Daily Thoughts 11/30/2013

James Jacques Joseph Tissot, Denoisel Reading In the Garden, 1882, Etching on Wove Paper

Daily Thoughts 11/30/2013

I am thinking about starting a book club in January. I spent a little time checking the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I read some more of Daniel Goleman Focus today. The author is writing about self-awareness. He describes how people who are more aware of their heartbeat tend to be more self-aware and describes mirror neurons. There is also some material on how others see us and how aware people are of how others see us. Sometimes, experiencing how others see us is enlightening. I had to take an intelligence test administered by a psychiatrist recently. It had results that were different than I expected. I have an IQ of 108, with an absolutely average ability to solve puzzles, and a verbal IQ of 120. What I am good at is understanding words. Of course being egotistical, I thought my IQ was much higher. The test feels very different when it is administered by a professional who is trying to find out your level of functionality. Self-awareness is important.

Web Bits

Rare Books Vanish with a Librarian in the Plot

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/30/books/unraveling-huge-thefts-from-girolamini-library-in-naples.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

One must be ever vigilant with older books. Some people want them simply because they are there.

Daily Thoughts 11/29/2013

Still Life with Oranges, Arthur Segal, 1929. Oranges, tangelos, and blood oranges are my favorite fruits. Daily Thoughts 11/29/2013

On the way to work, I read some more of Focus by Daniel Goleman. I was not that focused because I had some turkey the night before.

I checked the libraries Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the displays and the gift books. There were a bunch of James Patterson paperbacks. James Patterson is the author with the highest circulation in our library. He is extremely popular.

I have a stack of magazines to read, New York Times Book Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist.

The book, Thieves of Book Row New York's Most Nortorious Rare Book Ring and the Man Who Stopped It by Travis McDade came in for me to read.

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

There is a new collection of short stories by Dashiell Hammett, The Hunter and Other Stories which I placed a request for. Dashiell Hammett is a fantastic writer.

On the way home, I read some more of Daniel Goleman's Focus. I learned that people who are distracted or have attention deficit disorder can often be more creative than people who are very focused.

Web Bits

American Library Association Posters Archive

http://imagesearchnew.library.illinois.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/alaposters

Daily Thoughts 11/28/2013

The Turkeys, Claude Monet, 1876

Daily Thoughts 11/28/2013

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library this morning.

I also started reading Daniel Goleman Focus The Hidden Driver of Excellence. Daniel Goleman also wrote Emotional Intelligence. So far, the book is about attention and how people pay attention. Attention is an interesting subject.

Daily Thoughts 11/27/2013

Benno Caspar Haurisius, Scriptores historiae romanae latini veteres, qui extant omnes, notis variis illustrati, Heidelberg: Haener, 1743

Daily Thoughts 11/27/2013

This morning, I renewed my My Metro membership. I rather like My Metro. The annual conference is on January 15, 2014. http://metro.org/events/445/

I also renewed my American Library Association membership.

I spent a little time looking at the Facebook and Twitter for the library.

I finished reading The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner. This book has some interesting historical elements to it. One of the main characters, Sandro Valera's family has ties to the history of Italy going from World War I, through fascism and Mussolini, to labor disputes and the red brigades. That his rather conservative family makes fast motorcycles only adds to the speed and wildness in the novel. It is clear that a lot of research went into writing this novel.

Web Bits

A Personal History of Libraries http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/opinion/a-personal-history-of-libraries/

I rather like John Scalzi. There are two other authors who I like who have exceptional ties to libraries; Neil Gaiman and Cory Doctorow.

The Lost Art of Library Postcards

http://flavorwire.com/425877/the-lost-art-of-library-postcards/

I remember when I was in Brooklyn, there used to be a librarian that would collect old tinted color postcards of libraries. The postcards were available at the flea market in Brooklyn in Park Slope in boxes. They used to cost 25 cents each. I used to buy $2 worth of postcards for him on occasion.

Daily Thoughts 11/26/2013

Still Life with Vase and Fruits, 1920, Ion Theodorescu Daily Thoughts 11/26/2013

I read some more of The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner. There is a bit of a radical influence in the novel which shows a relationship between protest, politics, and art.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also spent some time weeding in the oversize books this morning. I checked the new books as well. It has been a steady, quiet day.

The computer lab was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. There are now ten new computers in the lab. There were also two computer classes tonight, a Beginning Microsoft Word Class, and A Fundamentals of Computer Operations class.

There was a meeting of the Mount Vernon Public Library Board of Trustees at 6:30 p.m., but I decided not to go.

On the way home, I read some more of The Flamethrowers. I am enjoying reading the novel.

Daily Thoughts 11/25/2013

Washington, Allson, Hermia and Helena, Before 1818. Hermia and Helena are characters in Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream

Daily Thoughts 11/25/2013

On the way to work, I read some more of The Flamethrowers. There is an added dimension to the book in that one of the main characters interests is film. It makes the scenes being described very vivid.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays and the gift books. I put in an order for bestselling and requested titles for adult books.

I put the book, Without Their Permission: How the 21st Century Will be Made Not Managed by Alexis Ohanian on hold. Part of the reason I want to read this is because of Ohanian's sense of humor. Gary Vaynerchuk also has a new book out called Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World. We have been getting the lab ready for reopening. There is some new software on the machines. The computer lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.

I put the book, Thieves of Book Row: New York's Most Notorious Rare Book Ring and the Man Who Stopped It by Travis McDade on hold. It was reviewed in the November 15, 2013 Times Literary Supplement.

I spent some time working on the holiday displays today. I am thinking about working on a book club in January.

On the way home, I read some more of The Flamethrowers. I am finding it quite enjoyable. The writing has an impulsive quality to it. The characters seem a little lost and constantly seeking something. This make the writing entertaining. The descriptions are vivid, they strike at you; handcuff eyeglasses, soft bell, lotus paste buns, territorial borders, leggy splendor, and more are peppered throughout the writing. I like it.

Web Bits

Reading Literature Makes Us Both Smarter and Nicer

http://ideas.time.com/2013/06/03/why-we-should-read-literature/

Daily Thoughts 11/24/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/24/2013

This morning I checked Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I put a hold on Strategy: A History by Lawrence Freedman http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/b8399676-4c7f-11e3-923d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2lPCOrk6L

In the laundromat, I read some more of The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner. The book has an edge to it. The sensuality is a mix of Italy in the summer, New York at night, the ski slopes of Colorado, and the salt flats of Reno where they do speed tests with motorcycle. At the same time it is an artistic sensibility with a touch of Baudelaire.

Daily Thoughts 11/23/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/23/2013

On the train to work, I started reading Dogfight How Apple and Google Went to War and Started a Revolution. The author opens with the competition between the Apple iOS operating system and the Google Android operating system for phones, tablets, and other devices.

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

I also checked the displays and gift books.

The book, The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner came in for me to read. I read some of it on the train. The writing has an excellent flow to it. There is a lot about going very fast. The urge to go fast, to ride motorcyles, to live quickly, to be artistic. It reminds me of a friend whose ambition was to fly fighter jets. To go as fast as humanly possible.

Web Bits

What Does the Book Business Look Like on the Inside? by Daniel Menaker

http://www.vulture.com/2013/11/daniel-menaker-on-publishing-industry-insanity.html?mid=facebook_nymag

6 Ways to Beat Readers Block

http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/2013/11/22/6-ways-to-beat-readers-block/

Daily Thoughts 11/22/2013

Fumi yomu musume Print shows a young woman, full-length, standing, facing left, reading a letter. Date Created/Published: [between 1844 and 1848]

Daily Thoughts 11/22/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Everything Store. One of the reasons Amazon worked on the Kindle was because they thought Apple or Google might create it first.

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

I checked out the book, Dogfight How Apple and Google Went to War and Started a Revolution by Fred Vogelstein this morning. We are steadily getting a nice selection of new books.

We have ten new computers in the computer lab.

I spent some time reading through the latest New York Times Book Reviews. I also spent a little time going over Bookletters with a colleague in the children's room.

