Monday, July 31, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/31/2017

File:Burpee's farm annual - the best seeds that grow including rare novelties (1895) (19889547733).jpg
How to Cook Vegetables, BY MRS. S. T. RORER, Principal of the Philadelphia Cooking School. Every family wants a copy, as Mrs. Rdrer is acknowledged authority by the best housekeepers everywhere.1895

Daily Thoughts 07/31/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


I did two booklists on Bookletters as well, a new fiction list, and a new nonfiction list.

I finished reading Work Clean The Life-Changing Power of Mise-En Place To Organize Your Life, Work, and Mind What Great Chefs Can Teach Us About Organization by Dan Charnas.   Mise En Place is a French organizational system taught in chef school and used by high end restaurants with large volumes of customers.  It requires preparation, organization, standardization, specific communication styles, and processes of doing things.

Dan Charnas describes different chefs experience with this process as they learn more and more complex positions in the kitchen.  He also takes the system and applies it to outside places like offices and technical startups.  It is an interesting book if you like food and want to understand how it is made in large restaurants.  It is also an organizational system and philosophy which teaches order in a fast paced work environment.

Each chapter describes a different organizational technique.  Then it gives a set of exercises to use that organizational technique in everyday life.  I found some of it useful.  I will probably be using some of the planning techniques.

I turned in my Ribbon Cutting Ceremony assignment today for a new library annex for the Planning and Management of Library Buildings class.  I am going to buy some graph paper for my next assignment.

I read some of Getting Started In Stock Analysis.  I am reading about balance sheets and income statements for publicly traded companies.

Web Bits


Beatrix Potter Pinching and Zizekian Swipes: The Strange World of Book Thefts (United Kingdom)

6 Examples of Beautiful (And Smart) Library Design

Free Lunch at the Library

Verona Home to the Oldest Library in the World

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/30/2017


Edwin Austin Abbey (American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1852–1911 London), 1888, Pen and Ink on Cardboard

Daily Thoughts 07/30/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also posted two new lists for Booksite, a list of DVDs, and a list of audiobooks.

Everylibrary http://www.everylibrary.org sent me a pin today.  I like their campaigns.

I read some more of Work Clean.  I am reading about how to pay closer attention to your work environment.

I also started reading Getting Started in Stock Analysis Illustrated Edition by Michael C. Thomsett.  This is a well designed book.  Each page has short definitions of terms in the sidebars of the pages.  There are also small illustrations on each page.  There is a three color layout, black, white, and green which makes the book very readable.  At the end of the first chapter there was a short comic commenting on fundamental analysis.  I am reading this book because although I have read a lot about fundamental analysis, I don't know much about technical analysis.

Web Bits

Libraries Evolve With Trends

How Toy Libraries Are Rescuing Toys from Landfill

Teen Wants Others to Love Libraries Like She Does


Saturday, July 29, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/29/2017


Lady Reading Poetry, by Ishibashi Kazunori, 1905

Daily Thoughts 07/29/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I prepared for the CDBG meeting on the train to work.

The Community Development Block Grant meeting went very well.  The Mayor and the Planning Department were there as well as a colleague who helped out with things.  She always does a better job with programs than I do.  I follow her lead.  I did a get a chance to talk about parking and preservation of the building.  The presentation was excellent.  It was mainly about housing and helping the community.

I checked the gift books and the displays.

Saturdays are a half day.  I checked out the book, 100 Greatest Graphic Novels The Good. The Bad.  The Epic by Katrina Hill and Alex Langley.  This is a collection of suggested graphic novels.  There were a few that I requested after looking through the book.  I put the graphic novels Brain Camp by Susan Kim on hold as well as Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol on hold.

I also checked out Getting Started In Stock Analysis Illustrated Edition by Michael C. Thomsett and No One Is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts which is an official selection of the American Library Association for their book club.  http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/06/sarah-jessica-parker-announces-first-pick-ala-s-book-club-central

I spent some time looking at bank websites.

Web Bits


The Death of Reading Is Threatening the Soul

Brookhart: Internet Making Librarians More Important


Friday, July 28, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/28/2017

Reid Robert Lewis Reverie.jpg
Reverie, Robert Lewis Reid

Daily Thoughts 07/28/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Meddling Kids today.  It is on the New York Times bestseller list.  I like the references to Miskatonic University, Arkham, and lake monsters.

