Daily Thoughts 03/31/2012

Portrait of James Boswell by Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1785

Daily Thoughts 03/31/2012

I am reading more of The Consent of the Networked. The author is writing about the United States policy of "Internet Freedom" which is aimed at making the internet more open worldwide.  Part of it includes providing software to circumvent censorship in places like Iran and China.

I spent some more time on Lynda.com watching videos on time management and Dreamweaver CS5.  I also watched part of a documentary on Richard Koci Hernandez who is a multimedia journalist at an organization called Mission Local http://www.missionlocal.org

 Tracking Amazon, New Vonnegut E-book Takes #1 Spot
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/51308-tracking-amazon-new-vonnegut-e-book-takes-1-spot.html
I enjoyed the book.  The length was just right. I could finish it in an evening.  I find reading novellas much easier on e-books than in print.

Mayor Bloomberg's Pitch to New York Startups
http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/mayor-bloomberg-pitches-new-york-to-startups_b35905
I saw this at the NY Tech Meetup.  It was kind of interesting.

I spent some time reading through the Computers In Libraries Conference and the Internet Librarian Conference.  I found one new search engine that was interesting Blekko which is supposed to be spam free.

I also got a complete resume review done by Ellen Mehling of MyMetro today.  I had a chance to make some minor improvements.  It was worth doing.

Daily Thoughts 03/30/2012

A Lady Reading In The Garden, 1894?, Niels Frederik Schiøttz-Jensen (1855–1941)

Daily Thoughts 03/30/2012

I spsnt some time reading Word Hero this morning.  The author is writing about how to make sentences memorable.  He is describing how to use sounds, pictures, and associations to make words stick in your mind.  He even mentions ancient Greek memory techniques.

This morning, I spent some time studying training videos on Lynda.com focused on effective meetings, resume writing, and time management.  I am steadily learning a few more skills.

I started Basic Training last night.  It has a deep sadness in it combined with a sense of malevolence which is kind of intriguing.

I am going to a session called Pitching VC's Discussion and Feedback from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at General Assemb.ly  I have had an interest in small business and startups for a while.

Our Bookshelf is an attempt to build a public domain e-book social network. It is being crowdfunded.
http://www.indiegogo.com/Our-Bookshelf

Web Bits

Copyright Stagnation
http://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/copyright-stagnation.html

Don't Be Bot Like How To Blend Books and Social Media
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/51296-don-t-be-bot-like--how-to-blend-books-and-social-media.html

Daily Thoughts 03/29/2012

Dr. Benjamin Rush painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1783 and 1786. Winterthur Museum.

Daily Thoughts 03/29/2012

Harper Collins sent me a review copy of Sacre Bleu A Comedy D'Art by Christopher Moore.  Christopher Moore writes humorous fantasy.  He reminds me a little bit of Neil Gaiman or A. Lee Martinez. A. Lee Martinez also has a new book, Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain.  The cover art is wonderful for his new book.  I also like his blog http://www.aleemartinez.com/

I had a chance to wander through Barnes and Noble today.  There were two other books that caught my attention;  Pogo The Wild Blue Yonder by Walt Kelly which is a book of cartoons and The Road to Danger by David Drake which is military space opera.

I had a chance to relax a bit.  I am taking some time off.

There is a new kindle short by Kurt Vonnegut called Basic Training.  It came out on March 22, 2012.  It is supposed to be semi-autobiographical.

I went to my local library today and spent some time on the internet and recharged my Kindle Touch on the library computer.

Web Bits

Why E-books Need Libraries
http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/inside-scoop/why-ebooks-need-libraries?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=amlibraries&goback=.gmp_40592.gde_40592_member_104336546

Daily Thoughts 03/28/2012

Portrait of Desiderius Esrasmus, engraved in Nuremberg, Germany., Albrecht Durer, 1526

Daily Thoughts 03/28/2012

This morning, I joined My Metro.http://metro.org/individual-membership/ 

I spent some more time on Lynda.com listening to training videos on resume writing, effective meetings, and CSS.  I think I have the general idea of how CSS and HTML work, but will need to go over what I have learned in a more hands on environment.

I read some more of The Consent of the Networked.  I am learning how Google+ and Facebook don't allow anonymity.  Google+ and Facebook  insist that people use real names.  In contrast, Blogger and Wordpress both allow anonymity. It makes for an interesting contrast.

I was looking a little bit more around the different book startups and found Book Riot.  They do a very good job of picking out very popular material to recommend http://www.bookriot.com

Web Bits

Gas Station Made of Recycled Books
http://greenopolis.com/goblog/green-groove/gas-station-made-recycled-books

Daily Thoughts 03/27/2012

Portrait d'Emile Bernard à Florence. Indistinctly stamped with the initials PS, tempera on canvas, 73 x 56.5 cm, 1893, Paul Seruisier

Daily Thoughts 03/27/2012

Last night, I read some more of No Shelf Required 2.  There are some interesting ideas like how do you preserve e-books?  What are the criteria for weeding e-books? and How do you circulate e-readers?   I especially liked the section on enhanced e-books.   There was even a reference to an open source annotation system on the web http://www.openannotation.org

This morning, I spent some time watching training videos on Lynda.com for Dreamweaver, resume writing, and effective meetings.  I also read a little bit more of The Consent of the Networked.  I like how the author describes Facebook as the kingdom of Facebookiana where no one is anonymous and we all share our public identities.

I also spent some time relaxing in the afternoon.

I am planning on going to the New York Tech Meetup tonight.  Hopefully, it will help me understand things a little bit better in the startup world.  Every night, I learn a little bit more about this kind of thing.

