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Monday, June 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Library Book by Susan Orlean
This recounting of the 1986 fire that devastated the Central Library in Los Angeles acts as a catalyst for a primer on the science of fire and also a look at how it may have started, a bit of library history worldwide, why libraries matter, hilarious stories about some of the goings-on in libraries and much more. Orlean has the knack for pulling threads on a seemingly mundane institution and shining a light on what makes it special. After describing the book burnings during the Nazi regime in Germany she decides to burn one herself to get a truer sense of what that would feel like. It didn’t feel great. After a careful investigation on who may have started the fire she comes up confounded and thinks maybe it wasn’t arson after all. Orlean has produced an informative and fascinating tribute to libraries. Carol Lloyd is the Churchill County Librarian, and avid reader, and promoter of local artists.    

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C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITORComment author: Debra J RidenourComment text: So sorry for your loss. My condolences to the family.Comment publication date: 6/21/25, 7:25 PMComment source: Obituary - Ronald Warren Biggs K Comment author: Kim RawlingsComment text: well then vote them out next timeComment publication date: 6/20/25, 2:21 PMComment source: Spross Hired as County Manager After Split Vote, Updates Commission on Current ProjectsComment author: Chris GarrisonComment text: Congratulations Hornets and to Bryce Timmons for making Allstars! I’m a very proud Grandma! ♥️Comment publication date: 6/20/25, 1:39 PMComment source: Fallon Hornets Compete at Youth Nationals Baseball Tournament
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