I worked a little bit with the 900s.

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

I spent an hour covering children's reference which is not something which I usually do.

I met with Peter Sherrill for an hour to discuss a local author fair planned for October.

I spent a little time working on my Planning and Management of Library Buildings assignment.

I also spent some time getting ready for the Community Development Block Grant meeting tomorrow 10:00 a.m..

I finished reading Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero. It draws from eldritch horror, comedy, and Scooby Doo.  The story is fun to read.  There are plenty of plot twists.  It is a supernatural take on the teen detectives becoming grown ups with adult problems.  It was a nice escape from every day life.

Web Bits


GIFS, Webcomics, Memes, and More Join the Library of Congress Archives

Indonesian Library Built from 2000 Icecream Buckets

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/27/2017

Paul Alexis Reading at Zola's House - Paul Cezanne
Paul Alexis Reading at Zola's House, Paul Cezanne, 1870

Daily Thoughts 07/27/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of Work Clean.  A lot of the book is about how chefs organize beforehand, prep the ingredients, then work in a very systematic way to prepare large amounts of food.  The method being described is called mise in place.  There are also descriptions of the Japanese kitchen apprenticeship for chefs.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I spent some more time working with the 900s.

I also worked on an order of e-books with a colleague.

There was a Beginning Microsoft Publisher class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the computer lab.

On Saturday, the city is coming to discuss the Community Development Block Grant from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room.  The Planning Department is interested in what we want for the library.

I spent some time working on an assignment for the Planning and Management of Library Buildings today.

Web Bits

State Finds Librarian Violated Election Rules by Posting a Pro Library Article.
http://www.nrtoday.com/news/government/douglas_county_government/state-finds-librarian-violated-elections-rules-by-posting-pro-library/article_7e056bae-cf97-5518-ac28-c07d679e7474.html

Sharing Our Cities, Towns, and Natural Places It Starts With a Library Card
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2017/07/19/library-cards-sharing-our-cities-towns-natural-places/

Aspen Institute Releases Version 2.0 of Action Guide for Re-Envisioning Your Public Library
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/news/press-release/aspen-institute-releases-version-2-0-action-guide-re-envisioning-public-library/

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/26/2017

Le Gouter - Marie Bracquemond
Le Gouter, Marie Bracquemond, 1880

Daily Thoughts 07/26/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Work Clean today.  I am reading about how chefs prepare before they start doing anything.  Part of this is creating a to do list then figuring out the number of items that should be on the list and prioritizing them.  It is also about control and organization of workspace.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I spent some time discussing the annual calendar with a colleague.  We are also working on a monthly calendar.

I spent some time going through my old bookmarks and readers advisory material.  I have about seven different bookmarks.

I also have been working with literacy today.

I checked some of the 900s.

I applied for a box of books from the Poulin Project.
http://www.artresourcestransfer.org/poulin

This morning, I wrote the beginnings of an assignment for my Planning and Management of Library Buildings class.  I finished it tonight.  It is on a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for a new library.

Web Bits


Renovations at Old Carnegie Library Uncover Lost Works of Art

Support Voiced for Designation of Library's Main Reading Room

Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center by Marble Fairbanks


Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/25/2017



Reading screen Ogata Kenzan (Japanese, 1663–1743)


Daily Thoughts 07/25/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some more time reading Work Clean.  I am reading about how chefs organize their workspaces.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.  I also checked some of the 900s as wells as some of the oversize books.

I have been spending some time clearing and organizing my desk.

I have a copy of the New York Times Book Review to read.

I have been helping people with our Adult Summer Reading.  We are giving prizes to encourage people to read; a pen with our website link, a small pad with our logo, a cup with our logo, and a bag with our logo.   These both are nice prizes and market the library.
http://ny.evanced.info/mountvernon/sr/homepage.asp?ProgramID=2

The crochet group is today from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the fiction room.

I sent out a Letter of Intent for a grant today to the Westchester Community Foundation.

