My university has a relatively large number of libraries. The oldest ones were obviously designed to have closed stacks. In other words, a patron would submit a request for a particular book to the staff who would, in turn, retrieve it from the stacks and deliver it to the patron. The newest library with that design opened circa the 1930s. Then, at some point, library architecture philosophy changed and campus libraries built in the 1970s and later were obviously designed to have open stacks. The older libraries have been converted to open use.
Library science and architecture types, I ask you: When did this change, which appears on my experience to be a nearly universal characteristic of library design, occur? And why?
posted by LastOfHisKind
on Jan 20, 2012 -
19 answers
What are good history books covering Japanese militarism in the first half of the 20th century?
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posted by jeremias
on Jan 16, 2012 -
5 answers
Were there stimulant drinks or foods in Europe before the arrival of coffee and tea from Asia and Africa? If so, what were they, and who had access to them?
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posted by jepler
on Jan 10, 2012 -
28 answers
What tunes would the roman emperor Nero have been likely to have played on his fiddle?
posted by Artw
on Jan 9, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm looking for a good book about the Scandinavia to Midwest America immigrant experience (non-fiction).
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posted by Lutoslawski
on Jan 9, 2012 -
14 answers
Can you tell me about this large reservoir just east of Mexico City, apparently called Lago Nabor Carrillo?
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posted by brightghost
on Jan 6, 2012 -
1 answer
I recently got into boxing. But I want to read a good book about the art of boxing. Any suggestions?
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posted by Napierzaza
on Jan 5, 2012 -
6 answers
Can anyone identify this TV show about historical weaponry I saw in the late '90s/early 2000s? Basically, every episode featured the host learning how to use a different weapon.
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posted by gueneverey
on Jan 1, 2012 -
3 answers
Schools or asylums that trained young girls in some sort of speciality skill only to later sell them off to rich men: did they really exist? Do they still?
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posted by divabat
on Dec 27, 2011 -
28 answers
I'm cleaning out my storage, and wanted to find out whether two objects are worth keeping / selling: A nautical insurance policy from Sept. 21, 1802 (
front,
back), and a B&W photograph, on a 14"x20" piece of Kodak paper, of Mt. Saint Helens erupting, photographer unknown (
photo). More details inside.
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posted by markkraft
on Dec 26, 2011 -
5 answers
Is there a serious, modern, non-fiction, non-kook, non-speculative history of the Bavarian Illuminati, as founded for Adam Weishaupt? I mean the German rationalist club, not the conspiracy theories surrounding it.
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posted by Yakuman
on Dec 21, 2011 -
1 answer
San Diego research question: I need a photo of a street sign for a residential street as it appeared in the late 1950s and/or early-to-mid 1960s. I am working on an illustration and I want to use the sign as part of the composition.
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posted by artlung
on Dec 19, 2011 -
3 answers
At the end of August I heard an author being interviewed on the Baltimore NPR about her book on the history of Maryland. I was in the car and couldn't write down her name or the name of the book, and I can't seem to find it listed on Amazon. Does anyone know what this book might be?
In the part I heard she was talking about Maryland's history as a Catholic/Royalist haven, and the tensions this caused with neighboring Virginia.
Inspired by
this post on the blue.
posted by apricot
on Dec 18, 2011 -
5 answers
YouTube sleuthing question: When you're logged in, the home page shows a timeline of activity from all the accounts you've subscribed to. This is activity like uploading a new video, or liking/favoriting someone else's video. You can also click on a username to see that person's individual activity feed. What circumstances could cause an action to appear in the main feed, but not in the personal one for that user?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 18, 2011 -
5 answers
Back in the early days of my Internet forays (1996? 1997?) I subscribed to an odd mailing list whose messages were pseudo-autobiographical posts by a small circle of friends. They formed an ongoing narrative, I believe one was named "Alex," and it continued for at least a couple of years. By the time blogs hit the scene it had slowly faded away, and I can't for the life of me find any of the archives I thought I'd saved.
I know it's a long shot, but it seems like just the sort of thing some other MeFites would remember... any luck?
posted by verb
on Dec 17, 2011 -
4 answers
Emperor Wang Gun. It is one of the best TV shows you have never seen. Unfortunately, I have only seen parts of it. Is there any way I can purchase this show at a reasonable price? All I can find is a heartbreakingly priced $300 DVD set.
posted by furiousxgeorge
on Dec 15, 2011 -
3 answers
I have a health condition that may end my life prematurely. I am an "older" parent of an only child who is currently 8 years old. It's important to me that I leave a record of who I was. Can you help me with strategies to help me "index and annotate" myself for her, so that when she is older she could have an idea of her father as an adult beyond just the Daddy that I am to her now?
