Now @ MPL...

There are 4 display windows outside the Krug Rare Book Room on the 2nd floor of Central Library. The contents of the windows are changed from time to time to highlight parts of the collection and/or events at the library.

At this time, the windows to the west of the doors contain an exhibit marking the 200th year of Charles Dickens' birth. One treasure from this display is the original serial set of the novel Our Mutual Friend as it was released in London. Books were often released in monthly parts over a period of time so that the working class people could afford them. Their paper covers were not designed to last so it is rare to be able to view a complete set.

The windows to the east of the doors feature cookbooks and cookery related materials from the collection. One of the windows contains a selection of Settlement Cookbooks with accompanying historical and biographical information about Elizabeth Black Kander. She founded the Settlement House in Milwaukee that taught young girls to keep house and cook. The other window features rare cookbooks from our shelves and includes selections from The Breta Greim Collection. This collection was donated from the "What's New in the Kitchen" WTMJ TV cooking show which ran from 1949-1962. It showcases pamphlets from that time, hand written recipes and published booklets like the Wisconsin Energy Cooky Book.

Please take a look at our interesting and colorful display windows the next time you visit Central Library!

Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

Most people are familiar with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 movie based on the book. But not everyone knows that Baum wrote 13 sequels to the novel! It is said that the children who read his book asked for more stories and he began with The Marvelous Land of Oz in 1904. Many of the original editions are kept in the children's section of the Krug Rare Books Room. Just reading the titles to them is amusing:

• Ozma of Oz (1907)
• Tik-Tok of Oz (1914)
• Rinkitink in Oz (1916)

It has become rare to find the original paper dust jackets intact but we are fortunate enough to have the dust jacket for Glinda of Oz (1920). After Baum stopped writing sequels, 26 more were written by 5 other authors, most notably 19 of these sequels by Ruth Plumly Thompson from 1921 to 1939.

If you are interested in viewing any of the Oz books, call the Art, Music and Recreation Department at 414-286-3071 to arrange a visit.

Patricia DeFrain, Rare Books Librarian

Come see the beautiful Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room and learn about the Art Nouveau movement from Professor Jim Slauson. Professor Slauson has taught Art and Design History and courses in the Humanities at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for more than 20 years. He will discuss the beautifully crafted commercial art that dominated the streets of Paris at the beginning of the 20th century and spread throughout all of Europe and the U.S.

Date: Saturday, April 20th, 2013

Location: Central Library's Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, 2nd Floor

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Seating is limited. Please call the Art, Music and Recreation department at (414)286-3071 to register for the program.

Historian John Eastberg will offer a look into the world of Milwaukee publisher George Brumder. Brumder, a 19th century immigrant to Wisconsin, had by 1910 become the nation's leading publisher of German-language literature. He was also an important figure in Milwaukee civic life and the city's German American community. Examples of books published by the Brumder company will be on display.

Library: Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Location: Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room, 2nd Floor
Date: Saturday, May 18
Time: 2:00-4:00 p.m. Seating is limited. Please call 414.286-3071 to register.

Part of the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Series.