Web Bits


Libraries Boost Communities’ Economy: My Word

Monday, July 24, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/24/2017




Early notice for the Frankfurt Book Fair (1573)

Daily Thoughts 07/24/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this afternoon.

I finished reading Organized Enough The Anti-Perfectionist's Guide to Getting-- And Staying-- Organized by Amanda Sullivan.  I read about being consistent and creating habits of organization.  This was a solid, useful book.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also worked a little bit on scheduling.

I spent some time looking over flyers and checking on the adult monthly programming.

I am working on my assignment for Library Planning and Management which is a description of a ribbon cutting for a new building.

The book, Meddling Kids a novel by Edgar Cantero has come in for me to read.

Web Bits


Library Needs Funding, Not Sponsorship

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/23/2017

alphabetical library catalogue 1748, multicoloured, hand-painted title page.

Daily Thoughts 07/23/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Organized Enough by Amanda Sullivan.  Amanda Sullivan argues that you should buy less and better quality no matter what your income is.  People have too much stuff.  I spent a little more time organizing papers.

I started my final assignment for Planning and Management of Library Buildings today.  I am writing a description of what a new computer lab might look like.

I watched a short documentary called Get to Know Gemstones.

Web Bits


Libraries As a Luxury Item


Saturday, July 22, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/22/2017

PiersonBookmark.gif
Bookmark of E. Pierson Publishing House, Dresden (1898)

Daily Thoughts 07/22/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished writing my assignment for Management and Planning of Library Buildings.

I read some more of Organized Enough.  I am reading about making final checks on orderliness for the day.  I spent some time sorting through papers today.  I also bought two plastic bins for papers.

Web Bits


Congress Poised to Fund Libraries, Save NEH and NEA

You can get art with no buyer's remorse, at Minneapolis Art Lending Library

Friday, July 21, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/21/2017

File:Félix Vallotton, 1915 - La bibliothèque.jpg
Felix Vallotton, 1915, La Bibliotheque

Daily Thoughts 07/21/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


On the way to work, I read some more of How To See How To Draw.  I was reading about different types of inks, papers, and pencils.  I also read a little bit more of Organized Enough.

I checked the gift books and the displays today.

I checked some of the oversize titles as well as some of the 900s.  I spent a little time looking at some books that are not in the system as well.


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


I also spent some time putting together the sign up sheets for the computer classes.


There is a Teen Computer Class today from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on HTML 5 and CSS 3.

I spent some time working on my assignment for the Planning and Management of Library Buildings.  They are asking us to design a children's area.

The library is working on a Read Down Your Fines program.

On the way home, I read some more of Organized Enough.  I am reading about time management in relation to organization.  Amanda Sullivan reminds us we should do our big projects first.


Web Bits


Community Centered:  23 Reasons Why Your Library is the Most Important Place In Town

Creators Discuss The Importance of Libraries in Promoting Literacy-- Comics

The Life and Death of the Library of Alexandria
http://lithub.com/the-life-and-death-of-the-library-of-alexandria/

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/20/2017

The Letter - Pierre Bonnard
The Letter, Pierre Bonnard, 1906

Daily Thoughts 07/20/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Organized Enough today.   I am reading about how clutter is related to fear.

I checked the displays and the gift books today.

I checked some of the oversize books and the 900s today.   I also checked some of the items that were listed as not being in the system.

I bought some supplies for the Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain class also called Lunchtime Art which was from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  I spent some time drawing and helped out a colleague with the class.

There was a Beginning Microsoft Publisher class from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight. in the computer lab.

Also, the Women's Enterprise Development Center was here from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the community room teaching a First Steps to Entrepreneurship class.

The book, Checklist of Library Building Design Consideration by William W. Sannwald, 6th Edition, 2016 came in for me to read.  I was finally able to do my class assignment focused on the American with Disabilities Act checklist and the lighting design checklist.  It was interesting and challenging reading.

