Saturday, December 31, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/31/2016


The poet Ariwara No Narihira - Hiroshige
The Poet Ariwara No Narihira, Hiroshige, 1830



Daily Thoughts 12/31/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri.  I learned Jhumpa Lahiri's father is a librarian.  She also describes how a book cover is useless if it does not market the book.  The book is short succinct and easy to read.

Web Bits


The Most Popular Book The Year You Were Born


Friday, December 30, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/30/2016

The window of the poet - Pyotr Konchalovsky
The Window of the Poet, Pyotr Konchalovsky, 1935

Daily Thoughts 12/30/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some of Your Idea Starts Here last night.  The format is there is a picture, then a quote of some type, and brief one or two paragraph story about an invention, creative idea, or action.  It is fun to read.

I finished reading Your Idea Starts Here 77 Mind Expanding Ways to Unleash Your Creativity by Carolyn Eckert.  The book is short and easy to read.  It is meant to inspire creativity for designers.

I started reading The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri.  She is writing about book covers or jackets often the final step in making a book.  Jhumpa Lahiri describes how is not quite comfortable with some of the covers for her books.

Web Bits


First of Its Kind Humanoid Robot Joins Library Staff in North Queensland

These are the Most Popular Library E-books of 2016.


Thursday, December 29, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/29/2016

The Writing Lesson - Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre Auguste-Renoir, The Writing Lesson, 1895

Daily Thoughts 12/29/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

We had Blue Cloud Analytics for Day to Day Use training.  It is for gathering statistics on how the library is being used from our SIRSI catalog. It was a two hour training in our computer lab.

I checked over some damaged graphic novels today.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.

I read the latest copy of Bookpages, looked through the latest New York Times Book Review, and checked through Bookmarks For Everyone Who Hasn't Read Everything.

I did a little work for next weeks book order.

I also checked out the book, Your Idea Starts Here 77 Mind Expanding Ways to Unleash Your Creativity by Carolyn Eckert.  This is book of short illustrated creativity exercises.

There is a Microsoft Publisher 2013 Class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7;30 p.m.
                 

Web Bits

See Which Books New Yorkers Checked Out of the LIbrary Most in 2016

Toast the Library Bars, Silent Reading Parties and Live Lit in 2017

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/27/2016

A Corner of the Studio, 1861 - Claude Monet
A Corner of the Studio, Claude Monet, 1861

Daily Thoughts 12/27/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I also checked my email.  I have been thinking a little bit about materials and circulation.

Web Bits


News Use Across Social Media Platforms

New Year's Greetings from the Library of Congress Educational Outreach Office


Monday, December 26, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/26/2016

Mary Cassatt at the Louvre - Edgar Degas
Mary Cassatt at the Louvre, Edgar Degas, 1880

Daily Thoughts 12/26/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read through the news and did not find anything exciting.  Have a nice, quiet holiday.


Sunday, December 25, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/25/2016

Glass, Cup and Newspaper - Juan Gris
Glass, Cup, and Newspaper, Juan Gris, 1913

Daily Thoughts 12/25/2016

Happy Holidays!

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I am mostly relaxing today.

I read some more of The Liberation by Ian Tregillis.  I like that there is a struggle between freedom and slavery.  There is an interesting turn in the story where humans, not just mechanicals can become enslaved by alchemical glass.

Web Bits


Communities Needing Libraries As Much As Ever


Saturday, December 24, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/24/2016

The Book - Juan Gris

The Book, Juan Gris, 1913

Daily Thoughts 12/24/2016

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

Happy Holidays.  We have  a long Christmas weekend off.

Last night, I finished reading Making Conflict Work Harnessing the Power of Disagreement by Robert T. Coleman and Robert T. Ferguson.  The last part was about how to rebel.  It also contained information on how to combine different strategies for conflict.  I found some of the ideas useful.  One of them is that conflict is not completely adversarial.  It is often about how to work with someone while minimizing arguments and aggression.