I spent a few minutes looking at the online brochure for the NYU School of Publishing.  It is very well put together.  http://www.pageturnpro.com/New-York-University/31303-MS-in-Publishing/index.html#1

Mediabistro has an Intro to Multimedia Journalism package for $1500 which consists of six classes.
http://www.mediabistro.com/Intro-to-Multimedia-Journalism-crs7209.html

I spent a little time looking over the Mediabistro courses and compared them to the NYU School of Publishing.  The courses which seemed to cover digital publishing are HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, Online Writing, Blogging, Social Media, Multimedia, Wordpress, Digital Project Management, SEO, Analytics, Digital Content Strategy, Content Management Systems, Adobe InDesign, InCopy, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

I went back through Lynda.com and found that a lot of the things listed as classes being taught at New York University and on Mediabistro are available as online courses.  It may take me a while, but I think I can get a lot of the equivalent training.

I went to the New York Tech Meetup simulcast at New Work City.  It was different than I expected.  It was a series of people presenting new businesses that they were interested in.  The sponsors were Microsoft, Google, Bloomberg, and Tumblr.

As part of the opening remarks, there was a video encouraging people to come work in New York in startup by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  It was a bit surprising.

Most of the startups were very straightforward ideas with a single product.  There was a gentleman who was presenting a product called The Birdy which was a way to manage your finances through a daily email,  a restaurant reservation system that worked through Foursquare called Reserve My City.  Another service was called Spotless City which was a drycleaning reservation system.

The startup presentation I found the most interesting was a curated music application called Songza. http://www.songza.com   I am listening to Round Midnight by Mel Torme as part of a playlist.  I like the idea of curation.  I can see a website with curated Kindle singles or other short form nonfiction e-books.

There was a short break aftward where people got a chance to talk.  It was different than I expected.

On the way home, I finished reading No Shelf Required 2.  The book showed that there are still issues with e-books and how they are distributed to schools and libraries.  However, it also showed that e-books are not going away.  More people want them and are buying them.

While I was reading through the Tools of Change for Publishing group on Linked In, I came across this book,  http://book.pressbooks.com/ 
It seems to go well with Eric Ries's comments about the publishing industry.



Web Bits

SXSW Six New Ventures
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/51192-sxsw-six-new-ventures.html

A huge competitive advantage awaits bold publishers
http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/03/lean-startup-publishing-eric-ries.html

Daily Thoughts 03/26/2012

Perspectiva Literaria by Johannes Lencker, Cover

Daily Thoughts 03/26/2012

I read a little bit more of The Consent of the Networked.  There is quite a bit on copyright.  Copyright apparently can be used as a tool of censorship by governments to go after organizations.  China and Russia have been known to look for copyright infringements by dissident organizations.  I am also reading about how Google and Amazon censor some of the content on their networks.  Germany has different laws about nudity and sexuality than the United States so there have been some issues around content with Apple.

I also watched some more training videos on Lynda.com focused on resume writing, time management, and Dreamweaver CS5.  It will take me a while to finish these.  This is a way for me to steadily improve my skills.

I read some more of No Shelf Required 2.  I am reading about preservation of digital books.  This often comes into conflict with digital rights management as well as the idea that with some e-books the person does not own the rights they are only borrowing the item.

I spent some more time relaxing today.

Web Bits

Book Buzz Interviews Goodreads Patrick Brown
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookbuzz/2012/03/26/book-buzz-interviews-goodreads-patrick-brown

Just The Facts, Yes All of Them
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/business/factuals-gil-elbaz-wants-to-gather-the-data-universe.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=technology

 Vook Launches E-book Publishing Platform to the Public
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/vook-launches-e-book-publishing-platform-to-public/?goback=.gmp_2414597.gde_2414597_member_103427803
Vook would allow people to produce enhanced e-books with video and audio embedded in them.

Daily Thoughts 03/25/2012

The Arts of the Trivium, Grammar, Borgia Apartments, Hall of Liberal Arts, 1492-1494
Daily Thoughts 03/25/2012


I found a few more social reading companies, Youmag and Babelio are French social reading companies.  There is also anobii which is a United Kingdom company and Rethink Books.

I also spent some more time on Lynda.com watching training videos on Time Management, Effective Meetings, and Dreamweaver CS5.

I have been reading a bit more of The Consent of the Networked.  The author is writing about internet censorship.  He is touching on how censorship affects thngs like cyberbullying and child pornography.  It is controversial in nature and makes you think.

I also read some more of Word Hero today.  There is a website which goes with the book
http://www.wordhero.com
The book is very much a book of rhetorical tips and tricks for writing and speaking.

Mostly, I spent some time thinking today about publishing,books, and libraries.

Daily Thoughts 03/24/2012

"He Nose The Eyes". 1910 advertisement for Dr. Felix Gaudin, "Graduate Optician", New Orleans
Daily Thoughts 03/24/2012


I read a little bit more of No Shelf Required 2.  I learned that the iPad was the easiest device to access e-books with.  I know that there is a Kindle application for the iPad, as well as an app called Bluefire which lets readers read E-pub documents.  Also, Overdrive has apps for the iPad as well.  It appears to be the most versatile of both the E-readers and Tablets.

I also read a bit more in The Five O'Clock Club Job Search Workbook.  I am up to the part where I am summarizing my interests and comparing them to different positions and companies.  I also have started putting together ideas for industries to target.

In addition, I read some more of Consent of the Networked.  The author is describing how the internet is being used as a surveillance tool for governments.  Mobile phones are increasingly being monitored as well as web traffic.  I personally follow the adage that if a computer is connected to a network, it is not secure.

I watched some more video training on Lynda.com focused on resumes, time management, and Dreamweaver. It is a slow steady process.  I try and do a little bit each day.  I am probably going to watch the video on effective meetings as well.

I read some more of Word Hero this afternoon.  The author is describing how to use figures of speech in writing.  He even has a blog called http://www.figarospeech.com  Figures of Speech Served Fresh.  It is enjoyable light reading.

I spent some time looking around the internet.  I found a few small media companies that seem interesting The Atavist http://www.atavist.com which produces short form works for the Kindle and Snooth Media which is an epicurean site http://www.snoothmedia.com

Findings Turns Marginalia Into Discovery Engines
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/findingscom_turns_marginalia_into_discovery_engines.php

I found another two social publishing sites, http://www..completelynovel.com Completely Novel and WEBook http://www.webook.com    There is also another social reading company that is launching soon, Readmill http://www.readmill.com

Daily Thoughts 03/23/2012

Page with typeface samples from the Kelmscott Press, 1897, showing samples of Chaucer, Troy, and Golden Type designed by William Morris

Daily Thoughts 03/23/2012


I read some more of No Shelf Required 2.  There was a very interesting section on the digital divide.  Part of this section is about how it is important to show people how to use digital devices like e-readers.  Much like the library is the only place which some people have access to computers, it could also be one of the only places where people would have access to e-books or other electronic content like electronic magazines.  How this access is done is debatable. It was also interesting reading about accessibility and e-books.  Text to speech, description of formulas and tables for the blind, and being able to adjust font and screen size were discussed.

I also read some more of The Consent of the Networked.  There was an entire chapter on internet censorship in China which the author calls networked authoritarianism.  There was some interesting material on patriotism and hacking in the chapter on China as well.

I bought the e-book Word Hero A Fiendishly Clever Guide to Crafting the Lines That Get Laughs, Go Viral, and Live Forever by Jay Heinrich.  I saw this book on Getglue and found that it was not available in any of my local libraries.

This afternoon, I spent some time looking at different book startups, two which seemed especially interesting are http://www.valdobox.com/ which sells books by the page and http://booklr.com/ which provides data and analytics for publishers.

I spent some time this afternoon on Lynda.com watching videos on time management and resume writing.  I think they will be useful.

Web Bit

Annual Meeting, Publishers and Libraries AAP (American Association of Publishers)
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/21284851

Daily Thoughts 03/22/2012

Portrait of his wife Georgiana Burne-Jones, with their two children, Philip and Margaret, in the background, 1883, Edward Burne-Jones

Daily Thoughts 03/22/2012

Last night, I read some more of No Shelf Required 2.  I was reading about libraries that shifted to mainly digital.  The focus was not on the e-books themselves but on providing information to people.  The goal still ultimately is to help people find what they want whether it is elctronic or print.

Step by Step UI Design by Sacha Grief -- An inexpensive e-book.
http://sachagreif.com/ebook

This morning, I read a bit more of The Consent of the Networked.  I am reading more about how open source technology creates a technical commons where people can use programs like Wordpress and Drupal to communicate their ideas.  The technical commons helps expand the digiital commons by providing inexpensive easily modifiable tools which can be used for a variety of purposes.  The technical commons played an important part in the recent Arab spring.

I have been thinking a little bit about work.  Right now, I am mostly resting.

Web Bits

Library Publishing Report Suggests Partnerships, Creating Positions
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/03/academic-libraries/library-publishing-report-suggests-partnerships-creating-positions/ 

Statistical Abstract Saved by Proquest and Bernan Press
http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/03/reference/statistical-abstract-saved-by-proquest-and-bernan-press/

Daily Thoughts 03/21/2012

Instalación provisional de la proyectada Biblioteca Central y Oficina Bibliográfica de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, March 30, 1908

Daily Thoughts 03/21/2012

I took a few minutes to look at Bilbary this morning and it is not that impressive. http://www.bilbary.com

Sometimes you see things that are a little different.  Artifex Press is working on creating Catalog Raisonnes in a digital format.  http://www.artifexpress.com/

I am steadily learning more about the tech world in terms of publishing.  What I have learned is that there are an almost unlimited number of artists and writers seeking to be recognized.  Many of the newer artists are willing to almost give away their work in order to be recognized.  There are far less people able to build the technology.


It is almost a case where the container is currently more valuable than the content.  There is a very hollow feel to it.  I am noticing that the back end developers are starting to develop ways to simplify the front end for web design.

It feels like books will become somewhat like accessories to leave on your coffee table or make your house look nice in the future.  As print technology improves, books will be designed with greater care to make them even more visually and physically appealing.

I started reading No Shelf Required 2 Use and Management of Electronic Books Edited by Sue Polanka.


I put the book The end of money : counterfeiters, preachers, techies, dreamers-and the coming cashless society by  David Wolman on hold. 


I try and spend a little bit of time every day on Lynda.com improving my skills right now.

I read a bit more of Consent of the Networked on my PC.  The author is writing about the struggle for control of the internet between corporations, government, and citizens.  His perspective comes from the digital commons which runs throughout the internet.

Mostly, I have been spending time relaxing and reading.  I have had some time off to take care of some personal things.
 


Web Bits

More Backlash: Consumers Start to Take Notice of E-Book Library Lending Problem
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/more-backlash-consumers-start-to-take-notice-of-e-book-library-lending-problem/ 

 New Survey Finds Dramatic Increase in Tablet Ownership Among College Students and High School Seniors
 http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/pr/20120314-new-survey-finds-dramatic-increase-in-tablet-ownership-among-college-students-and-high-school-seniors.html

Daily Thoughts 03/20/2012

Mikiri no fuji Print shows a man writing in calligraphy on a large box in front of a building; on the left, in the background, is a view of Mount Fuji. Date Created/Published: [ca. 1836] 

Daily Thoughts 03/20/2012


I finished reading The Information Diet this morning by Clay A. Johnson.  I added a few of the people like Matt Cutts listed in the back of the book to my Twitter account.  There is also a website called http://www.informationdiet.com   The book is basically about how to consume information mainly focusing on politics and news.



Web Bits

Support Crowdfunding Reform
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=78#m1547

I put the book, Local Dollars, Local Sense by Michael Shuman in this article on hold.

Daily Thoughts 03/19/2012

[Figure wrapped in blanket sitting on a barrel and reading] Date Created/Published: [between 1860 and 1865]  Part of: Morgan collection of Civil War drawings (Library of Congress) Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-20287 (digital file from original item) 

Daily Thoughts 03/19/2012


I read some more of The Information Diet this morning.  The author is writing about data literacy.  One of the ideas he talks about is that it is necessary to be able to communicate with tools like blogger, html, and social media to be literate with data.  This is an idea that is curious to me.  It shows how much the world has changed.

