Toledo-Lucas County Public Library was constructed with the aid of multiple New Deal agencies:  the Public Works Administration (PWA), which supplied a large grant to the city for construction, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which supplied labor.  The building, which bears a 1939 cornerstone, was dedicated on September 4, 1940.  One remarkable aspect of the building is the breathtaking frieze that wraps around above its main lobby.  According to ToledoLibrary.org: “Displaying more than 80 colors of glass, the breathtaking murals in Main Library’s Central Court illustrate the history of arts and sciences in a variety of fields such as architecture, painting, music, philosophy, and industry.  Designed by New York Artist John Benson (with the exception of the “Philosophy” panel, which was designed by Frank Sohn) the murals are six feet tall, and surround the atrium in a continuous frieze.”  “The work was “created by inlaying ‘puzzle pieces’ of hand-cut art glass onto large panels of colored Vitrolite.”  (Living New Deal has no evidence that separately ties this remarkable work directly to a New Deal agency.)  See pictures at https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/main-library-toledo-oh/  

For a history of the term “Gotham,” one doesn’t have to go much further than Edwin Burrows’ and Mike Wallace's Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898. It is here that we learn that the term Gotham is tied to the author Washington Irving, famous for his short stories “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” and “Rip Van Winkle.”  It’s also here that we learn Irving was being less than flattering when he nicknamed the city in 1807.  The word “Gotham” actually dates back to medieval England.  Carmen Nigro  https://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/01/25/so-why-do-we-call-it-gotham-anyway  

Henry Fielding (1707–1754) was an English novelist, irony writer, and dramatist known for earthy humour and satire.  His comic novel Tom Jones is still widely appreciated.  He and Samuel Richardson are seen as founders of the traditional English novel.  He also holds a place in the history of law enforcement, having used his authority as a magistrate to found the Bow Street Runners, London's first intermittently funded, full-time police force.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fielding   

Rain chain by Nafeesah Allen  If you’ve spotted this outdoor feature, you might have mistaken it for a windchime or decorative accent.  Originally called kusari-doi, rain chains started in Japan, where they are still used to keep water runoff away from roofs and foundations of homes.  Beautiful and highly functional, rain chains attach to gutters and guide rainwater down to the ground or to a water-harvesting receptacle.  In Japan, they are used on homes, garden pagodas, temples, and other settings.  If you’re wondering what a rain chain is used for, the answer is simple.  They have two main purposes.  The first is to guide rainwater from the roof’s gutter and drains down to the ground, where it can be absorbed into the lawn, run along the pavement to curbside drains, or be captured in a rain-harvesting bucket.  The second is simply to decorate the home’s exterior.   See also https://www.diyncrafts.com/36895/home/15-simple-diy-rain-chains-that-add-dramatic-flair-to-your-outdoors  

Noun  wordsmith (plural wordsmiths)  One who uses words skilfully. [from late 19th c.] synonym ▲hyponyms ▼  Synonym: (one sense) wordmonger Coordinate terms  jokesmith  songsmith

Verb  wordsmith (third-person singular simple present wordsmiths, present participle wordsmithing, simple past and past participle wordsmithed)  (transitive) To skilfully compose or craft (something written).  https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wordsmith#English  

May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression. The Windhoek Declaration, a statement of press freedom principles by African newspaper journalists, was adopted on May 3, 1991.  

http://librariansmuse.blogspot.com  Issue 2665  May 3, 2023