Thursday, October 31, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/31/2013

Man Interrupted At His Writing, Gerrit Dou, 1635

Daily Thoughts 10/31/2013

On the way to work, I read some of the new biography of Ian Fleming. It is fairly interesting. It is a story of both tremendous sucess and failure combined with an eccentric, flamboyant character. Ian Fleming travels widely in his 20s, knows many languages, and comes from a wealthy banking family attached to a variety of bohemian artists. We learn of Ian Fleming at an early age failing both getting into the military and failing the diplomatic service test. At the same time he runs through different careers like news writer and stockbroker. There is a casanova angle where he is often entangled with an older woman as a kind of guide and a younger woman in the bedroom. The writing is both tragic and exhilarating showing a person with many facets. This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays. We have a fundamentals of computers class this morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. I spent a little time discussing editing the website with a colleague. I spent a little time working on a free public survey called Impact Survey which is for technology. http://impactsurvey.org/ I also put some more computer class flyers and Bookpage magazines out for the public to take. The computer lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. There is a Powerpoint class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

I spent a little time doing desk cleaning and sorting through older things. I also have the book, Beyond Book Sales The Complete Guide to Raising Real Money for Your Library Edited by Susan Dowd to read.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/30/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/30/2013

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library. I also checked the displays. We put out the holiday books.

I spent some time with colleagues discussing a new layout for the library website. We will probably see a preview of it during the management meeting.

I also have been discussing other computer issues with our computer technician. I put in the new signup sheets for computer classes today.

I am planning on reading Ian Fleming by Andrew Lycett which is a new biography.

This afternoon, I spent some time looking at the library circulation statistics. They have been improving in July, August, and September.

Web Bits

Jobs Situation Its Not Pretty http://lj.libraryjournal.com/blogs/annoyedlibrarian/2013/10/28/jobs-situation-its-not-pretty/

The New Library Patron http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/27694245

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/29/2013

By The River, John Singer Sargent, 1885

Daily Thoughts 10/29/2013

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also spent a little bit of time updating the Bookletters page for new adult fiction and adult nonfiction.

I also spent s little time bringing up some of the holiday books for display.

We have four new computers in cybercorner put in today. It should make things a little better. The computer lab was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. I put out copies of the new schedule for computer classes. There are two classes tonight, a Beginning Microsoft Word class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and a Your Smartphone class from 6;45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.. We have a new registration system to register people electronically for classes which is something new. I have to learn it.

I checked out the book, Banksy You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat And If You Were Not You Would Know About It which is a book of Banksy's street art. He is wandering New York right now and doing various things. http://www.banksyny.com/ This is another article from the New York Times-- Month Long Chase Around New York York City for Banksy's Street Art. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/nyregion/monthlong-chase-around-new-york-city-for-banksys-street-art.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&smid=fb-nytimes I enjoyed reading the book and looking at the pictures. It had a very strong anti-establishment flair to it.

Web Bits

The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: Why Paper Stills Beats Screens [Preview]-- Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-reading-brain-in-the-digital-age-why-paper-still-beats-screens&WT.mc_id=SA_Facebook

Monday, October 28, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/28/2013

Reading Couple (Edmund Renoir and Marguerite Legrand), Pierre Auguste-Renoir, 1877

Daily Thoughts 10/28/2013

On the way to work, I read some more of Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris. He can be very funny in often slightly inappropriate ways. For example, he describes buying aspirin to give out to people who attend his book readings. I like his essays on his experiences traveling. They give a rather different perspective on our world.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays. I spent a little more time with the children's room going over ordering. We also discussed weeding a little bit.

I did some ordering this morning focusing on the bestsellers and patron requests. I am going to be focused on ordering bestsellers until the end of the year.

Right now, there are new computers being put in for both the cybercorner and the computer lab. We also updated the computer class list for November and December.

Web Bits

The Value of Reading Novels http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/reading-novels_b_4168344.html

Make It @ Your Library Website Launches Connecting Librarians and Makerspaces http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2013/10/make-it-your-library-website-launches-connecting-librarians-makerspace

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/27/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/27/2013

This morning, I spent some time checking Twitter and Facebook. I also read a little bit of the book, Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls Essays, Etc. by David Sedaris. It is mostly sardonic, slightly dark comic essays about the authors past.