Web Bits


Libraries Clear First Budget Hurdle In Congress

The Library of Congress Opened Its Catalog to the World.  Here's Why It Matters.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/19/2017

Still Life. Skull and Writing Quill - Pieter Claesz
Peter Claesz, Skull and Writing Quill, 1628

Daily Thoughts 07/19/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Homo Deus A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari. on the way home.  I thought the last chapter on The Data Religion was philosophically interesting.  However, I don't believe that people will accept the idea easily that intelligence is created from algorithms.  The ideas were captivating in this book even though they were disagreeable.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I spent some time working on scheduling today.

There is a Wordpress class today in the Computer Lab from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  We had a Scratch programming class earlier at 4:00 p.m. for children in the computer lab.

The Mount Vernon Public Library Board of Trustees meeting is today at 6:30 p.m.  A new trustee was sworn in tonight.

I read some of Organized Enough The Anti-Perfectionist's Guide to Getting-- and Staying-- Organized by Amanda Sullivan.  The author focuses on not overdoing things when cleaning and storing things.  She tries to remind people to keep it simple and forgive yourself for being messy.

Web Bits


What Can Some of the World's Most Historic Documents Tell Us About the Documents of the Future

Save the Census

Chicago to Co-Locate Mixed Income Housing, Libraries in 3 Developments


Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/18/2017

Le Cannet Madame Lebasque Reading in the Garden by Henri Lebasque.jpeg
"Le Cannet, Madame Lebasque Reading in the Garden," 
oil on canvas, by the French artist Henry Lebasque. 55.4 cm. x 61.3 cm. (21.81 in. x 24.13 in.) Private collection. Image courtesy of The Athenaeum.


Daily Thoughts 07/18/2017
I checked the Twitter and Facebook this morning for the library.

On the way to work, I read some more of Homo Deus.  I found the idea of  tying humanism with liberalism, fascism, and communism to be a bit of a stretch.

I checked the gift books and the displays.  I checked some of the biography books today as well.

I read the latest copy of the Ingram Advance and the New York Times Book Review.  I also read a copy of the latest Bookpage.

I did some scheduling for July as well as some work on the annual schedule.

Web Bits


Game of Thrones Made It Abundantly Clear Why Real Medieval Libraries Chained Their Books


Monday, July 17, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/17/2017

Interior with a Young Violinist - Gerrit Dou
Interior With a Young Violinist, Gerit Dou, 1637

Daily Thoughts 07/17/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Homo Deus on the way to work.  I am reading about how we create stories about nations, gods, and corporations.  How humans organize themselves around abstract concepts.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also worked on some orders of books.

I handed in the CDBG Community Development Block Grant at noon today.

I have a copy of the New York Times Book Review to read.  I also have a copy of the Ingram Advance for August to read.

I am meeting with the Literacy volunteers today at 2:15 p.m. in the fiction room.  The meeting was interesting.  We had three people who came.

The Adult Board Game night is today from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I read a little bit more of Homo Deus on the way home.  I am finding that some of the descriptions of what humanism is to be inaccurate and simplistic. Also, some of the statements about religious belief are questionable.  I like many of the ideas in the book, but do not find them to be convincing.

Web Bits


Digital Inclusion Week at SFPL

Reay to Code Faculty Get Ready to Go at ALA Annual !

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/16/2017

John William Waterhouse - The Decameron.jpg
John William Waterhouse, The Decameron, 1915

Daily Thoughts 07/16/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Homo Deus today.  I am reading about how being able to organize cooperatively on a massive scale is one of the things that separates humans from other animals.  People create stories and beliefs.

I placed a hold on the book, Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero.  I liked the review.
http://www.npr.org/2017/07/15/535799772/in-meddling-kids-the-scooby-gang-grows-up-hard?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170715

I checked the purchase alerts today.

I also did some final work on the CDBG grant.

Web Bits


How To Design A Library That Makes Kids Want to Read


Saturday, July 15, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/15/2017

Felicyn Oldman i young girl.jpg
Felicyn, Old Man and Young Girl, 1855

Daily Thoughts 07/15/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Wealth of Humans.  I am reading about how immigration is often the best way for people to learn about how to become wealth.  Ryan Avent describes how wealth is generated by social capital over time.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I spent some more time working on the CDBG Community Development Block Grant.

I also spent some time discussing the literacy program as well as talking to Ben Anthony about doing additional immigration help.

I read a copy of Library Journal.

