I missed a few things in yesterday's links post, and there are couple new links I'd rather add now than wait until next weekend for:
- In the Globe today, a non-story that the BPL may deaccession some out-of-scope items from its collections. Turns out non-functioning pianos and glass postcard printing plates aren't necessarily integral to the mission of the Boston Public Library. Institutions part with objects that don't fit in with their collecting policies all the time - this should not come as a surprise to anyone. What's important is that there be policies in place to govern such actions: transparent procedures for deaccessioning, decisions on how the funds can be used, &c.
- For the New Yorker, Jill Lepore writes on Poe and his horror stories. Over at the magazine's blog, she offers up a Poe cryptogram for readers to solve (answer tomorrow).
- Paul Collins has a piece in the New Scientist about the Victorian fad for gaming by telegraph (chess, bowling, even billiards!).
- And the one I missed: In Thursday's NYTimes, Mary Beard has an essay on the book trade in ancient Rome.