On the way home, I finished reading The Everything Store, Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone. One of the things which impressed me about Bezos was his ability to take books of theory like Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry L. Porras or The Innovators Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton M. Christensen and put the theories in books he has read into practice inside his company. I find this fascinating. There is an Appendix in the back of the book called Jeffs Reading List which lists many of the books which Jeff Bezos read. Most of them are classics of business writing.

Web Bits

Solving the Biggest Mystery Publishing Well and Profitably

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/solving-biggest-mystery-all-publishing-well-and-pr/

Daily Thoughts 11/21/2013

Portrait of a Young Lady, Alfred Stevens, 1906

Daily Thoughts 11/21/2013

I read some more of The Everything Store on the train to work. One of the reasons Jeff Bezos is an entrepreneur is that he always knew that he wanted to go into space and needed wealth to do it. He even has a space exploration company called Blue Origin.

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time checking the new books and the gift books. There was a nice copy of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins in the gift books. I also spent a little time weeding in the oversize collection today.

This morning, I spent some time discussing Bookletters with my colleagues. I am thinking about how we are going to use it in the new website.

We have some new labels for the graphic novels.

I put the book, The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner which is a 2013 Finalist for the National Book Award on hold.

On the way home, I read some more of The Everything Store. Part of the book talks about the different management techniques which Amazon.com uses including Kaizen, lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma. There is also a belief that Amazon is not just a retail operation. It is a technology company. I have some doubts about how Brad Stone describes the inner workings of Amazon. Amazon is a very secretive company.

Web Bits

National Museum and Library Services Board Explores Maker Movement

http://blog.imls.gov/?p=4384

It is all about "steam" science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Libraries and Librarians are More Relevant Than Ever in the Digital Age

http://www.impactlab.net/2013/11/20/libraries-and-librarians-are-more-relevant-than-ever-in-the-digital-age/#!

U.S. Public Libraries and the Use of Web Technologies 2012

http://www.lrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/WebTech2012_CloserLook.pdf

Daily Thoughts 11/20/2013

Still Life With Attributes of the Arts, 1922, Zinadia Serebriakova

Daily Thoughts 11/20/2013

This morning, I read some more of Zero to Maker by David Lang. I am reading about entrepreneurship as part of the Maker movement and the concepts behind the idea of open source manufacturing. This book also describes how home electronics and new computer programs like Arduino are encouraging people to start making things and tinkering again.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the gift books and the displays. I started doing a little bit of weeding in the oversize books as well.

I spent a little bit of time working on a preview for a new web page suggesting some minor changes in the content focusing on digital media and book groups.

An article about the John Rizzo Photography Exhibit at the Mount Vernon Public Library.

http://www.mvinquirer.com/#!john-rizzo-/c1xux

Web Bits

The Most Popular Books of All Time: Infographic http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/the-most-popular-books-of-all-time-infographic_b80106#.Uo0W-UYv1z0.facebook

Daily Thoughts 11/19/2013

Still Life with Blue Trim, Felix Vallotton, 1922

Daily Thoughts 11/19/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Everything Store. The story of Amazon is also the story of many other internet based companies. There are bits on Ebay, Dell, and Google for example. It is also the story of a company with a clear set of values: innovation, customer obsession, frugality, bias for action, ownership, and high bar for talent. This is a story of how a company moves into new markets and expands continuously.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays this morning. I put in an order for bestselling fiction and nonfiction this morning as well. I also ordered some more holiday books. We recently put out the holiday music for circulation as well.

I checked out the book, Building Your Own Electronics Lab, A Guide to Setting up Your Own Gadget Workshop by Dale Wheat.

The computer lab was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. There are also two computer classes tonight; Your Tablet from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Fundamentals of Computers from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.. Some people have been asking about Microsoft Excel classes.

I spent a little time looking at the description of the Digital Media which we offer at the Mount Vernon Public Library.

On the way home, I read some more of Zero To Maker. David Lang touches on a few concepts and practices which I find interesting. The first is that of a tool lending library where people share tools. The second concept is the fab lab or a fabrication facility designed to remake everything that already exists in the laboratory. A kind of replicating laboratory that grows continuously.