I read some of The Liberation by Ian Tregellis.  I like that the robots are alchemical clockwork creations in this book.  It is the third part of a series.  There is a lot about the concept of freedom in this book.  The setting is one where the Dutch rule the world with robots and the French fight them with chemistry.  I would call this alternate history with both a touch of fantasy and steampunk.

Web Bits


As 2016 Crashed in Flames LIbraries Were the Last Good Place


Friday, December 23, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/23/2016

Little Girl In A Book, Illustration to Fairies I Have Met by Edmund Dulac, 1910
Daily Thoughts 12/23/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read a little more of Making Conflict Work.  I am reading about different ways to adapt to conflict.  Having a variety of strategies helps.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I spent some time working on orders today.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.

I updated my Westchester Library Association membership today.

The book, The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri has come in for me to read.

Web Bits

Time for a Change: Library Development 2016



Scarsdale Board Approves $9.9 Million Bond, Clears Way for Library Plan






Thursday, December 22, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/22/2016

Copernicus in the tower at Frombork - Jan Matejko
Copernicus In the Towner, Jan Matejko, 1872

Daily Thoughts 12/22/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Making Conflict Work.  I am reading about how to appease people in difficult situations when it is necessary.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

One of my reports is working on shifting and checking the graphic novels section.

I read a copy of Publishers Weekly today as well as the Ingram Advance.

I put together an order for e-books from the 3M Cloud Library.  I am also working on another order of books.

The New York Council for the Humanities confirmed that we are a recipient for a reading program on Growing and Aging.

I discussed coding classes for teenagers with a colleague.  We are working on a mini-grant.

I finished putting together sign up sheets for the computer classes for January.

Web Bits

7 Million Books and Counting: One Man's Fight For Literacy Among City's At Risk Kids

Is Accurate Book Discovery Really Possible

Libraries Are Dying-- But It's Not About Books-- United Kingdom




Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/21/2016

Man, Standing, Reading a Book - Vincent van Gogh
Man Standing Reading, Vincent Van Gogh, 1882

Daily Thoughts 12/21/2016

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

On the way to work, I read some more of  Making Conflict Work.  I am reading about command and control or demanding people do things.

This morning, I checked the gifts and the displays.

I spent some time working on an order of e-books.  I also finished reading The New York Times Book Review, a copy of Publishers Weekly, and the Ingram Advance.  I placed a hold on the book, The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri which is about book covers.

I checked out the book, The Liberation by Ian Tregillis.

Web Bits


A Library From the Future Arrives in Denmark

The Gift of Literacy: Lutie E. Stearns

The British Library Asks Which Literary Character Would You Invite Round for Tea: Part One


Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/20/2016


Statue of Nathaniel Hawthorne by sculptor Bela Pratt (1867–1917), in Salem, Massachusetts, USA. Copyright (if any) has expired on this image, as the sculptor died more than 70 years ago.

Daily Thoughts 12/20/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the displays and the gift books.

On the way to work, I read some more of Making Conflict Work.  I am reading about the concept of how to support people above you.

I spent some time working on programming and flyers for January 2017.  I have to write my blackout schedule tomorrow.

The Crochet Group was today from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

I also spent a little time working on scheduling people.

I put in a few orders today.

I spent some time in the computer lab.

I started reading the New York Times Book Review but did not get to finish it.  I have copy of the Ingram Advance, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist to read.  I also have a carton with the latest Bookpage in it.

Web Bits


Connecting With Carl Sagan at the Library of Congress

SF Public Library Revives Plan To Install Microchips in Books


Monday, December 19, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/19/2016

Woman by a lamp - Paul Signac
Woman By Lamp, Paul Signac, 1890

Daily Thoughts 12/19/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read  a little bit more of Making Conlict Work.  I am reading about strategies for participatory management.