 Lynda.com lets you take very short segments of video training between five and ten minutes in each segment.

I read some more of The Information Diet this afternoon.  I am learning about transparency and information.  The problem is that even if information is transparent very few people tend to take the time to read through complex documents.

I am noticing that more companies are switching to tablets.  One particularly interesting company that I found was Readz which is a content management system for tablets to publish applications.  http://www.readz.com

I am looking at the website for the Book Industry Guild of New York.  It is the first time I have ever seen it.
http://www.bookindustryguildofny.org/  

Mostly, I relaxed some more today.



Web Bits


That Sound You Hear? It's The Library World Changing
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/03/opinion/bubble-room/that-sound-you-hear-its-the-library-world-changing/

Daily Thoughts 03/18/2012

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus at the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan, New York

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus, 1883

Daily Thoughts 03/18/2012

I went to the New York Librarians Meetup today.  On the way I read some more of The Information Diet.  The author is describing how we easily get sucked into email and television.  We often will stop and lose all focus on everything else, not exercise, and spend long sedentary periods in front of computers.  This seems to me to be quite true.  I liked his statement of how people constantly seek to clear their email inbox but can never seem to quite do it.

I got to the program a little bit late and I missed the brunch.  I took a walk in the park and sat and thought for a while.  It was a nice chance to clear my head of every day thoughts.

Afterwards we went to the Museum of Jewish Heritage and listened to a lecture on Emma Lazarus which started at 2:30 p.m. called "Until We Are Free", The Legacy of Emma Lazarus.  Emma Lazarus was known for her radical labor and civil rights activism as well as her poetry.  She was extremely controversial in her time.  There was also an exhibit Emma Lazarus: Poet of Exiles.  I did not get a chance to see this.  I only stayed for the lecture.

Success-- Emma Lazarus

Oft have I brooded on defeat and pain,
The pathos of the stupid, stumbling throng.
These I ignore to-day and only long
To pour my soul forth in one trumpet strain,
One clear, grief-shattering, triumphant song,
For all the victories of man's high endeavor,
Palm-bearing, laurel deeds that live forever,
The splendor clothing him whose will is strong.
Hast thou beheld the deep, glad eyes of one
Who has persisted and achieved? Rejoice!
On naught diviner shines the all-seeing sun.
Salute him with free heart and choral voice,
'Midst flippant, feeble crowds of spectres wan,
The bold, significant, successful man.

Emma Lazarus

Afterwards we went to Chipotle for a breakout session.  I talked about some thoughts about my work and my place in the world.  I realized now that I cannot really look in a place like the Specail Library Association to find what I am looking for.  I had a chance to discuss a variety of places that had to do with publishing and libraries.  It was an excellent opportunity to reflect on what I was doing.

We went over places and ideas like the Espresso Book Machine, Digital Book World, the International Digital Publishing Forum.  I also mentioned General Assembly and the online entrepreneurship class I was taking.  Some interesting feedback I had was that many of the younger people who are going into startups don't have a whole lot of worldly experience which counts for a lot.

I mentioned that access to Lynda.com and part of the issue being I wasn't quite sure what to focus on.  

I got some good feedback.  It was suggested that I look through Publishers Weekly at the job listings as well as the New York Review of Books because I was probably not looking in the right places for what I was interested in.  I also should probably be looking at the Times Literary Supplement.

We also spent some time discussing Book Expo America and I mentioned that there is now the BEA Book Bloggers convention which happens simultaneously with Book Expo America.

There was a chance to go over places like Red Room, Library Thing, Findings.com, and other places.  A person mentioned Bibliocommons which is an improved catalog which includes new ways to share information and materials.  http://www.bibilocommons.com 

There was also a strong suggestion that I join Metro as a My Metro member because it would help my career and focus.

On the train home, I had a bit of discussion with a librarian who had made a career change from theater.  We talked about the New York University School for Publishing program.  I think I should probably do it.  If only for the chance to be around people who are also doing the same thing.

It was a chance to keep my spirits up.

Daily Thoughts 03/17/2012

Bookcase, Robert Adam (1728-1792), 1776, exhibited in the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Daily Thoughts 03/17/2012


I read some more of The Information Diet.  The author is writing about content farms and how journalism is starting to turn into piece work based on the most popular subjects.

I also started reading The Five O'Clock Club Job Search Workbook.  The author suggests people focus on positions, not openings in companies.

I also spent some time thinking and planning about what I am gong to do in the next week or so.

I spent some more time on Lynda.com.

I also spent some time resting.  I have been taking care of some personal business.

Daily Thoughts 03/16/2012

Oscar Levertin by Carl Larsson, 1906

Daily Thoughts 03/16/2012

I read a little bit more of The Information Diet.  The author is comparing factory farming and manufactured food products to easily consumable junk information and information that confirms our own bias.  He is also describing how the internet and social media can encourage loss of attention.

This morning, I spent a little bit of time on Lynda.com studying CSS.

I watched the Three Musketeers on dvd.  It was a nice way to relax.  I am trying to be a little bit more relaxed.

On Sunday, I am going to New York Librarians SHARE to network with people.

Web Bits


Cory Doctorow: What's Inside the Box
http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2012/03/cory-doctorow-whats-inside-the-box/

Daily Thoughts 03/15/2012

"Elizabeth Barrett Browning," oil on canvas, by Michele Gordigiani. 29 in. x 23 in. (737 mm x 584 mm). Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London., 1858

Daily Thoughts 03/15/2012

I spent a little more time on the Start Making class on forming a C- Corporation.  It was kind of interesting hearing the parts on noncompete agreements and intellectual property.

I also spent a bit of time on Lynda.com learning about CSS.

I started reading The Information Diet.  He posits that there is a healthy way to consume information.