Web Bits

Are Digital Libraries A Winner Takes All Market Overdrive Hopes So http://www.forbes.com/sites/avaseave/2013/11/18/are-digital-libraries-a-winner-takes-all-market-overdrive-hopes-so/

Overdrive Launches Streaming Video Service Pilot Program http://goodereader.com/blog/digital-library-news/overdrive-launches-streaming-video-service-pilot-program?et_mid=648714&rid=240836703

Hoopla Announces Agreements with Universal Pictures, MGM, National Geographic, BBC America http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2013/11/media/hoopla-announces-agreements-universal-pictures-mgm-national-geographic-bbc-america/

You'll Need a Ph.D. to Make Sense of the Pricing Schemes Publishers Impose On Libraries http://www.forbes.com/sites/avaseave/2013/11/19/youll-need-a-phd-to-make-sense-of-the-pricing-schemes-publishers-impose-on-libraries/

Daily Thoughts 11/18/2013

Still Life, 1919, Jean Metzinger

Daily Thoughts 11/18/2013

This afternoon, I checked Facebook for the library.

I read some more of The Everything Store. I learned that the two categories Amazon immmediately expanded into after books were music and dvds. This makes sense. They were apparently the two easiest categories which Amazon could sell. In a way, this says that media is what sells on the internet.

I read some more of Zero to Maker. Part of this book is about an emerging industrial philosophy which encourages people to make things. Some of the ideas are focused on making things that are easy to fix, continuously tinkering on what people are working on, and creating different kinds of shared spaces like hackerspaces, makerspaces, and fab labs where people can work.

Web Bits

LaFourche Voted NO, and It Was Good.

http://everylibrary.org/lafourche-voted-good/

Daily Thoughts 11/17/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/17/2013

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library. I also read some more of The Everything Store. There are some interesting ideas about the book trade. One of them is that there are essentially two large distributors for books, Baker and Taylor and Ingram. One of the early objectives for Amazon was to grow very large so they could get volume discounts from Baker and Taylor and Ingram on new books. It is a way to commoditize books. Another is the focus on employees that work very hard and are smart. They try and hire smart people that will hire more smart people.

Daily Thoughts 11/16/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/16/2013

Last night, I watched Skyfall,the James Bond film. It felt very different than Ian Fleming would have created.

This morning, I checked the libraries Facebook and Twitter. I also started reading The Everything Store Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone. The title refers to the initial idea of a store that would sell everything over the internet. Jeff Bezos chose books because they had commodity qualities about them; an individual title was exactly the same wherever it was being sent. I also learned about Jeff Bezos start as a hedge fund manager.

I started a second book as well, Zero to Maker Learn (Just Enough) to Make (Just About) Anything by David Lang. This book started as a project in career change for David Lang. David Lang is describing the Maker movement and how to become part of it. He correctly tells us that part of it is the ability to make customized products using desktop computerized equipment like CNC machines, 3D Printers, and laser cutters which are becoming much more affordable. The movement is not about the individual working to create a new invention, but about places and spaces where people collaborate to make new things.

Web Bits

Suit Challenging Google's Digital Library Dropped http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/google-digital-library-suit-_n_4275255.html?utm_hp_ref=books

2013 Library Elections "Deep Dive" http://everylibrary.org/2013-library-elections-deep-dive/

Daily Thoughts 11/15/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/15/2013

This morning on the train to work, I finished reading Mike Tyson, Undisputed Truth. At the end of the book, Mike Tyson is a different person. He is in therapy, has joined Alcoholics Anonymous, is married, and is trying to make amends for his wild behavior in his youth. He is also trying to become an actor. It is an interesting story, if a bit disjointed.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library, compiled the October monthly statistics, and checked the displays. We are doing a program at 2:00 p.m. to described the different digital media available at the library. I have the Kindle Fire and the Ipad Mini for the program. It should be interesting.

The book, Zero to Maker by David Lang came in for me to read.

