Twain. Retrieved from www.twainweb.net
Nelson, K. (2015, September 21). Tiny Libraries Popping Up In Ocean Springs [screen shot]. Sun Herald. Retrieved from
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/21/6427347_tiny-libraries-popping-up-in-ocean.html?rh=1
Pima Library. (n.d.). Seeds to Borrow [photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.library.pima.gov/seed-library/
Public Domain. (n.d.). Warhol’s Marilyn, Mona Lisa, Tools [clip art]. Retrieved from Bing / creative commons / ‘art’.
RT American. (2014, June 5). Book bound in human skin found at Harvard Library [Video blog].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXRMxqoLBkw
Stereotank. (2013). Little Free Library [photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.stereotank.com/Little-Free-Library
The Weekly Special. (2012, October 11). Willard Library Ghost Cams [Video blog].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRVSGEJRrCk
Willard Library. (2015). Willard Ghost [screen shot]. Retrieved from http://www.willardghost.com/ghostspottings/
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