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posted by nickjadlowe
on Dec 13, 2011 -
42 answers
What urbanist/transit/maps/architecture/local history-related attractions should I hit up in London?
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posted by andrewesque
on Dec 11, 2011 -
20 answers
Did soldiers (1800's) shot with lead musket balls suffer from any sort of lead poisoning?
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posted by ecorrocio
on Dec 9, 2011 -
8 answers
Do immigrants need a higher level of proficiency in English to get along in the world today than our ancestors did when they immigrated?
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posted by christinetheslp
on Dec 7, 2011 -
19 answers
What book should I read to get an overview-level understanding of the current state of biblical scholarship?
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posted by knave
on Dec 5, 2011 -
23 answers
I need to write narrative history for this paper. And I have no idea how. If you have tips for writing narrative or telling stories in general and narrative history in particular, those would be most appreciated!
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posted by kingfishers catch fire
on Nov 28, 2011 -
5 answers
If the flat earth theory was unpopular in Europe, why did so few of them try to sail west before 1492?
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posted by tchemgrrl
on Nov 27, 2011 -
40 answers
Champion warfare according to Wikipedia is the type of battle where the outcome to decided by a duel between two opposing soldiers. This seems like a pretty common trope in ancient literature - David and Goliath or Hector and Achilles - but has it ever been recorded in real life?
posted by John Frum
on Nov 23, 2011 -
14 answers
I am interested in hearing some historical and educational audiobooks/audiocasts. Anyone have any suggestions?
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posted by cloeburner
on Nov 23, 2011 -
13 answers
Was smoking indoors at the New York Public Library (the main branch) ever permitted? I'm specifically interested in what the rules were during the 1920s. It seems like it would have been a terrible idea to allow it, but given the prevalence of smoking during that period, I'm curious as to if it was actually banned or not. I have been googling, but haven't been able to find anything helpful.
posted by Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo
on Nov 22, 2011 -
4 answers
Is there any software (online or Mac) that will help me to make clean, simple custom maps for a classroom? Ideally, I'd start with a simple, blank outline map, then be able to add features one at a time. (For example, perhaps I'd select "Ohio River" from a dropdown menu, and then it would appear on the map.)
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posted by SpiralT
on Nov 20, 2011 -
10 answers
Is there a way to fix this infuriating Apple Safari/Google glitch? Perhaps someone who knows Javascript and/or Safari extensions could help me.
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posted by nowonmai
on Nov 16, 2011 -
4 answers
I'd like to read about Shanghai in the 1930s. What (fact or fiction) books can you recommend?
posted by wyn
on Nov 15, 2011 -
15 answers
I heard something like this. Abraham Lincoln said he wanted to paint the bathroom green and his wife wanted to paint it yellow "so we compromised and painted it yellow". Did anything like this ever happen? Who? Where? When? I have a friend who would like to use this in a wedding speech. My google fu fails me.
posted by snowjoe
on Nov 10, 2011 -
10 answers
I have a whole bunch of questions about the Siege of Syracuse during the Second Punic War...
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posted by wayland
on Nov 8, 2011 -
6 answers
I have to help my fifth grade daughters with their history fair project and they think I'm smart. Help!
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posted by daydreamer
on Nov 4, 2011 -
22 answers
Historical Photo / Daguerreotype Gurus, how might I download or purchase
this particular panorama of San Francisco in 1851 in extreme hi-resolution?
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posted by jnnla
on Oct 25, 2011 -
3 answers
Purpose: use in a middle school classroom. Ideally, I'd like to find a relatively short video available online that gives a simple explanation of how moveable type works, and shows the mechanics of actually printing with one. I'd also consider buying a DVD, if it's really excellent.
posted by SpiralT
on Oct 22, 2011 -
7 answers
Librarians / reference experts: I'm seeking any information in English about Phùng Thị Chính (other than the stub on Wikipedia).
posted by kalapierson
on Oct 15, 2011 -
2 answers
During the Vedic period in India, before the Upanishads, were the Brahmans the only ones who could conduct rituals and sacrifices to the gods?
posted by comfortinsound
on Oct 11, 2011 -
5 answers
Can you recommend books/articles on the history of the visual representation of sexuality in popular culture?
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posted by abirdinthehand
on Oct 8, 2011 -
6 answers
How do you write about religion historically? I'm writing my history honors thesis on evangelical Christians, but all of my drafts sound theological and not historical. When I try to fix the problem, I end up just reciting facts.
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posted by kingfishers catch fire
on Oct 8, 2011 -
15 answers
