Daily Thoughts 12/5/2015

Little Boy Writing A Letter, Norman Rockwell, 1920 

Daily Thoughts 12/5/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


Last night, I finished reading Thunderbird by Jack McDevitt.  I like Jack McDevitt because his stories are very thoughtful.  This is another of his archaeological science fiction stories.

A stargate is uncovered on a Sioux reservation in the United States.  It is about the fears and desires of humanity.  People discover three locations for the gate, an abandoned space station, an artistic simian civilization, and a very advanced civilization where they accidentally bring something back.

This is not a story of gun battles and actions.  It is well thought out.  The alien simians are not violent.  They think humans are a bit dumb in some ways.  The space station presents challenges which are technical and survival oriented.

It is fear which ultimately ends the stargate.  A discovery of a frightening looking alien scares people enough to reconsider what they are doing.  There is a bit of a surprise ending.

I like Jack McDevitt's writing because the characterization is excellent.  People act like people, not overblown heros.  His stories all have an element of mystery in them.  There is also the use of hard science. This is a well thought out science fiction novel.  I did not want to put it down and finished it one reading.

I checked the New York Times Bestseller lists and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list today.  I also watched some more of the Management Tips video on Lynda.com.  The video is over 4 hours long.  I am about half way through it.

I watched a dvd tonight, Mr. Holes starring Ian McClellan.  Sherlock Holmes is retired in this story, 93 years old and frail.  He is remembering his last case and tending his bees.  It is a very different interpretation of Sherlock Holmes.

Web Bits

Building the LIbrary of Congress -- In A GIF

http://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/12/04/457358616/building-the-library-of-congress-in-a-gif

Children's Books Head to International Space Station

http://www.wmfe.org/childrens-books-head-to-international-space-station/54809

New Cleveland Library Card Captures Visually the Impact of a Great  Library: Editorial

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/12/new_cleveland_library_card_captures_visually_the_impact_of_a_great_library_editorial.html

Daily Thoughts 12/4/2015

Four Views of Men Sitting, Eugene Delacroix, 1838 
 
Daily Thoughts 12/4/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  It was a fantastic read with a very surprising ending.  I like the descriptions of Jeannette Walls mother and father first being homeless in Manhattan then becoming squatters and reclaiming an old building.  It is an amazing story of hardship and overcoming adversity.

I checked the gift books and the displays.  I added a whole bunch of books to the Star Wars display.  I think people will appreciate it.

We had a meeting this morning for management.  We discussed the code of conduct for patrons and staff.  There was also a brief discussion of Library Square.  The developers for library square met with the Building and Grounds Committee yesterday to discuss their proposal.  There is a new website for them.  http://librarysquarecmv.com/   I am getting a better understanding of what they are trying to do.

I spent some time working on a prepublication order for forthcoming books today.

I have a copy of the December 2015 Baker and Taylor Forecast to read.

I also checked out the book, Thunderbird which is science fiction by Jack McDevitt.

Web Bits

Rare Shakespeare Artefacts to Go On Display at the British Library

https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2015/rare-shakespeare-artefacts-to-go-on-display-at-the-british-library/

Lost Landmarks: 1902 Carnegie Library Went Down in 1981 

http://www.sctimes.com/story/life/2015/12/03/lost-landmarks-1902-carnegie-library-went-down-1981/76072996/

 

Daily Thoughts 12/3/2015

A Young Woman Reading, Rembrandt, 1634

Daily Thoughts 12/3/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook.

I read some more of The Glass Castle.   I am finding the story both fascinating and disturbing.  The father in the memoir is both brilliant, erratic, and completely unreliable.  Combined with an artistic, free spirited, irresponsible wife, the story becomes tragic in its dimensions.  The children have to fend for themselves, often going hungry, or facing danger.

I checked the displays and the gift books.  I worked a little bit on a Star Wars display of books.  Star Wars The Force Awakens is opening on December 18, 2015.

I read the latest Bookpage and two copies of the Times Literary Supplement.  I am working on an order of books for next week.

I also spent some time talking to Better World Books.


Web Bits

in the city that spends the most on books, it's only indies now

http://www.mhpbooks.com/recent-closure-of-bn-leaves-d-c-without-any-chain-bookstores/

Digital Inclsion Survey: Renovation Matters, Help Happens at Point of Need, and Staff Still DO (Almost) Everything

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/12/industry-news/digital-inclusion-survey-renovation-matters-help-happens-at-point-of-need-and-staff-still-do-almost-everything/

 

Daily Thoughts 12/2/2015

William Butler Yeats January 1, 1904

Daily Thoughts 12/2/2015

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I checked on some programs which I am working on like the Adult Games Night, and the movie Ellis.

I read some more of the book, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  Jeannette Walls family is always on the move.  The father is full of adventurous spirit, drinks, and can barely hold a job.  The mother is artistic, other worldly and impractical.  Jeannette Walls story is a story of a family constantly on the move from town to town, dreaming impossible dreams.

I watched a little more of the Management Tips video on Lynda.com

Web Bits

The Irish Poetry Reading Archive
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/poetry-for-posterity-the-irish-poetry-reading-archive-launches-1.2450480

Daily Thoughts 12/1/2015

Example of an Allied Paper Corporation Stock Certificate. This corporation ceased to exist in 1967. The red certificates were to allow for issue of less than 100 shares, the exact number being written in.

Daily Thoughts 12/1/2015

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I read some more of Smarter Than You Think this morning.  I am reading about the concept of public writing and how it clarifies your thoughts when you write for an audience.  The focus is on blogging.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I also did a little more work for programming.

I am working on getting a set of books into the computer lab so people can check them out.

I was at city hall yesterday and saw a model for Library Square in Mount Vernon the second floor of the building.  It was interesting to look at.

I spent a little time on the strategic plan.

Web Bits

One million Books, 100 Institutes Under National Digital Library-- India
https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/one-million-books-100-institutes-under-national-digital-090017886.html

Fight for School Libraries
http://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=126333