Web Bits

Britannica Define Outdated
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/03/14/britannica-define-outdated/

Daily Thoughts 03/14/2012

Manufacturing of paper. Picture scanned in : Leçons élémentaires de chimie (B.Bussard, H.Dubois). 1906.

Daily Thoughts 03/14/2012

This morning I checked the displays and updated the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  I also checked the gift books.

There is a new copy of Publishers Weekly that I have to read.  Also, The Age of Zeus has come in for me to read by James Lovegrove.

I put the book Lifeskills by Virginia Williams on hold.

We have the Computer Lab for Academic Use from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. I spent some time reading the latest New York Times Book Review.

The book, The Information Diet A Case for Conscious Consumption by Clay A. Johnson has come in for me to read.  I am looking forward to reading it.  The book is exactly 150 pages long.

Daily Thoughts 03/13/2012

Ein stiller Moment. Signiert. Datiert 1878. Öl auf Leinwand, 40 x 30 cm
Daily Thoughts 03/13/2012

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter accounts for the library.  I also checked the displays and gift books.

I spent some time looking through the Slideshare presentation for Intro to the NYC Startup Community.  I kind of liked Hacker News http://news.ycombinator.com/

There are two programs today, The Biography Book Club from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Bimpe Fageyinbo Reading from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Her website is http://www.bimpefageyinbo.com/

At the Biography Book Club we ended up discussing Eugene O'Neill, August Wilson, and Emma Goldman.  It was rather interesting to hear the different opinions.

Bimpe Fageyinbo did a very nice presentation of her memoir and poetry.  I rather enjoyed hearing her read.

Daily Thoughts 03/12/2012

Portrait of Eugene O'neill, September 5, 1933

03/12/2012

This morning I spent some time organizing my thoughts on the train.  I sometimes take the time to write out what I am thinking and prioritize things.

I also updated the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library, checked the displays, and checked the gift books.

The Welcome Mat book catalog from Baker and Taylor covering Home and Garden came in today.

We have Bimpe Fageyinbo who will be reading from her memoir tomorrow, Tuesday, March 13, 2012 So Maybe That's The Bee's Weakness  from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room.  I have to get ready for the event.

I checked out The Selected Letters of Eugene O'Neill for tomorrow for the Biography Book Club from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..  It should be interesting.  Letter writing is a dying art because of email.
I started reading it.  I learned he was a merchant seaman for a while.
Three books came in for me to read, The Arab Uprising What Everyone Needs to Know by James L. Gelvin, No Shelf Required 2 Use and Management of Electronic Books, Edited by Sue Polanka and Too Big To Know, Rethinking Knowledge Now That the Facts Aren't the Facts, Experts are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room is the Room by David Weinberger.  I found the book Too Big to Know on http://findings.com/ 

I also put the book, The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption  by Clay A. Johnson on hold.  I also found this on Findings.com.  What is interesting about the two books I found on Findings is that they do not appear to come from the library profession, yet they talk about information and knowledge.

Daily Thoughts 03/11/2012

Library Chair, Reading Table, and Reading Desk (Royal MS. 15D iii.) from Charles Knight, Old England: A Pictorial Museum
Daily Thoughts 03/11/2012

I finished taking the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship online from General Assemb.ly.  http://startmaking.com  It was very interesting.  I think I learned quite a bit.  I learnned the basics of how an income statement is put together, the difference between limited liability companies and corporations, and about the process of fundraising for a tech startup from someone who had successfully done it.  The classes were well worth doing.  I'll probably be going back to go over some of the ideas more closely.

This afternoon, I checked the Twitter and Facebook pages for the library. and placed an e-book on reserve

Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle For Internet Freedom by Rebecca MacKinnon.
I found a few more companies that are social reading oriented.  There is Bookrix and Bookrabbit both out of the  United Kingdom.  I spent a little bit of time looking at companies listed in the Bookcalendar Twitter account http://twitter.com/bookcalendar  There are a few more companies there as well including Daily Lit, BEA Bloggers which is the new name for the Book Bloggers Convention, Coverspy, Third Iron, Weread, Scribd, and Vook. This adds to the existing companies which I am aware of including Findings, Shelfari, Goodreads, Librarything, Flatleaf, Netgalley, Red Lemonade, Open Margin, Subtext, Book Lamp, Bibliocrunch, Bookiejar, Wattpad,Bookish, and 24 Symbols.

Free Comic Book Day is on May 5, 2012
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/992

Daily Thoughts 03/10/2012

Paris, Les Bouquinistes en Hiver(Booksellers in winter). Signed E. Galien-Laloue. Gouache, watercolour and pencil on paper, 19 x 31 cm

Daily Thoughts 03/10/2012

I placed the book The Ten Faces of Innovation on hold by Tom Kelley. 

I also took some time and watched An Inconvenient Truth with Al Gore on dvd. I have never read the book.  I also spent a bit more time watching a video on Dreamweaver CS5 on Lynda.com.  I don't think this will be enough for me to really learn it.  I'll probably have to take a class.

Last night I spent some time at the Introduction to the New York Startup Community at General Assemb.ly from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Anna C. Lindow who does Content Strategy for General Assemb.ly was teaching the class.  Hopefully, there should soon be a deck of the presentation available for me to look over.

As always, I just give my interpretations of what I thought was important.  One of the most important things which I learned is that I should probably learn some coding either in front end or back end development at least to the point where I have an understanding of what is happening.  I have some basic HTML and I understand a bit about CSS.  I have to get to the point where I understand Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and InDesign.  This is not going to be easy for me to do.

Almost all web startups start with a technical team initially.  Some companies are paying developers to come to Manhattan, New York with a $5000 bounty.  This is an article from Venture Beat on this http://venturebeat.com/2012/03/09/talent-crunch-new-york-startups-start-offering-5000-bonus-to-new-hires/  . There are simply not enough people who know how to code.  This is why places like General Assemb.ly are being created.

I have seen advertisements for beginning back end developers for $75,000.  Good developers can pick the jobs they want.

I also recognized some of the companies which people were talking about; bit.ly and Meetup are in New York.  Most of the common roles in startups don't match with librarianship unless there is a technical component like information architecture, community management, or client services.

There are quite a few networking places where people talk about startups.  I don't think I have time for attending a Startup Weekend.  I also have never been to a hackathon which would probably be very interesting.  I do engage in social media, blogging, meetups, and similar things.  I have been to some of the coworking spaces like New Work City, but have to learn a little bit more. 

I watched the session from Start Making http://startmaking.com  which is a free entrepreneurship class from General Assembly;  Recruting on Building Your Team by Jack Groetzinger from Seatgeek.  Jack Groetzinger is discussing how they find people.  There were a few things that I learned.  Most companies only use job boards for the most generic positions and tend to put their specialized listings on more specialized job boards.  It was interesting hearing about specific communities which programmers use like hackernews and github.  The presenters so far in the Start Making classes are excellent.  Jack Groetzinger suggested that it is a good idea to get a Linked In Business Plus account.

There is a kind of language which goes with all this with words like user centered design, minimum viable product, brainstorm, and intercept.

I stayed a little bit past the first hour.  I ended up mentioning the new Espresso Book Machine in Brooklyn Public Library and children's e-books. Kirkus Reviews has reviews for book apps for the Ipad http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ipad/

Web Bits

An Audio Conversation on Outsourcing Public Libraries
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-03-08/outsourcing-public-libraries
This is a very serious conversation.

Daily Thoughts 03/09/2012

Illuminated capital S in the Author's Preface in Andrew Motte's 1729 translation of Newton's The Mathematics of Natural Philosophy

Daily Thoughts 03/09/2012


I read some more of Arctic Rising by Tobias Buckell on the train to work.  The story has lots of action.  It also comes across as a believable.  Anchorage Alaska has become a major port as global warming has opened up shipping near the arctic.  So far, I like the story.  A nice thing about Tobias Buckell is that he uses a wide variety of characters in his settings from a mix of different ethnic and social backgrounds.

I put the book, The Arab uprisings : what everyone needs to know by James L. Gelvin on hold.  I also put Too Big to Know: Rethinking Knowledge Now That the Facts Aren't Facts, Experts are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room is the Room by David Weinberger on hold.  These were both reviewed in the March 1, 2012 Library Journal.  I also saw clippings from Too Big to Know on http://findings.com 

This morning, I udpated the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  The book, The Five O'clock Club Job Search Workbook by Kate Wendleton has come in for me to read.  I also went through the keyword list on the website I Need A Library Job eliminating some of the words.  In addition, there is a keyword list here http://infospace.ischool.syr.edu/2011/12/23/61-non-librarian-jobs-for-librarians/



James Lovegrove has a new book coming out called the Age of Aztec.  I enjoyed reading The Age of Ra  and just put The Age of Zeus on hold.  I put many more books on hold than I can read.  I usually examine them before I choose to read them or not. 

 I spent some time communicating about the Biography Book Club on March 13, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the memoir reading by Bimpe Fageyinbo from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the community room.  I also plan on contacting people for the Mount Vernon Writers Network on March 15, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you volunteer you can get in free to the National Black Writers Conference on Thursday, March 29- Sunday April 1, 2012 at Medgar Evers, CUNY in New York.
http://www.nationalblackwritersconference.org/registration.html

I finished reading Arctic Rising by Tobias Buckell.  For me, it succeeded as a near future thriller.  It is not a traditional thriller.  The characters are a bit avantgarde.  The heroine is gay.  Also some of the heroes and heroines are on the wrong side of the law in the traditional sense.  The characters come form  a variety of countries; Russia, the Caribbean, Canada, Kenya,  the United States, and other places.  It makes for bits of interesting back story.   The book has a bit of an outlaw feel to it.  It is not your traditional square jawed hero from the military or gunslinger story.

I like how the future arctic has a very edgy feel to it.  People live on the ice or on oil platforms or floating manufacturing centers with very experimental forms of governance. The technology is kind of interesting.  There is a gun battle that is blimp versus ship.  There is also a nuclear bomb and a super weapon which add to the suspense.

The villains have some positive motives to them.  They are not completely evil.  There is a sense of at least partial justification for their actions.  Tobias Buckell does a good job of touching on gray areas in politics and the environment where it is not exactly clear who is right or wrong.

The setting is a world where global warming has risen sea levels, oil is scarce, and the battle for resources has turned northward as seas heat up and the oil fields, shipping lanes, and mines in the polar regions become accessible.  This is an interesting and utterly believable scenario if you read about the future of the arctic like I do. 

I like Tobias Buckell's writing style.  It has lots of action.  It has a slight video game feel to it.  Tobias Buckell wrote for Halo.  This was a very enjoyable, fast paced book for me to read.

I got early access to Start Making: Early Bird Access to the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship online class from General Assembly http://generalassemb.ly Right now, I am watching Alexis Ohanian from Reddit who is very interesting to watch.

One of the things Jason Ohanian suggested that I do is thank people for a technical thing.  Thank you for following this blog.  I appreciate it a lot.  I am grateful for your following what I say.  It is great that people follow what I write.  I hope you think about what I am writing.  This blog in many ways is about ideas.


I went to 

Web Bits

Another Library Is Possible
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/03/opinion/barbara-fister/another-library-is-possible-peer-to-peer-review/

Should Libraries Get Out of the Ebook Business
http://librarianbyday.net/2012/03/07/should-libraries-get-out-of-the-ebook-business/
I personally think the way libraries are focusing on e-books is a bit misguided.  There is too much focus on buying bestsellers and top publishers.  There should be more focus on buying works that are more appropriate in an electronic format, shorter books like Kindle Singles, creative commons books, books in the public domain that are open to everyone, and enhanced e-books which include video and audio as part of the text.

U.S. Warns Apple, Publishers Justice Department Threatens Lawsuits, Alleging Collusion Over E-Book Pricing

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203961204577267831767489216.html
This is a big part of what is happening.  There is an attempt to control a new market by the biggest companies.

