The Center for Jewish History in New York, which houses the collections of the American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, announced earlier this month that it will establish a rare books room with the $2.5M gift from the David Berg Foundation. The new rare books room will "provide the center's partners with a state-of-the-art facility in which to showcase some of their most important printed materials, including seminal first editions and a cross-section of rabbinical literature, Jewish philosophy and intellectual history that dates back hundreds of years." It will be open to the public, and the grand opening is slated for the fall. N.Y. center gets $2.5 million gift for new rare books room [more Rare Book Room to be established at the Center for Jewish History]

Attendees to the 2011 Awards Ceremony for the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest were lucky enough to hear Michael Dirda give a talk entitled "The Thrill of the Hunt: The Serendipitous Pleasures of Book Collecting". You may now view the lecture below, on the Library of Congress's website, or on the ABAA's website . Michael Dirda is senior editor for "The Washington Post Book World", and a noted bibliophile. Michael's talk is preceded by the NCBCC awards presentation; his lecture begins at 29:30. [more Michael Dirda: "The Thrill of the Hunt: The Serendipitous Pleasures of Book Collecting"]

Here's the equally hysterical second part of Stephen Colbert's interview with Maurice Sendak: The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive The Colbert Report [more Maurice Sendak on Colbert Report Part 2]

Last night The Colbert Report aired part one of a two part interview with renowned author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, and it was hilarious. For your viewing pleasure, Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Part 1enjoy! The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive [more Maurice Sendak on the Colbert Report]

Today would be the 150th birthday of famed American author Edith Wharton, who is probably most widely known for her examination of New York society in the early twentieth century (The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth were both centered around this theme). Wharton was a very successful writer in her time, receiving both popular and critical acclaim in addition to good compensation for her works (any writer's dream!). She composed travel essays, short stories, novels, and, later in life, short autobiographical essays. Wharton was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. In 1902, Wharton designed and built The Mount based on the principles she outlined in her 1897 book, The Decoration of Houses. Today, The Mount is "an autobiographical house", "both a historic site and a center for culture inspired by the passions and achievements of Edith Wharton." To commemorate what would have been Wharton's 150th birthday, The Mount is kicking off a year of special events. Please click here to view a list of special events at The Mount and other locations throughout the country. Wharton has recently had an impact on popular culture with the popularity of the PBS series Downton Abbey (a great show if you're unfamiliar!). The New York Times had a piece on the connection last week, with Downton's creator, Julian Fellowes, citing Wharton's novels as a major influence. It's a great article worth a read. If you're in New York and looking to get your Wharton fix, there w... [more Happy 150th Birthday, Edith Wharton!]

The Chicago-based Churchill Centre has donated $8 million to establish the first U.S. research center and library devoted to the legacy of Winston Churchill. The National Churchill Center and Library will be located on the campus of George Washington University and is slated to open between 2013 and 2015. Members of the Churchill Centre will collaborate on the collection that will be housed in the new center and accompanying library. The group's Executive Director, Lee Pollock, says that many members are eager to donate their own personal collections, and that the Washington collection could amass over 1,000 volumes. Part of the funds gifted to the new National Churchill Center and Library will also create endowments for a professor and a curator position, and $1 million is reserved to fund exhibits and special programs. University President Steven Knapp commented that the "idea here is to look at him not just in isolation but also setting him in his life and times", and the Center will place a strong emphasis on 20th century British history in addition to Churchill himself. Completion is a few years away, but I can't wait to visit! If you are interested in Winston Churchill, please check out the inventory of ABAA member The Churchill Book Specialist, who specializes in books by and about Churchill. Churchill library to be created [more Churchill Research Center and Library to Open in D.C.]

ABAA Members Anne and David Bromer have very generously donated two million dollars to the Boston Athenaeum in support of the institution and the Bromer Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Athenaeum. Read more about it here! [more Bromer Booksellers give $2M Gift to Boston Athenaeum]

The Journal of the Book Club of Washington published a talk that Santa Monica based ABAA member Ken Karmiole gave at the California Rare Book School last year, and it's quite an interesting read. Ken addresses the pertinent theme of 'Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age' from a rare book dealer's perspective, outlining how the rise of the Internet has affected the trade and offering some interesting anecdotes and insights. It's a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the rare book world. Please click the following link to read the article: Ken Karmiole: Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age [more Collecting the Physical Book in the Digital Age]

Happy New Year! We are just three weeks away from the 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair and our office is buzzing with excitement! The California Fair is one of the three major fairs the ABAA sponsors- we also sponsor fairs in Boston every November and in New York every April- and the location alternates between San Francisco and Los Angeles biannually. This year, the fair will be held in Pasadena at the Pasadena Convention Center from February 10-12. It will be our first fair in this location and we couldn't be more thrilled, as the pre- and post-Fair hours will be easy to fill with activities and great dining. There will be more than 200 members of the ABAA and ILAB exhibiting a wide selection of books, maps, and ephemera from all different fields and disciplines. Click here to view a list of exhibitors and their specialties. In addition to the incredible offerings at the fair, there will also be a number of book-related seminars and a very special exhibit entitled "A Love Affair with Books: Personal Stories of Noted Collectors" and will explore the pursuits of collectors past and present, including some notable Southern California figures. Of course, there will also be a Discovery Day on Sunday, a feature of every ABAA fair, where you can have one of our rare book specialists appraise up to three items. Please click here for more information about fair events and exhibits. For information on hours and tickets, please click here. If you are in Southern Cal... [more 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair]

The 2011 Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair was a blast for exhibitors and attendees alike. Below is a video that I think will get any book lovers excited about attending a fair, and certainly puts me in eager anticipation for the upcoming California International Antiquarian Book Fair, which will be held in Pasadena this coming February. Enjoy! [more Video of the 35th Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair]