Menstuff® has compiled the following information concerning what is believed to be the only library of its kind in the world - The Men's Study. (Intern opportunities.)
In August of 1994, our founder, Gordon Clay, took over 1,000 of the books on 64 different men's issues selected from over 3,000 listed on this web site, put them in a converted RV, and went on the road full-time for 4 1/2 years in what he called the Brower's Bookmobile. After traveling over 30,000 miles through 24 states and visiting hundreds of rural towns too small to support their own library or book store, he retired the bookmobile on September 8, 2001. It currently sits beneath a 50' tall climbing rose bush near the Southern Oregon coast. (See close-up.)
"My grandfather often went to his 'study' to read, write, think or just get away from the activities of an active family. What an ideal home for the hundreds of books I have gathered on men's issues,'" Gordon thought.
The goal was to build a small library for the entire collection. And, while The National Men's Resource Center is a not-for-profit corporation, those plans were delayed when funding for such activities literally dried up.
With 120 boxes of books, 12 boxes of video tapes and audio cassettes, and 50 boxes of men's magazines sitting in the living room of his home for almost two years, Gordon decided to go ahead and construct a suitable building, using his own savings. The building was completed on July 19, 2003 and he has filled the shelves with most of those books and audio cassettes. Most of the videos and magazines have been donated to the Changing Men's Collection at the Michigan State University in Lansing.
The Men's Study currently holds 256 linear feet of the men's
books,
videos
and audio
tapes listed on this web site (we don't list
books/videos/tapes on this web site that we haven't seen.). Check
www.menstuff.org/books/bookindex.html
if you have a book/video/tape that you think is appropriate for the
web site and The Men's Study. If so, let
us know that you would like to send us a review copy of
the finished product.
Click on the photo above to see a closer view of
the drawing by Robert Redbird which hangs on the back wall. It has an
Native American proverb which reads
"To give dignity to a man is above all things."
More Books
The shelves are currently full and I have 12-18 gallon Rubbermade containers filled with books as they continue to flow in. Anyone want to take a vacation on the Southern Oregon Coast and help reorganize the shelves to add the new books and take the less significant ones and send them to the Changing Men collection at Michigan State?
The entrance to New York City's historic main public library (the
Stephen A. Schwazman Building -100 years old in 2011) is flanked by
two large marble lions (Patience and Fortitude). However, in much of
the world, the elephant is the symbol of wisdom and knowledge. So, at
the entrace to The Men's Study sits Ganesh
(or Ganesha) welcoming all who wish more knowledge about men.
There's a lot of work to be done. And much of it may qualify for college credit, for those taking Sociology, Men's Studies, Women's Studies or Gender Studies. Some work can be done from the comfort of your own residence while others may want to spend some time near the Southern Oregon coast, staying on the property or nearby and work with the books themselves.
When you sell a man a book, you don't sell him 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. - Christopher Morley
|
|
 |