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

Web Bits

Google Gets Total Victory Over Authors Guild Book Scanning Is Fair Use

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131114/09561525242/google-gets-total-victory-over-authors-guild-book-scanning-is-fair-use.shtml

Daily Thoughts 11/14/2013

Karin Reading, 1904, Carol Larsson

Daily Thoughts 11/14/2013

I read some more of Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson. It is rather interesting. Mike Tyson gives away his money and is very generous with jewelry and clothes, at the same time he is spending it on women, drugs and alcohol, constant legal trouble, nice houses, and beautiful cars so the hundreds of millions he earns as a boxer flow away like water. It reminds you to keep a little money for a rainy day.

This morning, I checked the libraries Facebook and Twitter page. I also checked the displays and am preparing to show a film tonight, Koran By Heart. I spent a little time talking to a colleague about the web site.

Today is very busy. They are doing more focus groups. The Board of the Mount Vernon Public Library has a special meeting at 6:45 p.m. today in the Trustees room.

Web Bits Beyond the e-book: the New World of Electronic Reading

http://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2013/november/beyond-e-book-new-world-electronic-reading-andrew-piper#.UoTnOSfO-Sp

Amazing Things You Can Do With Legos...

Legobot the Badass 3D Printer Made Out of Legos

http://solidsmack.com/fabrication/legobot-the-badass-3d-printer-made-out-of-legos/

A Supercomputer Made with Raspberry Pi and Lego

http://www.engineering.com/ElectronicsDesign/ElectronicsDesignArticles/ArticleID/5357/A-Supercomputer-made-with-Raspberry-Pi-and-LEGO.aspx

Daily Thoughts 11/13/2013

Library of Congress, Washington D.C., Main Reading Room Between 1900 and 1910

Daily Thoughts 11/13/2013

I read some more of Undisputed Truth on the way to work. Mike Tyson swings between bragging about his exploits and talking about his recklessness and depression. He describes his infamous boxing match with Evander Holyfield where Holyfield headbutts Mike and Mike Tyson chews on Evander Holyfield's ear and gets expelled from boxing. There are lots of instances of reckless behavior. It is toward the middle of the book that Mike Tyson starts getting religion and therapy and is a bit calmer. There are a few moments where Mike Tyson does things which have some meaning like telling us that he loved watching the World Wrestling Federation as a kid and enjoyed participating as a referee.

This morning I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also spent a little time working on an e-mail list with Mailchimp.

I checked the displays and the gift books. I also printed up some more computer class flyers.

The computer lab was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. I am preparing to show a film tomorrow that was part of the Bridging Cultures: Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, Koran By Heart. http://bridgingcultures.neh.gov/muslimjourneys/ provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities at 6:00 p.m.

I am also spending a little bit of time preparing to do a presentation on Digital Media @ Your Library at 2:00 p.m. on Friday in the Trustees room with a colleague.

Paul J. McAuley has a new science fiction novel Evening's Empires which looks interesting.

Christmas Lights Make Slippers in Global Junkyard Economy http://www.npr.org/2013/11/13/244984351/christmas-lights-make-slippers-in-global-junkyard-economy

This made me interested in placing a hold on Junkyard Planet by Adam Minter.

Daily Thoughts 11/12/2013

Correspondence, Theodore Robinson, 1895

Daily Thoughts 11/12/2013

On the way to work, I read some more of Mike Tyson Undisputed Truth. You could not make up some of the things in this book. It is full of sex, fighting, partying, and hard work. There are lots of interesting statements from Tyson like he admires John McEnroe for his attitude. There are also some really interesting descriptions of him meeting different people. I found his description of talking to Iceberg Slim very interesting. Some of the content is a bit rough and comes off as nasty.

This morning, I checked the libraries Facebook and Twitter pages. I also checked the displays and did some ordering for bestselling titles this morning. A consultant is doing a Focus Group for retired people on how the library is doing and how it can improve. I am going to be part of a staff focus group at 3:00 p.m. today.

The focus group was interesting. It was about the different strengths and weaknesses of the library from programming to how the community views us. There are several more groups that are meeting. I am hoping it will be useful.

The computer lab was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. There are also two computer classes tonight, a Beginning Microsoft Word class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and a Fundamentals of Computer Operations class from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

The book, The Everything Store Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone came in for me to read.

Reading Undisputed Truth has been an interesting experience. Some people don't like me reading it because Mike Tyson is a convicted sex offender and his attitude towards women. Other people have commented about his facial tattoo. It is not a comfortable book. The writing itself is a bit disjointed and off balance. I think it reflects what Tyson thought of himself when he was younger. He clearly sees his younger self as out of control and self destructive.

Web Bits

Neil Gaiman on the Writers Who Influenced and Inspired Him

http://flavorwire.com/424609/neil-gaiman-on-the-writers-who-influenced-and-inspired-him/

Daily Thoughts 11/11/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/11/2013

I spent some time answering a survey on Makerspaces in libraries. I have some reservations about them. A simpler approach focused on science crafts-- making pinwheels, magnetic goop, marble mazes, and building lego sets might work as part of crafts. There is a lot involved. I can also see things like do it yourself type programs like how to program a basic Arduino board, do projects from the Instructables site http://www.instructables.com, or work with very basic computers like Raspberry Pi. More complex things like 3D printers would be a later step.

This afternoon, I spent a little bit more time reading Ipad the Missing Manual on the libraries Ipad Mini. It is a learning experience. I also read some more of Mike Tyson Undisputed Truth. It is rather interesting that he has no desire to be seen as a hero, he even says we remember villains far more than we remember heros. There is also a reminder that the person who is the friend to everyone is not a friend to himself. I'm at the point in the book where Mike Tyson has won his first heavyweight title. He still is connected to Brownsville, and describes his continued drinking, partying, and giving out money in his old haunts. The book is interesting in a dark sort of way.

Web Bits

Low Tech, High Gains: Starting A Maker Program Is Easier Than You Think

http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2013/10/k-12/low-tech-high-gains-knitting-arts-and-crafts-bike-repair-anyingall-are-maker-activities/

Startup Librarian Expanding Your Skills Into New Areas

http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/start-librarian

Daily Thoughts 11/10/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/10/2013

This morning, I read some more of Ipad The Missing Manual on the Ipad Mini. I also read some more of Undisputed Truth. Mike Tyson is beginning his professional boxing career. A lot of this book is about psychology. It is about the process of thinking to win. It is not always pleasant.

A very nice article about the book and bake sale at the library. Mount Vernon Library Book, Bake Sale is a Hit. http://mountvernon.dailyvoice.com/news/mount-vernon-library-book-bake-sale-hit

Web Bits

16 Bookstores You Have to See Before You Die

http://www.buzzfeed.com/harpercollins/16-bookstores-you-have-to-see-before-you-die-9npd

The New Homeless: Inside the Accidental Dormitory That is NYU's Bobst Library

http://observer.com/2013/10/the-new-homeless-inside-the-accidental-dormitory-that-is-nyus-bobst-library/

Daily Thoughts 11/09/2013

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1754–1806). "High-Ranking Courtesan," from the series Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter (Hokkoku goshiki Zumi), 1794–95. Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1922 (JP1368)

Daily Thoughts 11/09/2013

On the train to work, I finished reading the Hunger Games trilogy. It was a very enjoyable read. I think the final book, Mockingjay will make a better movie than a book. For some reason, the first book, The Hunger Games was a little bit better than the movie. The series was interesting enough that it made me not want to stop reading.

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

I put the book From Zero to Maker by David Lang on hold.

The Friends of the Library Book and Bake Sale is today. I had some coffee and two brownies and looked through the various books.

The 3D Cloth Doll Club of Mount Vernon, New York is displaying their dolls during the months of November and December in the front windows of the Mount Vernon Public Library. http://3dclothdollsclub.blogspot.com/

On the way home, I read some more of Ipad the Missing Manual on the Ipad Mini. I am getting a little more familiar with how Ipads work. I will also need to familiarize myself with the Google Nexus which is an Android device. I also started reading Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson. It begins with his rough, delinquent childhood, his eventual incarceration in juvenile hall, and the beginnings of his redemption as a boxer. Cus D'Amato an elderly boxing trainer sees the making of a champion in Mike Tyson and begins a process of changing his mind and body. Quite a bit about it is being ferocious, believing in oneself, and believing that he is a champion. Cus adopts Mike Tyson. What is interesting is that Cus is not looking to make Mike into a nice person, but rather to make him a mean, focused, champion.

Daily Thoughts 11/08/2013

Adolphe Monet Reading In The Garden, Claude Monet, 1866

Daily Thoughts 11/08/2013

I finished reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I was surprised at how closely the movie followed the book. It was a very close match. The book has lots of action and is gripping. I also started reading The Makerspace Workbench. I am reading about some of the constraints in building a makerspace which include power usage, noise, ventilation, square footage available, and safety precautions.

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

I am looking at the book Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games series crosses reading levels. It is something that is read by adults, teens, and tweens (Age 10-12).

I went to the Friends of the Library Book and Bake Sale today, November 8, 2013. I had a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. A few people commented about the book Catching Fire. The movie Catching Fire is being released on November 22, 2013 in the United States.

I brought some flyers over to city hall. One of the me was the Focus Groups flyer.

Two more nonfiction books came in for me to read. Focus The Hidden Driver of Excellence by Daniel Goleman and Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson which is his autobiography.

I took the Ipad Mini which we have for staff demonstration out today and tried the Total Boox service available from the Westchester Library System. http://www.totalboox.com/wls I downloaded Ipad the Missing Manual by J.D. Biersdorfer onto the Ipad Mini. It is a way for me to understand the different devices. Right now, I am fairly comfortable with the Kindle.

Web Bits

Flying A Drone Around the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building http://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/11/06/flying-drone-around-stephen-schwarzman-building

Daily Thoughts 11/07/2013

Yevgeny Zamyatin by Boris Kustodiev, 1923

Daily Thoughts 11/07/2013

This morning, on the way to work, I finished reading Ian Fleming by Andrew Lycett. It reads like a sophisticated tragedy with booze, sex, espionage, and lots of arguing. At the end Ian Fleming's son committs suicide. There is also a lot about the legal battles which occur around Ian Fleming's estate. On the more positive side we get a lot of wit, a story of a gentleman who is also a bit of a rake. A man who drinks, gambles, travels the world, and appreciates the pleasures of life.

I also started reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays. I also posted about the focus groups the library is seeking to arrange. http://www.mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/sites/default/files/FocusGroupPoster.pdf

We have Basic Computers for Seniors this morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The computer lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. The book, The Makerspace Workbench Tools, Technologies, and Techniques for Making by Adam Kemp has come in for me to read. I am not going to pretend I understand most of what is in this book. It is an overview of setting up a makerspace. There are a lot of descriptions of power tools, glue, saws, 3D Printers, lasers and other things which might be in a machine shop. I am trying to get a sense of what is involved.

There is a computer class tonight, Basic Email from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Daily Thoughts 11/06/2013

Girl Arranging Flowers, Circa 1921, Brooklyn Museum, William McGregor Paxton

Daily Thoughts 11/06/2013

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also read some more of Ian Fleming. There is a cruel streak in Ian Fleming's personality. I am reading about Ian Fleming negotiating to make some of his books into films.

I put in my order for bestsellers this week and checked the displays. I also checked out two of the Suzanne Collins books, Mockingjay and The Hunger Games. I am on the waiting list for Catching Fire.

The computer lab is open today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Cybercorner has four more computers. They are set to 20 minutes each to allow for looking up email, printing, and other quick activities.

Library Journal sent me a set of galleys to look through, Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes, The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley, The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh, The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon, A Star for Mrs. Blake by April Smith, The Divorce Papers by Susan Rieger, The Devil's Breath by Tessa Harris, The Third Hill North of Town by Noah Bly,The Wood Suicides by Laura Elizabeth Woollett, Death in Venice California by Vinton Rafe McCabe, and The Culling by Robert Johnson. I may read The Culling it looks both interesting and scary.

I brought over the advanced reading copies to the directors office. The next step is for the ones not being read to go into the staff room. We have a shelf for review copies for the staff to read and look at.

I read the latest Times Literary Supplement and New York Times Book Review.

I put the book, The Library: A World History by James P.W. Campbell on request through interlibrary loan. It looks like it will be a beautiful book.