Web Bits

Brian Kenney: How to Make-It-Happen Library http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/59185-living-in-the-moment.html

Before Sherlock An Ancient Chinese Sherlock’s Enduring Appeal http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/25/240685259/before-sherlock-an-ancient-chinese-sleuths-enduring-appeal?utm_source&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=20131025

We have quite a few of the Judge Dee books by Robert Van Gulik in our mezzanine.

Star Wars Baddy Jabba the Hut Working in Welsh Library http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/438925/Star-Wars-baddy-Jabba-the-Hut-working-in-Welsh-library

The Earliest Surviving Printed Book from the Americas http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/americas/2013/10/the-earliest-surviving-book-from-the-americas.html

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/26/2013

Allegory of Poetry and Music, Angelica Kauffman, 1782

Daily Thoughts 10/26/2013

This morning, I finished reading Power Systems by Noam Chomsky on the way to work. For me, it is much like reading Rumsfeld's Rules. I don't particularly agree with many of the authors viewpoints. What he says to me that is important is that you should protect your mind from "mental slavery" which is a way of saying, you should be able to resist more subtle forms of propaganda. He describes the importance of reading widely and limiting or controlling your consumption of mass media.

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library. I also checked the displays. I went over a colleagues monthly report with her. I also spent some time discussing the Overdrive Advantage program.

This morning, I talked with the computer technician about Raspberry Pi and Makerspaces which was kind of interesting. There were a few projects to think about.

I spent a little time looking at what software different libraries had on their public computers. Most had a mix of standard Microsoft Office programs and internet browsers. A few had resume preparation software and keyboarding software. I noticed that some libraries like San Francisco Public Library had Open Office on their public computers instead of Microsoft Office. We have Microsoft Office, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, various internet browsers and some applications like Picasa and Windows Media Player. There were some interesting things like GIMP, paint.net, and Scribus which were on Chicago Public Library's list of software they had on their public computers.

I checked out the book, Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls Essays, Etc. by David Sedaris. I like David Sedaris's humor. Web Bits

Looking for a 2 a.m. Library Fix? Milwaukee to Debut 24 Hour Vending

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/looking-for-a-2-am-library-fix-milwaukee-to-debut-24-hour-vending-b99118901z1-227669761.html

Friday, October 25, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/25/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/25/2013 I spent a little time last night reviewing my Facebook skills with the book, Teach Yourself Visually Facebook The Fast and Easy Way to Learn by Ben harvell. I rather like the Teach Yourself Visually series because it has lots of technology books with extensive illustrations on how to do things that are easy to follow.

I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library this morning. I have a copy of Bookpage to read. Bookpage is turning out to be very popular at our library, we increased the monthly number of magazines from 50 to 100 a month.

I spent some time going over Ipage from Ingram and Titlesource 3 from Baker and Taylor for ordering with the children's room. I also spent a little time with the new computer lab assistant looking at different library websites. I have the new adult manual for the 2014 Adult Summer Reading Program which is called Literary Elements.

Web Bits

Should We Rewrite Jane Austen

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/19/should-we-rewrite-jane-austen

Jane Austen is in the public domain. The reason for the public domain is to be creative. This at least should be interesting.

Photos from The Library A World History

http://www.greenwichtime.com/entertainment/books/slideshow/Photos-from-The-Library-A-World-History-72674.php#photo-5363286

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/24/2013

Herman Richer, La Partition, 1910

Daily Thoughts 10/24/2013

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library. I also checked the displays. I also spent some time reading the latest Forecast from Baker and Taylor.

The new Bookletters came in for patrons. We are also working on the computer class schedule for November and December.

I spent some time going over Ipage and Titlesource 3 with the children's room.

Christopher Moore has a new novel coming out in April of 2014, The Serpent of Venice. I rather like his style of humor.

