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.

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

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

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

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