Web Bits


Public Libraries as Business Incubators

'Book Doctors' Say What You Need Is A Good Read

Our Committment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion at the Free Library

New York Public Library Launches Imprint to Publish Books Inspired by its Collection


Sunday, December 18, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/18/2016

My Acid Workshop (Where I do my Etching), 1910 - Carl Larsson
My Acid Workshop (Where I Do My Etching), Carl Larsson, 1910

Daily Thoughts 12/18/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Making Conflict Work,  I am reading about the pragmatic aspects of working with other people.

I read the complete comic book series of Star Wars as retold by Alessandro Ferrari.  Most of the grittier pieces were taken out because it was published by Disney.  I read it on Hoopla.

Web Bits



Nerding About A Cookbook Cafe at the New Library Downtown


Brooklyn Public Library Gets $3 Million Dollar Grant To Bring an Xbox to Every Branch

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/17/2016

Harnett Munich Still Life detail DMA.jpg
William Harnett, Still Life, 1881

Daily Thoughts 12/17/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also read some more of Making Conflict Work.  I am reading about how people to adapt to conflict.  The authors describe how conflict is a normal process of work environments.  I am reading about concepts of sharing power.

I read some Star Wars comics on Hoopla.  They are a little bit different since Disney took over Star Wars,  A little less dark and at little more rational.

Web Bits

A Future Visit to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library


Friday, December 16, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/16/2016

Ernst Wurtenberger, Herman Hesse, 1905

Daily Thoughts 12/16/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the displays and the gift books.

One of my reports is going to do some shifting and shelf reading today.
I did a a little work with ordering today.
We had a training session on ADP scheduling.



Web Bits


Amazon Prime Air’s First Customer Delivery

Denzel Washington Lives Up to Promise Made by Mount Vernon Librarian

Creating The Future: A 2020 Vision Plan for Library Service In New York State


Thursday, December 15, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/15/2016

Pot, Glass and Book - Pablo Picasso
Pot, Glass, and Book, Pablo Picasso, 1908

Daily Thoughts 12/15/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I checked the gift books and the displays.

I worked a little bit on ordering.  I read a copy of the Times Literary Supplement.

I spent some time discussing circulation with a colleague focuing on purchase alerts, patron requests and similar things.

I cleared my desk and put away some things.

I asked a person who works under me to do some shifting and shelf reading in the adult section.

I spent a little time in the computer lab today.

The tree lighting ceremony is tonight.

Web Bits

On Libraries
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/jacobs/on-libraries/



Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/14/2016

Leontine Reading - Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Leontine Reading, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1909

Daily Thoughts 12/14/2016

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I did a little bit of work on programming.

I also read some more of Making Conflict Work.  I am reading about different kinds of power, power with, power over, power under, and power apart from.

Web Bits


Fake  News Prompts Oakland Libraries To Offer Free New York Times Subscriptions

A Look Inside the Pew Research Center

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/13/2016


Daily Thoughts 12/13/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some of Making Conflict Work Harnessing the Power of Disagreement by Robert T. Coleman and Robert Ferguson this morning.  This is about managing organizational conflict both up and down the tiers of organization.  It is not about conflict between peers.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I spent some time working on programming today.

The Crochet Group was today from 2:30 p.m. to 4;00 p.m.

There were two computer classes tonight, one from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for Fundamentals of Computers, and one from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. for Beginning Microsoft Word.

Web Bits


Mount Vernon Author Discusses Sports Heroes, Champions, and Legends


Monday, December 12, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/12/2016


Tao Gu Presents a Poem - Tang Yin
Tao Gu Presents A Poem, Tang Yin, 1515


Daily Thoughts 12/12/2016

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time looking through the flyers I had sent out with Constant Contact and the flyers I had posted on Facebook for the last several years.

I read the latest copy of the New York Times Book Review.  I also placed the book, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter by David Sax on hold.

I also read a copy of Publishers Weekly today.