Web Bits

For the Self Publishers-- Annoyed Librarian

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/blogs/annoyedlibrarian/2013/10/24/for-the-self-publishers/

Librarian Has the Right Stuff for NASA

http://www.thewoodstockindependent.com/October-2013/Librarian-has-the-right-stuff-for-NASA/

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/23/2013

Still Life With a Book, 1883, Paul Signac Daily Thoughts 10/23/2013

This morning, I checked the library Facebook and Twitter. I also spent a little time looking at the different New York Times Bestseller Lists.

http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2013-10-27/overview.html

I think our joining the Overdrive Advantage program has increased the amount of e-books which people are taking out. We have ordered for children's, teen, and adult. http://westchester.lib.overdrive.com/0DEA839A-A262-4EB7-918D-B4358F1D4AC1/10/50/en/ODAdvantage.htm

Also, the new person for the computer lab has been working out well. He has been working on getting our events into the local online papers. http://pelham.patch.com/groups/events/p/friends-of-the-mt-vernon-public-library-book--bake-sale

This afternoon, I watched the ALA Virtual Town Hall on E-books from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. I got to hear different speakers talk about library issues with e-books. The first is that e-books are much more expensive than regular books. The big six publishers are charging more. However, 82% of our regular users want them. There was quite a bit on outreach. Some of the sites mentioned were Digital Book World and Authors for Library E-books which is currently supported by Jodi Picoult and Cory Doctorow.

I thought the most interesting part was towards the end where they mentioned that libraries do not have a way to take donated e-books. This is a very interesting idea. I think it will cause major changes with groups like The Friends of the Library and other local authors. In fact, it is difficult for libraries to handle small publishers who have e-books for sale. This is an important issue. It brings in the issue of locally produced material in e-book form for local history and local authors. I have seen many local authors have e-books in addition to their print copies.

This reminded me of an earlier statement that the whole publisher and reader ecosystem is changing. These changes are very new and leave open issues like how you archive or preserve e-books for the longer term.

I enjoyed listening to the presentation. It is very relevant to what is happening in our library right now.

Web Bits

Young People Are Not As Digitally Native As You Think

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/07/young-people-are-not-as-digitally-native-as-you-think/?_r=0

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/22/2013

Still Life Scales, Pyotr Konchalovsky, 1916

Daily Thoughts 10/22/2013

This morning, I read Art Made From Books Altered, Carved, Transformed compiled by Laura Heyenga on the train to work. It had some very interesting pictures of art made from altered books. People did a variety of things from carving out designs to making enameled rings to building sculptures made out of books. It was interesting looking at all the different designs.

This morning, we had a staff meeting. I got a little bit more understanding of what it means to be a school district library.

I placed my weekly order for books today. I ordered some of the National Book Award winners as well as The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton which won the Mann Booker Prize. I also ordered a few books on makerspaces including Zero to Maker by David Lang and The Makerspace Workbench by Adam Kemp.

I did a little work with Twitter and Facebook for the library this morning.

I checked out two books to read, Before Happiness by Shawn Anchor, and Star Wars Kenobi by John Jackson Miller. It is sometimes good to get in a little escapism to relax. I have two Times Literary Supplement, a copy of the The New York Review of Books, and a copy of Baker and Taylor's Forecast to read.

The computer lab was open today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. We also have two classes tonight, a Beginning Facebook class and a Beginning Tablet class.

Web Bits

Librarians Vs. Search Engines in UC Berkeley Report.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2013/10/librarians-vs-search-engines-uc-berkeley.html?page

Monday, October 21, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/21/2013

Daniel Schultz The Younger, Johannes Avelius, Astronomer, Before 1683

Daily Thoughts 10/21/2013

This morning, I spent some time looking at Facebook and Twitter. I also spent a little bit of time looking at information on Makerspaces what I found surprised me. A lot of it was about teen and children's crafts and activities focused on science and engineering. It is not just about 3D printers. I remember when I was a kid, there was a place in San Francisco called the Exploratorium which was about exploring science. They have a rather interesting list of science experiments that seem almost crafty. http://www.exploratorium.edu/afterschool/activities/index.php?activity=172&firstDisplayedItem=1 There is also Hands Occupied which has a lot of science oriented crafts http://www.pinterest.com/iartlibraries/hands-occupied/ It feels a little bit like Lego or other kids toys.

