Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Daily Thoughts 08/12/2015

Reading in the Cismigiu Garden - Theodor Aman
Reading in Cismigiu Garden, Theodor Aman, 1879

Daily Thoughts 08/12/2015

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

I read some more of Digital Gold on the way to work.  The book is writing about how many of the people who worked to create bitcoin had libertarian ideals and wanted to free money from the central banking system and government.  Bitcoin is designed as decentralized money.

This morning, I checked the displays.  I am also started to order replacement books for biographies that were damaged by water.  I spent most of today looking through lists of biographies.  I also spent time in Ingram looking at what they had that was reviewed by Publishers Weekly.  Tomorrow, I will be looking at biographies that were reviewed by Library Journal and Booklist.

On the way home, I read more of Digital Gold.  It is picking up.  More people are entering the story including the Winklevoss Twins, Dread Pirate Roberts from Silk Road, various startups, and even FBI agents.  It is fascinating.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Daily Thoughts 08/11/2015

Allegory of poetry and music - Angelica Kauffman
Allegory of Poetry and Music, Angelica Kauffman, 1782
 
Daily Thoughts 08/11/2015


I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


Last night, I went to the working Board of Trustees meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  I was there mainly to listen to the board talk. It was various resolutions like paying the HVAC maintenance, what to do with the treasurer, applying for a New York State Library Construction Grant, and signing checks.  There was some new discussion about weeding, the new library logo, instituting the software Board Docs, and e-rate for broadband.


This morning, I read some of Digital Gold.  This is the story of the founding of Bitcoin, one of the first cryptocurrencies.  It is about how people sought a safe way to do transactions outside the banking system with minimal government interference.

I checked the displays and the gift books.  I also read through a copy of the Times Literary Supplement.

I spent some time discussing a program which would done by a local professor, John Howard, on the Jacob Lawrence exhibit which is currently happening at the Museum of Modern Art.  http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1549 

The crochet class was today in the afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  It was well attended.

We also had two sessions in the computer lab one on Fundamentals of Computers from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and one on Beginning Microsoft Word from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Arlen Schumer did a lecture on his book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  It was fantastic to watch.  There was a lot on social change, different aspects of the 1960s from the Vietnam war to Ken Kesey to the first black superhero who was Black Panther, and the first superhero with facial hair, Green Arrow.  The presentation was quite interesting.   We went to dinner afterwards and discussed a variety of things about comics and libraries. http://www.arlenschumer.com/home.html

On the way home, I read some more of Digital Gold.  I learned that the founder of Bitcoin disappeared anonymously.  No one knows who he really was.


Web Bits


Science Proves Reading to Kids Really Does Change Their Brains


Scott Bonner Interview-- Director of Ferguson Municipal Library


Monday, August 10, 2015

Daily Thoughts 08/10/2015

File:Joos van Craesbeeck - Young man sitting indoors, writing.jpg
Joos Van Craesbeeck, 1650, Young Man Sitting Indoors Writing

Daily Thoughts 08/10/2015

On the way to work, I read some more of Future Crimes by Marc Goodman.  I am reading about biohacking and designer viruses and the potential for harm.


I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


Tomorrow Arlen Schumer is doing a slideshow on comics from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room.  He is author of The Silver Age of Comic Book Art.

I spent some time writing some short summaries.  I wrote about the Latino Americans 500 Years of History Grant, crowdfunding for libraries, and the Select Reads service.

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

Web Bits

New York Review of Books Fills A Niche By Reviving Forgotten Works
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/08/books/new-york-review-books-fills-a-niche-by-reviving-forgotten-works.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=c1d8bf67c5-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-c1d8bf67c5-304514441&_r=0


Library Card Can Lead to Students Success


PW Asks: Most Millenials Prefer Paper Books

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Daily Thoughts 08/09/2015

Still Life  - Giorgio Morandi
Still Life, Giorgio Morandi, 1918

Daily Thoughts 08/09/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook today.

I also read some more of Future Crimes.  I am reading about crimes related to DNA.

I prepared some orders for tomorrow and looked at the New York Times Bestseller List and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller List.

Web Bits


Oxford Online Bodleian Archive: Illumination for All

Why College Libraries Are Going Bookless

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Daily Thoughts 08/08/2015

Still life
Andre Derain, Still Life, 1914

Daily Thoughts 08/08/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook today.  I also wrote a listing for the Journal News for an event.

I read some more of Future Crimes by Marc Goodman.   This book is not just a warning about crimes, it is a warning about some of the potential dangers in the future.  Marc Goodman quotes Elon Musk about the idea that Artificial Intelligence could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons.
Elon Musk says Artificial Intelligence could be "More Dangerous than Nukes."
http://mashable.com/2014/08/03/elon-musk-artificial-intelligence/


Web Bits




Obscure and Popular Books Part of Berkeley Library Weeding Process

If Librarians Were Honest