On the way home, I finished reading American Philosophy A Love Story by John Kaag.  I enjoyed reading the story.  The end part was interesting, there was some material on Pearl S. Buck and Jane Addams of Hull House which was satisfying.  I like the idea of examining the history of a professors personal library from a both an antiquarian, philosophical, and historical perspective.  I enjoyed reading this book because it gave me some new understanding on how people gain meaning from books.

Web Bits 


My Turn: The Many Reasons to Love Libraries

 Author Speaks About Mount Vernon’s Legendary Athletes During Book Signing Ceremony at the Library

Mount Vernon School of Music Holds Impressive Holiday Recital

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/11/2016

Portrait of Hermine David - Jules Pascin
Portrait of Hermine David, Jules Pascin 1910

Daily Thoughts 12/11/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also read some more of American Philosophy A Love Story by John Kaag.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/10/2016

Pencils - Mikhail Vrubel
Mikhail Vrubel, Pencils, 1905

Daily Thoughts 12/10/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the displays and the gift books.

I spent some time on purchase orders.

Bruce Fabricant was speaking today.  There was a slideshow and a book signing that went with the speaking engagment.  It went very well today.

On the way home, I read a bit more of American Philosophy A Love Story.  I am reading about free will versus determinism

I got my free VIP Pass for Book Expo America in May.

I am looking through my Facebook photos collection at the old flyers for past events.

Web Bits

Video Library Ready to Code
http://www.districtdispatch.org/2016/12/new-libraries-ready-to-code-video/

Friday, December 9, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/09/2016

Richard-Edward-Miller-anectar.jpg
Woman Reading in the Garden, Richard Edward Miller, 1915

Daily Thoughts 12/09/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of American Philosophy A Love Story this morning.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I am preparing for Bruce Fabricant's reading tomorrow for Mount Vernon, NY Sports Champions, Heroes & Legends.

I read the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list and the New York Times Bestseller list.

I am enjoying reading American Philosophy A Love Story.  The memoir touches on American idols like freedom, self-reliance, reverence of nature, and mans relation to god.  I have been reading Thoreau, Emerson, and Kant as they relate to the author, John Kaag on a personal level.  The book is very reachable.  It is not an academic title.
Web Bits

Denzel Washington Visited His Childhood Librarian for her 99th Birthday
http://ca.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/02016120831487/denzel-washington-miss-connie-librarian-brithday


Thursday, December 8, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/08/2016

French School 19th-century Woman holding an umbrella.jpg
French School, 19th Century, Woman Holding an Umbrella, Bears False Signature, G. Courbet


Daily Thoughts 12/08/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Messy, The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives by Tim Harford.  This is a nice reminder that a little chaos can be invigorating.

I also started reading American Philosophy A Love Story by John Kaag.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I wrote my monthly report.

I did some preparation for ordering.

I put a new person into the ADP system today.

I have been looking at the Programming Librarian website for events.
http://www.programminglibrarian.org/node/338

I read some of American Philosophy A Love Story on the train home.  It is about a philosophy teacher who discovers a library of antiquarian philosophy books and arranges to organize and study the collection.

Web Bits

New Partnership Aims to Provide Every LAUSD  Student With A Library Card

Apple Is Planning to Set Up Shot At Carnegie Library


Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/07/2016

Poynter - a day dream.jpg

Edward Poynter-- A Day Dream, 1862

Daily Thoughts 12/07/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Messy this morning on the way to work.  I am reading about the limits of automation.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I read some more of the latest New York Times Book Review which is a special end of year issue.

There is a Beginning HTML and CSS class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I spent some time training a new employee for the public computer area.  I also spent some time in the computer lab.


Web Bits


Making Your Library An Asset for Your Local Elected Officials

Coding In Libraries Is Not Just for Experts

Registration Opens for National Library Legislative Day


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/06/2016

Salvator Rosa - Diogenes searching for an honest man.jpg
Diogenes Searching for an Honest Man, Salvator Rosa, 17th Century

Daily Thoughts 12/06/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

There is an article on Kenneth C. Davis on the library website.