It is not all big computer things like Makerbots which cost large amounts of money. I am noticing that many libraries are going after smaller projects like Arduino or Raspberry Pi where people do homebrew computer activities. It is interesting to look at. http://acrl.ala.org/techconnect/?p=2962 Adventures With Raspberry Pi: A Librarian's Introduction.

I finished reading The Outer Limits of Reason What Science, Mathematics, and Logic Can Teach Us by Noson S. Yanofsky. Noson S. Yanofsky focuses on reason as a way to seek out facts and avoid falsehoods. I found some more of the ideas stimulating. It would be easy to take each chapter in this book and turn it into a full length nonfiction book. The content is very dense with ideas. There are diagrams, but not long complex diagrams with lots of math. The book is also indexed and has notes on each chapter. Right now, I am thinking about the idea that observing things changes what is being observed. I am also thinking about how science is limited to what we can observe. I don't think we will run out of new things to observe any time soon. There is still plenty of outer space which has not been explored and parts of the deep ocean where people have not been. I enjoyed reading this book, it stretched both my imagination and intellect. People asked about it while I was on the train to work. They wanted to know if it was about physics. For me this covered philosophy, math, language, physics, quantum physics, computer science, and history of science.

Web Bits

A Brief History of Publishing

http://finvy.com/a-brief-history-of-publishing/

43% of Americans Own an Ereader or Tablet.

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Tablets-and-ereaders/Findings.aspx

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/20/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/20/2013

I have been reading more of The Outer Limits of Reason. I am reading about the concept of the multiverse or existence with many different universes. It is appealing to me in a science fiction kind of way. There is a lot to ponder.

I have been looking at the library Facebook. I enjoy it.

Web Bits

From Initial Spark to Dynamite Success at the Polls

http://www.slideshare.net/EveryLibrary/campaign-success-presentation-at-ila-2013

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/19/2013

"Learning is wealth. Wilson, Charley, Rebecca, and Rosa. Slaves from New Orleans". Photocard by Chas. Paxson, photographer, New York, 1864.

Daily Thoughts 10/19/2013

I have been steadily reading a little more of The Outer Limits of Reason What Science, Mathematics, and Logic Cannot Tell Us. Right now, I am reading about how mathematics underpins science in ways which are not that understandable.

Web Bits

The Great Library of Alexandria Was Destroyed by Budget Cuts, Not Fire

http://io9.com/the-great-library-at-alexandria-was-destroyed-by-budget-1442659066

Positioning Your Library As An Essential Service- Libby Post

http://www.slideshare.net/LibbyPost

Friday, October 18, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/18/2013

Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services (03/09/1943 - 09/15/1945)

Daily Thoughts 10/18/2013

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook. I also have been sending out a few trial messages with Mailchimp. I spent a little time this morning checking the displays, the new books, and the gift books.

I read the latest copy of the New York Times Book Review and put the book, David And Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell. I also looked at the Man Booker Prize list and the 2013 National Book Awards. Library Journal also has a set of reviews for African American novels and nonfiction which I plan on reading.

Right now, I am in the computer lab which is going to open between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. today.

I checked out the book, Art Made From Books, Altered, Sculptured, Carved, and Transformed compiled by Laura Heyenga.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/17/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/17/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Outer Limits of Reason this morning on the way to work. I am reading about different issues in quantum physics. For example things change when they are measured, consciousness changes the outcomes in quantum physics experiments, and concepts on how the universe acts in non-local ways. I am finding the book intellectually stimulating.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays.

Web Bits

Norman Gets First Fully Automated 24 Hour Library in the United States

http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x1442583898/Norman-gets-first-fully-automated-24-hour-library-in-United-States

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/16/2013

Portrait of Art Dealer Manfred Shames, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1925-1932

Daily Thoughts 10/16/2013

On the way to work, I read some more of The Outer Limits of Reason. I read about the butterfly effect and chaos theory which demonstrates why it is very hard to predict the weather accurately. I like that the world is not completely predictable, but it is understandable.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library this morning.

I also spent a bit of time checking on flyers for programs. We are showing the film Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World which we got as part of the Bridging Cultures grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2013. After the film there will be a discussion with a local Imam, Abdul Azeez. It should be interesting.

