Carving gargoyles at the University of Sydney, 1857.

In order to protest the University of Sydney’s planned culling of half a million books from its library, a “book borrowing bonanza and read-in” is planned for 18 May at 1pm in the Fisher Library Foyer. The university announced this week that it would be getting rid of the books in order to make room for a coffee cart and other indispensable paraphernalia of 21st century university life.

The university plans to remove books which have not been borrowed in over five years, applying a “dust test” to identify those books not in its in-crowd. Holders of library cards are asked to borrow as many of these endangered books as possible. Those without cards can participate too, “disturbing the dust” by rescuing an old book from the stacks and reading it as part of the public read-in. I would bring a cloth as well, in order to dust as many volumes as possible. Perhaps we could have Berkshire Review dust cloths made up in time…

Mass Book Borrowing Bonanza & READ IN

University of Sydney, Fisher Library Foyer

1pm Wednesday 18th May 2011.