Daily Thoughts 03/08/2012

This is an image of the book cover designed by Alfred Garth Jones for the first hardback publication of Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. January 1, 1902

Daily Thoughts 03/08/2012

The book, Arctic Rising by Tobias Buckell has come in for me to read.  I checked the Twitter account this morning and the Facebook account.

I also checked the displays and gift books this morning and finished reading a copy of Publishers Weekly.  I also spent a little more time reading Forecast from Baker and Taylor.

Overdrive just bought https://booki.sh/  .  It looks quite interesting.  I think it would be an easier way to get e-books from libraries.

We have the Computer Lab for Academic Use today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..  I helped a few people with basic computer skills.

On the way home, I started reading Arctic Rising.  It is a near future thriller set in a dystopian world where global warming has melted the polar ice caps.  I was a bit distracted so I took some notes for tomorrow on what I plan to do. 

DailyThoughts 03/07/2012

Printing Machine of Johanes Gutenberg

 Daily Thoughts 03/07/2012

I updated the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  I also checked the displays and gift books.

Three Advanced Reading Copies came in from Library Journal; The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker on sale 06/26/2012, Wife 22 A Novel by Melanie Gideon on sale 05/29/2012, and The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya on sale 06/2012.  I can't always predict what I will get.  There is usually something interesting.

There is a new novel written by Christopher Golden and illustrated by Mike Mignola called Joe Golem and the Drowning City : An Illustrated Novel. Mike Mignola is an excellent comic artist.

An artist came to look at the 2nd avenue side of the building.  There is an RFP for a sculpture near the children's room entrance. http://yonkersarts.blogspot.com/2012/02/rfp-sculpture-for-mount-vernon-public.html She wanted pictures of the Fresco of the Rotunda as well. http://www.mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/Library-Fresco

I found something practical to read An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules For Everyday Foodies by Tyler Cowen.  I try to get myself to bring lunch as much as possible to work.  Sometimes I slip a bit.


I got invited to to Unwine which is a Tweetup reception at the Publishing Business Conference & Expo on March 19, 2012.  It comes with one free glass of wine.  http://www.publishingbusiness.com/tweetup/

Right now, I am relaxing, drinking a diet coke and watching my Kindle Touch charge.

The Kindle Touch is now partially charged.  I downloaded Metropolitan Diary by MaryAnn McCarra-Fitzpatrick this evening.  It is a collection of poetry for 99 cents as an Amazon e-book.  MaryAnn was  a member of the Mount Vernon Writers Network until she moved away.  It is a way to support a local author.

I also downloaded Gutenberg the Geek which I saw on http://findings.com/ by Jeff Jarvis.  It is a Kindle Singles, or short book.  The book costs 99 cents. 

Web Bits

Brooklyn Public Library Now Has An Espresso Book Machine
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1685#m15284

Daily Thoughts 03/06/2012

A drawing of a classical typesetter's sorting case., 1740

Daily Thoughts 03/06/2012

This morning I read a little bit more of Hide Me Among the Graves.  The setting is in 19th century London.  The book Change by Design by Tim Brown has come in for me to read.   Tim Brown is the CEO of the design firm IDEO.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  I also updated the current events display.  We have a group coming in for a library tour on March 27, 2012 in the morning.  I am working on updating the presentation from the last tour.

I also read the latest New York Times Book Review.  There were two books I put on hold today; Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler and The Power of Habit Why We Do What In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.  Abundance is on the New York Times Bestseller list.

I went back to Lynda.com today and continued on two video instruction classes, Dreamweaver CS5 and Adobe Photoshop CS5.  I am mainly listening to understand the videos.  There are five web programs which interest me, HTML 5, CSS, Dreamweaver, InDesign, and Photoshop.  These are things which I think I should know something about.

Daily Thoughts 03/05/2012

photo of a piece from them series "louvre (il faut se méfier des mots)" by Jon Törklánsson. Photo by Martin Sexl with kind permession by the artist. 2003, Copyleft http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louvre1.jpg

Daily Thoughts 03/05/2012

On the train to work, I started reading Hide Me Among the Graves: A Novel by Tim Powers.  It is an enjoyable ghostly vampire story with quirky characters.  I like the idea of people carrying small jars of garlic in their pockets to protect from the supernatural and wearing metal on their shoes to confuse ghosts and other creatures of the night.

This morning I checked the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  I also checked the displays and the gift books.  I still have to go through the Forecast catalog from Baker and Taylor.

I filled out part of my member profile for New Work City.

Web Bits

The Disappearing Virtual Library
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/02/2012227143813304790.html

Tiny Libries, DIY Reading Rooms, and Other Micro Book Depots
http://flavorwire.com/264977/tiny-libraries-diy-reading-rooms-and-other-micro-book-depots#1
This article has a wonderfully fringe feel to it.

DC Graphic Novels Cataloged by Library of Congress
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/50915-dc-graphic-novels-cataloged-by-library-of-congress.html

Daily Thoughts 03/04/2012

The Morning Paper, James Guthrie, 1890

Daily Thoughts 03/04/2012

In the morning, I updated the Twitter and Facebook pages for the library.

I am thinking about something which a book publishers told me at Book 2 Camp when I said that paper still offers better resolution than computers.  She told me that I should not bother with things like the Kindle Touch and definitely should get an iPad, the images of art on an iPad are every bit as good as those on paper.  In fact, with enhanced e-books combining video, pictures, and sound, you get a much better experience than with static pictures for art books.  The technology will get even better with even higher resolutions.

Sometimes, I don't write about all the books I am reading.  I am sure this is true of many people who write about books.  Everyone makes choices about what kind of book they will write about.

I spent some time watching The September Issue which is a dvd on Anna Wintour, the Chief Editor of Vogue. It is about Vogue's September issue.  I like watching the process of how the photographs are chosen and laid out.  The fashion is not that interesting to me.  The use of colors and textures also catches my attention.