The Digital Shift Reinventing Libraries is Today on October 16, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

http://www.thedigitalshift.com/reinventinglibraries/

I enjoyed watching:

The Digital Shift 2013 Library Makerspaces

http://www.slideshare.net/JustinTheLibrarian/the-digital-shift-2013-library-makerspaces

Library Maker Spaces

http://www.pinterest.com/amyeileenk/library-maker-spaces/

Maker Space Playbook

http://makerspace.com/playbook

I arranged for an author visit in February for Black History Month.

Web Bits

Library Reads Librarians Announce November Favorites

http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/10/books/libraryreads-librarians-announce-november-favorites/

The Government Shutdown From an Archives Point of View

http://offtherecord.archivists.org/2013/10/14/the-government-shutdown-from-an-archives-point-of-view/

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/15/2013

Advertisement for Children's Books, Aubrey Beardsley, 1894

Daily Thoughts 10/15/2013

This morning, I read some more of What Science, Mathematics, and Logic Cannot Tell Us I am learning about set theory and the concept of infinity. I don't understand most of the diagrams, but they are interesting to look at. This is no different for me than when I look at financial figures. I spent a little more time on the way home reading about unsolvable problems in mathematics. It gives me a little comfort that we will never know everything.

I spent some time this morning checking the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays and did a little shifting in the oversize books.

I spent a bit of time this morning looking at patron requests. There were several requests for books on Autocad and Autodesk. we have a number of patrons that do computer work.

I also did a little more ordering for the adult books.

This afternoon, I spent a little time working with the children's room on ordering for Overdrive Advantage.

The library had a tablet class in the computer lab this evening as well as a basic email class.

Web Bits

Computer Science Pioneer Jaron Laneier Discusses Big Data Privacy at NYPL.

http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2013/10/social-media/computer-science-pioneer-jaron-lanier-discusses-big-data-privacy-at-nypl/

Monday, October 14, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/13/2013 and 10/14/2014

Woman Reading,Max Weber, 1916

Daily Thoughts 10/13/2013 and 10/14/2014

I spent a little time updating my home machine for digital media. I loaded the Kindle for PC program and read the e-book, Red Ink Inside the High Stakes Politics of the Federal Budget by David Wessel. It is a primer on the different reasons that the budget is a mess. It writes about the different people involved in the process from Leon Panetta to Lew Archer. What it clearly says is that the budget is a fiscal mess and needs to be cleaned up. I think the author is trying to be neutral and paint a picture more than take sides.

I looked through the different services available for digital media through the Westchester Library System.http://www.westchesterlibraries.org/listen-read/ Total Boox is the system which specifically says it is both iPad and Android focused http://www.totalboox.com/wls. Most of the systems are android focused.

I also have been reading a little more of Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon. The author includes the attack on the World Trade Center, 9/11 as part of the plot of the novel. It gives the story an edge. I finished reading Bleeding Edge Today. I enjoyed the story. It does not feel completed, but it had a very Manhattan feel to it.

Web Bits

Abandoned Mark Twain Branch Detroit Public Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpdphotography/sets/72157626713779604/

The End of the Library MG Siegler

http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/13/the-end-of-the-library/

7 Unconventional Reasons You Should Absolutely Be Reading Books

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/12/health-benefits-reading_n_4081258.html

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/12/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/12/2013

This morning, I read some more of Bleeding Edgeby Thomas Pynchon. It is very much a book about the excesses of the 1990s after the dot com bubble broke. Thomas Pynchon includes the lyrics for a number of songs in the novel. He even has a karaoke bar scene where characters sing different songs.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. The library is closed on Columbus Day, October 14, 2013. I also checked the displays. I have to change some of them. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. It is almost holiday time. During the holidays we bring out the holiday books and music.

I spent a little more time discussing the databases this morning. We have two computers next to the public access computers dedicated to databases. When I help people with these, I usually email the articles to them, it is easier than printing. We have a bilingual Spanish/English Fundamentals of Computers Class this morning.

I did a little bit of shifting in the oversize section today as well.

