| “I have an unshaken conviction that democracy can never be undermined if we maintain our library resources and a national intelligence capable of utilizing them.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a letter to publisher Herbert Putnam Libraries Save Democracy Tote BagShow your support for public libraries and the essential role they play in a democracy by wearing this handsome, well-made tote. Buy one for yourself and consider buying another for a librarian at your local library or your child’s school. At a generous 18" x 14.5", each tote is roomy enough for all the books you schlep home from the library. The bags are made in the USA, by a company that has been making eco-friendly, reusable cotton canvas tote bags for thirty years. Old-School Lap DeskDon’t be tied to a desk while working on a project. If you would rather work in bed or from an armchair (or beach chair), this lap desk will allow you to write, draw, read, or use a laptop in comfort. The top can be raised to a variety of angles, simply by placing a metal support into the appropriate notch. | Wearable LED Reading Light Wirecutter, the product review site for The New York Times, chose this as the #1 pick for a wearable reading light. It’s comfortable, hands-free, and rechargeable. The light beam is restricted to the target area; it can be bright enough for your reading and at the same time dim enough not to disturb others nearby. | Our Favorite Basic Book Light Harness the environmental and economic advantages of a rechargeable light. With no need to buy new batteries, you’re saving money and putting less hazardous waste into landfills. This all-purpose book light provides clear, consistent light that is easy on the eyes: twenty lumens of warm white light via two energy-efficient LEDs. | Multi-Tool Pen This handsome aluminum six-in-one pen with black ink includes a ruler, level, and stylus, as well as flathead and Phillips screwdrivers. It’s presented in a handsome, retro-style gift box. Dimensions: 0.5" W x 5.5" L | Silence Please MugA polite exhortation, “silence please,” appears beneath the English Gothic arch at the entrance to the Bodleian Old Library. Another appears in the library’s fifteenth-century courtyard. In fact, these signs are presented at every entrance to the Bodleian, one of Europe’s oldest libraries and the main research library at the University of Oxford. Made in Staffordshire exclusively for the Bodleian Libraries. | Rechargeable Handheld Dimmable MagnifierAll the essential features of an ideal reading tool have been brought together in this one handheld magnifier. The optical grade horizontal lens is equipped with ten anti-glare and dimmable LED lights and provides 4X magnification. It has a lightweight and ergonomic handle and is rechargeable with a micro USB cable. Includes a soft storage case and cleaning cloth. | Fifty-Year Calendar PaperweightSo much information in such a compact object. This slim but hefty paperweight has fifty years of monthly calendars. Want to know which day of the week your sixtieth birthday will fall on, or maybe your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary? Simply line up the month and year at the top of the dial to reveal the complete calendar of the desired month. Leap years are indicated in red. | HourglassThe hourglass is a recurring image that evokes not only the passage of time but also balance, the sky and the earth, the female figure, and more. This richly symbolic object is also a calming and beautiful desk accessory. Choose among four colors and between five- and thirty-minutes. The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia “Astonishingly, addictively entertaining.”—Benjamin Dreyer, the New York Times best-selling author of Dreyer’s English From the team that brought you League of the Lexicon, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia leads you on a delightful rollick through language unlike any you’ve ever experienced. | The Dictionary of Obscure and Enchanting Words Do you revel in rare words? Swoon over poetic turns of phrase? This dictionary is your passport to a world of linguistic wonder—where forgotten gems and modern curiosities meet. From the soaring spirit of aliferous to the bold brilliance of zazzy, words that inspire, amuse, and expand the way you see the world await you on every page. | Untranslatable Words CardsThis set of cards defines some of our favorite words from the world’s languages, and matches them with compelling images to bring some of our most important feelings into focus. These inspiring cards make a thoughtful gift for language lovers, word nerds, and all curious individuals, encouraging us to reflect on the splendor of vocabulary and the emotions. Twenty cards in a beautiful keepsake box; some cards contain adult themes. | Women Who Changed the World:
Mug, Notebook, ToteFrom secret agents, scientists, and suffragists to politicians, presidents, and paleontologists—and of course writers—this amazingly detailed design celebrates women who have had a significant impact on the world, from Ancient Egypt through to the present day. Cleopatra, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Frida Kahlo, Miriam Makeba, Mae C. Jemison, and Malala Yousafzai are some of the women from around the globe featured in this design. | Libraries Save Democracy Pin Show your support for public libraries and the essential role they play in a democracy by wearing this enamel pin on a collar, lapel, backpack, or tote. | Read Banned Books Enamel Pin The best way to protest the banning of books is to read them. Spread the word by pinning this “Read Banned Books” pin to a lapel, backpack, or bookbag. | Gels™ Manhattan Reading GlassesGels™ Manhattan reading glasses feature optical-quality lenses with a scratch-resistant coating and thin-rimmed frames made of TR-90 surgical plastic. Choose between black, blue, and tortoiseshell frames and four different strengths of magnification. The frames come in a soft matte texture embellished with working rivets. Cosmopolitan style meets refined functionality in this eyewear. | Collective Noun Tea TowelsA chime of wrens, a charm of goldfinches, a prickle of hedgehogs, a romp of otters, a drift of sheep, and more on hand-screened tea towels, each featuring fifteen wonderfully evocative collective nouns. | Dimmable LED Reading Lights for Young ReadersOne of our editors pointed us in the direction of these reading lights for kids. When she travels with her two children and the siblings must share a bed, one of these lights allows the night owl to read without keeping the younger one awake. | Let your thoughts turn heavenward as you gaze at this colorful solar system paperweight with its galaxies and planets. This glass paperweight combines style and functionality, making it a beautiful accent piece for any home or office. | Illuminated Galaxy Crystal BallLet the light shine with this illuminated crystal ball, featuring a 3D laser-engraved galaxy design. This light will spark joy and make any space come alive. The warm light suffusing the stars of this miniature galaxy creates an inviting atmosphere. | Walt Whitman Earrings“Resist much, obey little.” Whitman’s rallying cry for individual and collective liberty, from the 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass, is stamped on these sterling silver domed-disc earrings for pierced ears. They are handmade in the US. | Classic French Market BagPull out the Larousse: you’ll run out of the superlatives you’ll need to describe this classic net tote. Maybe the company that makes it says it best: Le IT BAG écolo (the ecological IT BAG). Chic as Chanel, it’s eminently practical: it takes up hardly any space and is machine washable, durable, inexpensive, and 100% cotton. | Illuminated Solar System
Crystal BallThe crystal is polished to a shine that reflects light and creates a stunning effect in any room. You can switch between three light intensity levels by touching the copper button on the front of the solid walnut wood base. The base is fitted with a rechargeable battery that can keep your space illuminated for up to sixteen hours. The USB-C port in the back makes for easy charging with the cable that is included. | Brass Book DartsNo photographic memory? Not to worry. Brass Book Darts are the book-lover’s perfect memory aid. No need to rack your brain trying to remember where you saw that wonderful phrase or curious fact in a book you read. Just slide a Brass Book Dart onto the page next to the passage you don’t want to forget, and you’ll be able to find it again whenever your memory needs a refresher. | Ruler and Letter Opener Add an element of old-fashioned elegance to your desk with this letter opener and ruler. Crafted in Italy from hard-tempered steel, this graceful yet practical tool features a refined gold-plated handle and engraved imperial measurements. | Italian Handheld Stapler This handheld stapler is crafted with durability and style in mind. Available in five attractive colors, this made-to-last metal stapler has a patented anti-jamming device that allows for years of frustration-free use. | 50% off the David Levine 2026 Calendar The 2026 edition of this annual favorite features David Levine classics drawn exclusively for The New York Review of Books. In celebration of free speech, this year’s calendar highlights thirteen authors of banned books and their censored works, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby, Toni Morrison and The Bluest Eye and Beloved, Isabel Allende and The House of the Spirits, Aldous Huxley and Brave New World, Alice Walker and The Color Purple, and more. NOW 50% OFF The Reader’s Catalog: 207 East 32nd Street, New York NY 10016-6305 |