On the way home, I finished reading The Wealth of Humans Work, Power, and Status in the 21st Century by Ryan Avent.  Ryan Avent writes for the Economist.  This is a book of economic ideas focused on the near future.  A lot of it focuses on recent changes in technology.  There are also some descriptions of how cities concentrate wealth and social capital.  The author describes a difficult future with lots of upheaval and social challenges on both the left and right.  Ryan Avent does not try and provide solutions, but rather describes how we got to our current situation and how things may change.  I found the book to be thoughtful, with many ideas that I had not read about before.

I watched the Westchester Library System Central Study Committee which happened at the Mount Vernon Public Library. I was unable to attend, but it was worth seeing

Web Bits


Library Campaign Attacked With Illegal and Misleading Tactics
http://action.everylibrary.org/nixa

One of the Greatest Science Fiction Magazines Is Now Available Online For Free-- Galaxy Magazine Changed the Direction of Science Fiction
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/14/15970710/galaxy-science-fiction-magazine-online-free-reading-archive


Raspberry Pi Everything You Need to Know

Library Funding Bill Passes Labor HHS

Friday, July 14, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/14/2017

Bookplate, Dr. P.H.M. Travaglino - M.C. Escher
Bookplate Dr. P.H.M. Travaglino, M.C. Escher, 1940

Daily Thoughts 07/14/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I rested on the train to work this morning.  I had a late night last night.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I checked some more biography books in the morning.

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

I spent some more time working on the Community Development Block Grant this morning.
It is a lot of work.  There are pieces of it which I have to figure out as I go along.

Web Bits



Mount Vernon Unites for MVPL, "Don't Take Our Central Status Away'
This was the big event last night.  I was on the reference desk.

The Reason Publishers Rejected A Wrinkle In Time is the Same Reason Ava Duverny is Making the Movie
http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-reason-publishers-rejected-a-wrinkle-in-time-is-the-1796921011?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_facebook&utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/13/2017

The reading - Pierre-Auguste Renoir
The Reading, Pierre Auguste-Renoir, 1890

Daily Thoughts 07/13/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Wealth of Humans on the way to work.  I am reading about concepts of scarcity in economics as well as different ways people organize to make labor exclusive through degrees, unions, and certifications.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I spent a little time working on the Community Development Block Grant.  I have a few things to read, a copy of Booklist and the Times Literary Supplement.

I spent some time checking oversize books today.

I also gathered some statistics for tonight.  I hope the meeting goes well.

Web Bits


Librarians Who Wikipedia: Allison Frick, Glenside Library


Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/12/2017


Étienne Carjat, Portrait of Charles Baudelaire, circa 1862

Daily Thoughts 07/12/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also spent some time checking the biography.

I worked a little bit on the Community Development Block Grant.  I am looking at some Maker tools.
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/YALSA%20Making%20Toolkit.pdf

I spent a little time looking up statistics today for the library.

There is a teen coding class today from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the computer lab for HTML 5 and CSS 3.  There is also an Advanced Microsoft Excel class from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight.

On the way home, I read some more of The Wealth of Humans.  Ryan Avent describes how investing in education may not guarantee jobs.  He also goes over the gig economy focusing on services like Uber and markets for crafts like Etsy.

The Westchester Library System's Central Library Study Committee is coming tomorrow.  I am going to be on the refrence desk during the meeting.  Please come in support of the Mount Vernon Public Library.
http://mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/flyer-for-july-13.pdf


Web Bits

Position Statement on Labeling Books With Reading Levels
http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/resources/statements/labeling



6 Story Arcs That Define Western Literature, Data-Mining Study Reveals

The Rise In Print Continues

There Is A Library in Vancouver Full of Hundreds of Books That Have Never Been Published, And Never Will Be


Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/11/2017


Franz Kafka, 1906

Daily Thoughts 07/11/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I rested on the way to work.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.  I also put in two orders for books.

I went to the Community Development Block Grant meeting this morning.

St. Paul's Historical Church is visiting today from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in community room.

I checked out the book, Organized Enough the Anti-Perfectionist's Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Amanda Sullivan.