I also spent a little more time discussing Overdrive Advantage with my colleagues. We were discussing different places to get reviews for E-books. Horn Book reviews apps for Ipad-- App Review of the Week http://www.hbook.com/category/choosing-books/app-review-of-the-week/

Friday, October 11, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/11/2013

Reading, 1919, Nicolae Vermont

Daily Thoughts 10/11/2013

On the way to work, I read some of Thomas Pynchon's Bleeding Edge. I like that the main character is a fraud investigator with a somewhat shady background, it gives the story a bit of character.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the new books.

Soon, I am going to start working on bringing up some of the fiction books from the mezzanine. Our fiction room has been reopened to the public.

We have the computer lab today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Hopefully, I should also have a chance to work on making sure some of the latest planned programming is listed.

I am as always looking forward to the Book and Bake Sale from the Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library on November 8 and November 9.

Web Bits

Shutdown Rundown: How the Federal Shutdown Impacts Researchers So Far

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/10/academic-libraries/shutdown-rundown-how-the-federal-shutdown-impacts-researchers-so-far/

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/10/2013

L. Block (1848-1901), In A Library We Are Surrounded by Friends

Daily Thoughts 10/10/2013

I spent a little time this morning checking the library Twitter and Facebook.

I have started reading The Outer Limits of Reason by Noson Yanofsky. Right now I am reading about different logical paradoxes like Zeno's paradox and the classic Liars paradox which revolves around statements like "this statement is a lie".

I ordered a few books from patron requests. Sometimes there are interesting things which people want like how to write than you notes, how to get published, or start in the music business.

I also made a few phone calls about different programs.

I am spending a little time looking at Overdrive Advantage. I have been working with my colleagues from the children's department and the teen department on the ordering process.

Web Bits

The Most Spectacular Libraries Around the World

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2013-11/most-beautiful-libraries-trinity-college-mushashino-bodleian-sainte-genevieve-slideshow

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/9/2013

North South, Joan Miro, 1917

Daily Thoughts 10/9/2013

I read a bit more of The Innovators Dilemma on the way to work. It provides an interesting perspective on how to introduce innovation into a company. It has been worth reading. The book, Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon came in for me to read. I also checked out The Outer Limits of Reason What Science, Mathematics and Logic Cannot Tell Us by Noson S. Yanofsky. I sometimes enjoy reading books for knowledge that has no apparent every day use.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I spent a little more time weeding in the oversize books and checked the displays as well.

I also wrote a short report on Septembers activities and compiled attendance statistics for the computer classes and the computer lab.

There is an author program tonight; Henry A. May is doing a presentation from his book, First Black Autos, The Charles Richard, C.R. Patterson & Sons Company from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is a slideshow which goes with the presentation. http://stalwartpublications.homestead.com/

It has been a fairly busy day.

Web Bits

Younger Americans Reading Habits Still Anchored in the Book: Pew

http://atyourlibrary.org/younger-americans-reading-habits-still-anchored-book-pew

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/8/2013

Woman With A Book, Fernand Leger, 1923

Daily Thoughts 10/8/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Innovators Dilemma. I am finding it interesting how the authors describe creating new divisions within a company that are independent so they can innovate. Clayton M. Christensen claims it is necessary to have a completely new set of people with independent ideas to create new products.

This morning, I checked the displays, the new books, and the social media for the library. I also spent a little bit of time ordering books. I have to order some large print books later today. The book, Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon came in for me to read.

I also spent a little bit of time getting ready for a program tomorrow. We are having Henry A. May read from his book, First Black Autos tomorrow, October 9, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Yesterday, I was at Metro learning about Preservation Grants from the New York State Library. It was interesting. One site that seemed useful from listing to the lecture was dPlan http://www.dplan.org which is a disaster planning site for cultural organizations.

I also stopped by Roger's Time Machine which is an old comic book store and looked around. Much of the material I collect has gone up in price and it is not as available. The comic book industry is changing. People are holding onto their older comics. I also learned that the New York Comic Con was sold out. I did not get my tickets in time for professional day. Even the comic book store owners are having a hard time getting tickets. There should be over 2 million people going through the show. I imagine people will be barely able to move on the show floor on Saturday and and Sunday. One of my colleagues is going, he got his ticket in June.