The Mount Vernon Public Library is doing a series of focus groups. We are interested in seeing what new services you'd like to see and how we're doing. If you live in Mount Vernon, New York please go here to sign up.

http://libraryfocusgroups.org/mtvernon/

Web Bits

Flying a Drone Around New York Public Library

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9FMlv5a_FI

Fantagraphics Turns to Kickstarter to Fund its 2014 Spring List

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/59882-fantagraphics-turns-to-kickstarter-to-fund-its-spring-2014-list.html

How A Loss of Libraries Reflects Society

http://www.sociology.com/2013/06/loss-libraries-reflects-american-society/

Daily Thoughts 11/05/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/05/2013

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. Today is election day, November 5, 2013 in the United States.

I placed a hold on The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone. Jeff Bezos' Wife Gives a One-Star Review to the New Amazon Book. http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-mackenzie-bezos-amazon-review-everything-store-20131104,0,2984106.story#axzz2jjKBHwKp Sometimes bad reviews can be the best publicity for a book.

I went and voted today.

Web Bits

Adding up the costs of Low Literacy Among Adults

http://www.npr.org/2013/10/30/241910094/adding-up-the-cost-of-low-literacy-among-adults

Willing to Fail The Beauty of Trial and Error and Trial Again Editorial

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/opinion/editorial/willing-to-fail-the-beauty-of-trial-and-error-and-trial-again-editorial/

Daily Thoughts 11/04/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/04/2013

I watched The Hunger Games last night. It makes we want to read the young adult series by Suzanne Collins. I also read some more of Ian Fleming. I am reading about the book Moonraker and some of Ian Fleming's business deals as a newspaper executive.

Web Bits

Enabling local publishing in Libraries

http://www.americanlibrariesmagazine.org/article/community-creativity

Daily Thoughts 11/03/2013

Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA. Painting by John White Alexander: The Manuscript Book

Daily Thoughts 11/03/2013

I spent some time looking through the websites of the 2013 America’s Star Libraries. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/managing-libraries/lj-index/class-of-2013/americas-star-libraries-2013-top-rated-libraries/

I am reading about Ian Fleming's first bond novels, Casino Royale and Live and Let Die. Ian Fleming wrote his first novels after he was married when he was middle aged.

I have been reading more of Beyond Book Sales The Complete Guide to Raising Real Money for Your Library Edited by Susan Dowd. There is a lot of focus on what the Friends of the Library can do for a library. There is also a reminder that friend building comes before fund building. While I was at the laundromat, I finished reading the book. I found the sections on bequests and planned giving to be very interesting. The book reminds us that 75% of fundraising comes from individual donors. I also liked the sample gift acceptance policy in the back of the book.

Web Bits

Beyond 42nd Street

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/59824-beyond-42nd-street.html

Daily Thoughts 11/02/2013

Daily Thoughts 11/02/2013

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also spent more time reading Ian Fleming. Andrew Lycett describes some of the darker aspects of Ian Fleming's character including his sometimes cold demeanor, his tendency towards self promotion, and his general disinterest in children.

I also read a bit more of Beyond Book Sales The Complete Guide to Raising Real Money for Your Library. There were some interesting ideas about the relation between foundations and friends of the library.

Daily Thoughts 12/01/2013

Daily Thoughts 12/01/2013

This morning, I read some more of Ian Fleming. It is describing his decision to live in Jamaica and write novels. I started reading Beyond Book Sales The Complete Guide to Raising Real Money for Your Library.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for my library. I also spent some time looking at circulation statistics. I put some signage for the holiday display.

We had a management meeting where we discussed different issues like holiday hours, fixing the staff room, and reviewing the website. It was interesting. We are working on a new design for the website.

I am going to start weeding in the oversize again next week.

Somehow, I have an extra long weekend. Tuesday is Election Day, so I have Tuesday off. I worked on the next Saturday so I have Monday off. This gives me a long weekend. The Book and Bake Sale is on November 8 and November 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. I always like these events.

Web Bits

How to Reinvent Librarians: Five Tips From Around the World http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2013/jul/18/five-practical-tips-uk-librarians