Web Bits


When Reading Books Was a Group Activity



What Libraries Lost When They Threw Out The Card Catalog
                                                                                                                                      
 

Monday, July 10, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/10/2017


Books and Bookcase, Keisai Eisen, Japanese, 1790-1848

Daily Thoughts 07/10/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Homo Deus on the way to work.  I am reading about the anthropocene or human epic.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I printed some more flyers.  I worked on an order of new books today.  We had our first Teen Coding Class today from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. focused on HTML 5 and CSS 3.

The book, Simple House Wisdom 425 Easy Ways to Clean & Organize Your Home by Good Housekeeping came in for me to read.  I also am planning on reading Work Clean The Life-Changing Power of Mise-En-Place To Organize Your Life, Work, and Mind What Great Chefs Can Teach Us About Organization by Dan Charnas.

On the way home I looked through Simple House Wisdom.  It is a bunch of tips with photographs.  There were a few things which were worth doing like getting a mat for both inside and outside the house as well as keeping two trays for incoming mail. 

I also read some of The Wealth of Humans Work, Power, and Status in the Twenty First Century by Ryan Avent.  The author describes how the full impact of the digital revolution has not happened. He also confirms the idea that 47% of future jobs will be replaced by automation.  Unlike other authors he does not propose a solution.  Instead he describes how there will be political upheaval on both the right and left with people fighting for ideas.

My third assignment for the Planning and Management of Library Buildings is to check ADA (American with Disabilities Act) guidelines and lighting guidelines.

Web Bits


Lifelong Literacies: Strategic Planning

Bibliophiles Slowly Poisoned by Personal Library



Sunday, July 9, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/09/2017

Two Friends by Oliver Ingraham Lay (1877).jpg
Two Friends, Oliver Ingram Lay, 1877

Daily Thoughts 07/09/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time looking over the final assignment for Planning and Management of Library Buildings.  There are a few readings from the class which are available online.

Public Library Space Planning

Whole Building Design Guide for Public Libraries
https://www.wbdg.org/building-types/libraries/public-library

I read some more of Homo Deus.  The author is speculating that people will want to seek out happiness, try and eliminate death, and become superhuman or godlike beings in the future.


Web Bits


Something New For Baby to Chew On: Rocket Science and Quantum Physics

Surveyor Geotagging Tool Puts NYPL Photos on the Map

One Library's Creative Advocacy Campaign to #SAVEIMLS

Become A Reading Merit Badge Counselor



Saturday, July 8, 2017

Daily Thoughts 07/08/2017

Thomas Paine by Laurent Dabos, c1791.jpg
Thomas Paine, Laurent Dabos, 1791

Daily Thoughts 07/08/2017

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

I have been helping a colleague with restarting the literacy program.  I am playing a minor part in this.   I also have been talking with colleagues about the schedule for the Teen Coding Camp in the computer lab which is starting next week.

I have been steadily planning the programming for the next year.

Yesterday, I read some more of Visual Intelligence.  I am reading about "willfulness blindness" or refusing to see things which we don't like or make us uncomfortable.  People have a tendency to look for what they want to see.  There is also a section on inherent biases or how we tend to view the world in certain ways which can limit our vision.

I finished reading Visual Intelligence Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life by Amy E. Herman.  This book helped me understand better how an artists training changes the way they see the world.  In order to draw or paint the world, people need to catch the small details and encompass the bigger picture.  I found this book helpful in understanding this.  Also, the methodical approach was excellent because it described what to look for in many images.  Also, Amy Schumer discussed uncertainty, looking at unpleasant images, personal biases and other things which limit our ability to see the world around us.  If someone wants to pay more attention this book is helpful.

I wrote my monthly report today.

I started reading Homo Deus A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari.  Yuval is making an argument that the threats of famine, war, and plague have been greatly reduce.

Web Bits


Libraries Are Not Neutral Spaces: Social Justice Advocacy In Librarianship


TSA Ends Tests of Separate Scanning for Books


Making Sense of A New America: A Reading List


Funding Cuts In State Libraries Leads to a Domino Effect


This is an example of how funding cuts at a higher level spread to a lower level.  It shows what might happen nationally if the IMLS were cut at the federal level.

Distilling Key Trends to Rethink Libraries