This afternoon, I spent a little bit of time ordering large print titles. I also spent some time weeding in the oversize collection. There are two computer classes tonight, a Microsoft Word Class and a Fundamentals of Computer Operations class.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/05/2013

Daily Thoughts 01/05/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Innovators Dilemma. The author is discussing how new innovative products often come from less profitable areas of growth than existing products. For example, small disc drives were originally developed for the emerging home personal computer market, not mainframe computers. I like the chapter about how hydraulic excavators eventually overtook steam excavating equipment. The author shows a pattern across many different industries.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library and the displays. I also spent some time showing people how to use Content Reserve to order children's e-books. This whole process is new to me.

We also had a meeting to discuss the different services available for us for digital media; Overdrive, Freading, Freegal, One Click Digital, and Tumblebooks. We also spent a little time on free services like Project Gutenberg and the Internet Archive. I got a chance to look at the Google Nexus 7 as well.

In the afternoon, I handed in a rough draft of the computer schedule for November and December. We also put in a new desk next to the cybercorner. The usage for our computer lab has gone up considerably. Many of the people taking the computer classes are practicing in the computer lab.

I also did a little more weeding in the oversize books.

Web Bits

For Better Social Skills, Scientists Recommend a Little Chekhov http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/i-know-how-youre-feeling-i-read-chekhov/?_r=0

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/3/2013

Student With Newspaper, Pablo Picasso, 1913

Daily Thoughts 10/3/2013

This morning, I spent a little more time shifting and weeding in the oversize collection. I also checked the displays and spent a little time in the computer lab. The Computer Lab is now open Monday through Friday 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. There is a computer class tonight on Microsoft Powerpoint.

Things feel different lately. I am signing two peoples timesheets as their supervisor right now. I will be signing a third persons time sheet on Monday.

I spent some time this afternoon working on a schedule for the November and December computer classes. Things should be a bit different.

Tomorrow, I am doing a presentation on digital media available at the library. I have quite a bit to do. I also have been working with people with Content Reserve.

Web Bits

Scribd Offers Ebook Subscription Service

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/devices/article/59324-scribd-launches-e-book-subscription-service.html

Don't Cry for Libraries: Young People Have Their Backs

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/Modern-Parenthood/2013/1002/Don-t-cry-for-libraries-young-people-have-their-backs




Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/2/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/2/2013

Last night, I finished reading The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker. It is the second time I have read this book. The book always seems to reveal something new each time you read it. It is a reminder that effectiveness is learned and that time is not to be wasted. I also started reading The Innovators Dilemma by Clayton Christensen. This book makes me think how many other services right now are increasingly tackling searching for information as their primary goal that are not libraries. Companies like Google, Quora, and others are taking on librarian like roles.

This morning, I checked the displays and did some weeding in the oversize books. I also placed an order in Overdrive Advantage for the first time for e-books. It was very interesting. I got to the see different models of pricing for e-books. I have a copy of The New York Times Book Review to read.

I spent a little bit of time working on the November and December schedule for computer classes.

Tom Clancy passed away. I enjoyed reading some of his thrillers. He also wrote some excellent nonfiction books on armored cavalry and fighter jets.

Web Bits

The Abomination of E-books: They Price People Out of Reading

http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/10/how-ebook-pricing-hurts-us-in-more-ways-than-you-think/

Pleasure Reading 'Significantly' Increases School Performance

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/reading-for-pleasure-significantly-increases-kids-school-performance_b77702

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Daily Thoughts 10/1/2013

Daily Thoughts 10/1/2013

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays and the gift books. I spent a little time weeding in the oversize books. I also did a little bit of work preparing for programs. I worked on the rough drafts for two flyers and sent them in to have the graphic designer redo them.

I am preparing for a little more discussion of the different digital media services which we have on Friday.

The Computer Lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. I have been sending people there for print jobs and looking up email. We also have two computer classes tonight, a Microsoft Word class, and a Fundamentals of Computer Operations class.

Web Bits

IMLS, NARA, and Library of Congress Closed During Government Shutdown. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/09/funding/dc-mayor-declares-libraries-essential-will-stay-open-if-government-shuts-down/

The Government Shut Down and Libraries. http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/government-shutdown-and-libraries