In The Shadow of Liberty: An Interview With Kenneth C. Davis by Chelsea A. Hamlet
http://mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/in-the-shadow-of-liberty-an-interview-with-kenneth-c-davis/

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

On the way to work, I read some more of Messy The Power of Disorder.  I am reading about how creating confusion in ones opponent can lead to victory as well as the messy conditions that often happen during competition.

I read some of the latest New York Times Book Review.  I also put in some requests to be ordered.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.

The Crochet Group is meeting today from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers and a Beginning Microsoft Word class today.

Web Bits



How Employees Shaped Strategy at New York Public Library

Patrons Less Aware of How Libraries Are Used

My Favorite Books of 2016-- Bill Gates

Library of Congress Boosts Digital Public Library Database With Historic Maps

Growing Up In A Library Is As Exactly As Magical As You'd Imagine


                                                                                                                           

Monday, December 5, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/05/2016

Cynic philosopher - Luca Giordano
Cynic Philosopher, Luca Giordano, 1653

Daily Thoughts 12/05/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Business Adventures by John Brooks.  I enjoyed reading these accounts.  They describe how business works in the real world.  They are entertaining and challenge reading.

I made a correction to the Humanities New York grant.

I also did a little work on the NEA Big Read grant.

Web Bits


Millions of Teens Are Reading Pulp Fiction Via Text Message

Bibliomania The Dark Desire for Books That infected Europe in the 1800s









Sunday, December 4, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/04/2016

The Discussion, Edouard Villard, 1899

Daily Thoughts 12/04/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook.

I read some more of Business Adventures.  I read about a trade secrets dispute over space suits which was very interesting.

I applied to two reading and discussion programs from Humanities New York.
http://humanitiesny.org/our-work/programs/reading-discussion/?mc_cid=6b4a75d89a&mc_eid=3504aa4abd

At the laundromat I read some more of Business Adventures.  I am reading about how the Federal Reserve uses gold to help determine prices for foreign exchange. John Brooks is writing about events that happened.  There is no theory.  It is pure description of events and actions of people.

I looked at the Purchase Alerts tonight.


Web Bits


New York Public Library Turns Former Library Apartment into Teen Tech Center

Automation

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/03/2016

The Book of Music - Juan Gris
The Book of Music, Juan Gris, 1922

Daily Thoughts 12/03/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Business Adventures by John Brooks this morning.  I am reading about shareholder activism at annual meetings.

I am looking over the outline for a grant for the NEA Big Read which would use the book A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.  It would be for a community wide reading program.

I am also looking at two lecture series that would be funded through the New York Council for the Humanities.

Web Bits


For Better Social Skills Scientists Recommend A Little Chekov

Library as a Financial Literacy Hub

BCALA Announces 2016 Literary Award Winners


Friday, December 2, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/02/2016


Woman Writing A Letter, Gerard Ter Borch, 1655


Daily Thoughts 12/02/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read a little more of Business Adventures.

I put a banner up which says Happy Holidays.  I also checked the displays and the gift books.

I spent some time registering to be part of Humanities New York so I could apply for a grant.  I also updated some government information to get grants.

I read a copy of Publishers Weekly and checked the Publishers Weekly bestseller list and the New York Times Bestseller list today.

Web Bits


Internet Archive Successfully Fends Off Secret FBI Order

ALSC  Student Gift Membership

Grab Your Reading Glasses Chicago Public Library and CTA Partner to Offer Free Content

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Daily Thoughts 12/01/2016



Fantomas, Juan Gris, 1915

Daily Thoughts 12/01/2016

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Business Adventures on the way to work.

I checked the displays and the gift books.  Today we are putting the Holiday books out.

There is a concert tonight called Rat Pack 2 featuring music from the Rat Pack from 6-7 p.m.

Web Bits



Libraries Promise to Destroy User Data to Avoid Threat of Government Surveillance

Carla Hayden Wants to Make It Easier for You  To Hangout at the Library of Congress