Web Bits

Future Libraries and 17 Forms of Information Replacing Books
http://www.futuristspeaker.com/2012/03/future-libraries-and-the-17-forms-of-information-replacing-books/

A Two Part Plan to Make Your Library A Local Publisher
http://plablog.org/2012/02/a-two-part-plan-to-make-your-library-a-local-publisher.html
This is an interesting concept.  It is similar in some ways to the Mount Vernon Writers Network which meets at our library http://www.mvwn.org 

In The Flood Tide of Digital Data an Ark Full of Books
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/technology/internet-archives-repository-collects-thousands-of-books.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&hp
I am glad this is happening.

Daily Thoughts 03/03/2012

Printing poster promoting occupations in the printing industry, such as hand compositor, press feeder, linotype operator, copy boy, proofreader, make-up man, bindery worker, and others, showing various typefaces. Date Created/Published: Ohio : Federal Art Project, WPA in Ohio, [between 1936 and 1941]

 Daily Thoughts 03/03/2012

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  There is a Denzel Washington film screening.  The first show is Glory.  It is happening right now in the community room.

I also did some weeding this morning in the paperbacks and checked the gift books and the displays.  I check these every morning so things stay in order.  We have quite a few gift books to add.

The oversize books continue to be shifted.  It makes things look much nicer.

I am going to the March 9, 2012 General Assembly 6:00 p.m. Introduction to the Startup Community.  It should be interesting.  Things happen.  I'll probably also go to a New York Tech Meetup next month, because I missed it this month.  These things happen repeatedly.

I also spent some time looking over books to order.  I still have to go through the March Baker and Taylor Forecast.


I did a bit of updating to my selected links page.  I was reminded of a few interesting sites like Library As Incubator http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/ which is how libraries incubate the arts.  There is also NY Libraries Share which is a smaller networking group on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/108255962538466/

This evening, I put the book Change by design : how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation by Tim Brown on hold.  

Web Bits

Creating the Public Library of the Future by Michael Posner
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/creating-the-public-library-of-the-future/article2357543/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A+RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2357543

Bones of the Book
http://nplusonemag.com/bones-of-the-book

Daily Thoughts 03/02/2012

Printing chintzes at Merton Abbey c. 1890, first published in Morris & Company, A Brief Sketch Of The Morris Movement and of the Firm Founded by William Morris to Carry Out His Designs and the Industries Revived or Started by Him. Written To Commemorate The Firm's Fiftieth Anniversary In June 1911. Privately printed at the Chiswick Press for Morris & Company, 1911. (Date information from Gillian Naylor, William Morris by Himself: Designs and Writings, London, Little Brown & Co. 2000 reprint of 1988 edition.)

Daily Thoughts 03/02/2012

I finished reading No Shelf Required.  It was useful for me.  I am looking forward to reading No Shelf Required 2.

This morning, BWI (Book Wholesalers Inc.) came by to visit.  We talked briefly about the libraries status as the central library and ordering books for the Central Library District.  The representative told me that BWI is planning on doing an ebook platform which should be interesting.  He also dropped off a few books from Stackpole books which publishes books on nature, the military, and hunting.  He should be at School Library Journal Day of Dialog.

I had a chance to look through the gift books and selected some items which were classics as well as a few young adult biographies which might be added to the collection.  I also checked the displays and updated the Twitter and Facebook pages for the library this morning.

The book 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami has come in to read for the Kindle.  I got my notification from Westchester Library System a few minutes ago.

We had a Dr. Seuss festival at the library today.

During the last few days, I have gotten a few application rejections.  This is not so bad.  It means people are reading my resume at least.

I wanted to go to the General Assembly career fair tomorrow, but I was asked to work on Saturday.  It is the same reason, I could not do a tour of General Assembly on Tuesday or go to the New York Tech Meetup on Tuesday either because I was called in.  I guess my works needs me.

This is the listing for the Chief Administrator or Director of the Mount Vernon Public Library.  The library is looking for new leadership.
http://lisjobs.com/jobseekers/details.asp?ID=46223

Web Bits

Go Reader Go: Read Across America 2012
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/50869-go-reader-go--read-across-america-2012.html

Daily Thoughts 03/01/2012

Book of Hours/ Livre d'heures/ Stundenbuch - Utrecht, Master of Catherine of Cleves, Lieven van Lathem (illuminators); Museum Meermanno-Westreenianum (MMW), Den Haag: Ms. 10 F 50, fol. 6r circa 1460

Daily Thoughts 03/01/2012

On the way to work, I read a bit more of No Shelf Required.  I learned a little bit more about how E-readers and e-books are purchased in public libraries.  It should be useful.

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter account for the library and checked the displays.  We have the Computer Lab for Academic Use between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.  A few people have come back to me and told me that I have helped them get a job recently because of the computer lab. 

It is Dr. Seuss's birthday tomorrow, March 2, 2012.  There is a celebration in the children's room from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Dr. Seuss has always been one of my favorite authors along with Maurice Sendak.  It is a nice thing to think about.

I put the book, The Lifespan of A Fact by John D'Agata and Jim Fingal on hold.  The review looked interesting in the February 26, 2012  New York Times Book Review.  It is the front page review.

I also put the book, The Fox Effect How Roger Ailes Turned a Network Into a Propaganda Machine by David Brock.

William Morrow sent me a review copy offer for Christopher Moore, Sacre Bleu.  I like Christopher Moore's sense of humor.  I also received a review copy of Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers last night from Harper Collins.  It should be an interesting book to read.

I had a chance to almost finish reading No Shelf Required on the way home. I am reading about DRM (Digital Rights Management), e-ISBNs, metadata, and other details about e-books.  It is all very new and very fascinating.

I also am thinking about http://www.bimpefageyinbo.com who is going to be reading at our library on March 13, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Web Bits

Comic New York is a Free Conference Open to the Public Held at Columbia Universite on Comics on March 24 and March 25, 2012
http://conferences.cdrs.columbia.edu/comicny/