Daily Thoughts 04/05/2014

Jules Ernest Renoux, La Lecture

Daily Thoughts 04/05/2014

I read some more of The Heathen School.  I am reading about how the support for the school starts to drop off when a Cherokee student marries a local caucasian girl.  The book reveals many racial attitudes that occur in 1820s America with excerpts from local newspapers and other writings.  There are eight pages of illustrations and photographs, an extensive set of notes for each chapter, and an index to the book.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the Mount Vernon Public Library.


The District Wide Mailer Sent in Mount Vernon about the Mount Vernon Public Library Vote.
http://mtvernon.fundourlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MVPL-District-Wide-Mailer-Final.pdf

If you are in Mount Vernon, New York please read this and pass it on.

Web Bits

New York State will Increase Funding for Libraries by more than $1 Million Dollars.
http://www.infodocket.com/2014/04/04/new-york-state-will-increase-funding-for-libraries-by-more-than-1-million/

 Libraries Expanding Frontier of Digital Technology
http://www.districtdispatch.org/2014/04/libraries-expanding-frontier-digital-technology/ 

A  Turbine Powered Future

Wind Power Provided 30% of All New Electricity Generation Capacity in the Past 5 Years
http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/06/wind-power-provided-30-new-electricity-generation-capacity-past-5-years/#

Daily Thoughts 04/04/2014

94 Degrees In the Shade, Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema, 1876

Daily Thoughts 04/04/2014

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

I read a little bit more of The Heathen School.  There are brief interludes where John Demos visits and describes the different settings in the book in modern times. I am reading about how some of the Hawaiians who have finished their missionary training are sent back to their native villages to proselytize.  The interesting thing in this book is that the author describes how things don't always work out.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.  I also spent some time talking to a colleague about a grant.

The computer lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.

I spent some time writing my single page monthly report and gathered some statistics for the month as well.  I also did a rough draft for a piece in a newsletter.

They are putting in some new wireless hot spots so that the building is better covered.


Web Bits

Ryan’s Proposed 2015 Budget Would Eliminate IMLS

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/04/legislation/ryans-proposed-2015-budget-would-eliminate-imls/

Materials Shift

http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2014/03/collection-development/materials-shift/

Older Adults and Technology Use

http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/

Daily Thoughts 04/03/2014

Alexander Pope circa 1736, Attributed to Jonathan Richardson

Daily Thoughts 04/03/2014

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

On the way to work, I read some more of The Heathen School.  In the beginning of the missionary school in 1817, most of the students are native Hawaiians who have come as sailors, later this changes to Native Americans.  This book reveals some attitudes and ways of thinking which I have not seen before.  At one point, John Demos describes American exceptionalism through the eyes of protestant christianity focusing on the concept of "World Saving".  This book is a book on many things including intolerance, religion, and American history.

I checked the gift books and the displays.  I also spent some time discussing a possible needlework group with a colleague.

The computer lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.

My colleagues are meeting to discuss phone banking to call voters today.

Rally to support the Mount Vernon Public Library.
https://rally.org/MVTaxpayers?fb_action_ids=481152821986065&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=cta_bar

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

I am looking at a brochure called Important Information From the Mount Vernon Public Library about the vote, the trustees, and the library budget.

I am reading through Baker and Taylors latest Forecast.  I put the graphic novel The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks on hold.

I filled this out.  It is an online form to support the Mount Vernon Public Library.
http://voteyesforourlibrary.org/mtvernon/?page_id=24

Web Bits

Enabling Open Government for All: A Planning Framework for Public Libraries

http://imls.ctg.albany.edu/book/enabling-open-government-all-planning-framework-public-libraries

The Joy of Binge Reading
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140317-the-joy-of-binge-reading

Ebooks and the Demise of ILL
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/04/opinion/peer-to-peer-review/ebooks-and-the-demise-of-ill-peer-to-peer-review/#_

Daily Thoughts 04/02/2014

Poetry, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tedema, 1897
Daily Thoughts 04/02/2014

I checked the library social media this morning.

On the way to work, I started reading The Heathen School A Story of Hope and Betrayal in the Age of the Early Republic by John Demos.  The book is about the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut which locals called the "heathen school."  It starts with the story of Henry Obookiah, a native Hawaiian who traveled as a sailor, converted to christianity, and sought formal education.

I checked the displays and gift books this morning.

I read a copy of the latest New York Times Book Review. I put the book, Smarter: the New Science of Building Brain Power by Dan Hurley on hold.  A local author who has self published two books, The Tragedy of Ethelia which is a play and Life's Passion came by.

We had a meeting to discuss the summer reading program.  We discussed things like giveaways, programs, and signing people up for the adult, teen, and children's program.  The adult department is planning a book to film program where we show a film and read a book like Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Chrisite and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.  Then we discuss the book and film. 

We also discussed author visits and other popular programs like knitting.

My colleague and I also have been steadily working on a grant for a poetry program.

I spent some time putting together a schedule for the computer classes with colleagues which is slightly expanded for May and June.


Web Bits

House Budget Proposal Dismisses Role of IMLS
http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/04/house-budget-proposal-dismisses-role-imls

Why it is not possible to regulate robots
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2014/apr/02/why-it-is-not-possible-to-regulate-robots
I have always liked Cory Doctorow's writing.

Between Traditional and Self Publishing a 'Third Way'
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/61625-the-new-world-of-publishing.html#

Daily Thoughts 04/01/2014

Design for Laurentian Library Doors and an External Window, Michelangelo, 1526

Daily Thoughts 04/01/2014

This morning, I relaxed on the train to work.  When I got to work, I checked the flyers, checked the gift books and the displays.  I also had a chance to read a few copies of Library Journal.  It has been hectic lately.  Jules Feiffer, the cartoonist, has a graphic novel, called Kill My Mother coming out in August 2014.

I spent some time this morning working on a grant for Arts Westchester with a colleague.  We were looking at the requirements for the grant, looking over a previous application which succeeded for a grant, and getting demographic data. 

We also discussed the upcoming summer reading program.  We are working on a book to film series where we read a book, watch the film, then compare the two.  The theme for summer reading this year is Literary Elements.

We have a plan to expand the computer classes in May and June.  Hopefully, it should work out.

The front doors on the first avenue side of the building are being replaced. 

The periodicals department is displaying the magazine Poetry and the magazine, Poets and Writers in the entryway.  April is National Poetry Month.

A bit more on the library campaign for the vote.
http://www.mtvernon.fundourlibraries.org

Web Bits

Check Out the Internet: Libraries Lending Internet Access
https://www.newschallenge.org/challenge/2014/submissions/check-out-the-internet-libraries-lending-internet-access?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral