ABSTRACT
Epigraphy, study of intentionally durable writings as opposed to accidentally surviving papyrus for example became a prominent feature of academic institutions in the nineteenth century. The epigrapher must somehow reconstruct that cultural context. The Seattle Public Library, which has become synonymous with innovation in the field, uses a series of "living room" spaces in combination with personal device services to help give context and reputation to the elements of its holdings. This library is incidentally also the leader in RFID tagging especially for automated sorting, a clear instance of the augmented city. The public library movement was a social welfare project. It sought to redress some social inequities of the industrial age by applying some of that era's unprecedented wealth toward a project of universal literacy. Librarians mainly practice information architecture. Library strategists realize that social networks have become the main opportunity and challenge. Information architects understand the importance of streaming media.
