Daily Thoughts 03/31/2015

Blossoming Almond Branch In a Glass With a Book, Vincent Van Gogh, 1888

Daily Thoughts 03/31/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I placed a hold on the graphic novel, The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer by Sydney Padua.

I checked the gift books and the displays today.

I also printed up some flyers about the survey for the library as well as paper copies of the survey.

We had a Crochet class today from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m..  We get a solid group of twelve or thirteen each time.  We are having it each Tuesday in April and May.

There are two computer classes tonight, a Fundamentals of Computers Class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Beginning Microsoft Word Class from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

I am going to be working on the large print section.

I voted in the ALA election today.

I have a copy of Booklist, a copy of Library Journal and two copies of Publishers Weekly to read.

I was looking at Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World by Bruce Schneier.

There was a reception tonight in the art gallery for Mount Vernon Arts and Culture at 6:00 p.m.

Web Bits

Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer

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

Automation

The Working Class is All But Dead on Wall Street

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-working-class-is-dead-on-wall-street-2015-3

This is a reminder of how technology changes things.

Computers Ousting Human Traders at TSE

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/08/business/financial-markets/computers-ousting-human-traders-at-tse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=computers-ousting-human-traders-at-tse#.VRqKfuE_9vo

4 Ways Robo-Advisers Will Change Investing

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/4-ways-robo-advisers-will-change-investing-2015-03-25?siteid=rss&rss=1

Million Dollar Traders Replaced With Machines Amid Cuts

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-11-06/million-dollar-traders-replaced-with-machines-credit-markets

Why Wall Streeters Defections to Silicon Valley Are Good News for the Economy

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/25/upshot/why-wall-streeters-defecting-to-silicon-valley-is-good-news-for-the-economy.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1

If you follow finance recently, you can see an increasing trend of jobs being automated out of existence.  It is happening at every level of the corporate ladder.  Not just at the bottom.  This I think has pushed many people in the finance field to change their jobs to more technology oriented jobs.

This will eventually catch up to libraries.

Daily Thoughts 03/30/2015

Ignacio Merino, Reading Don Quixote

Daily Thoughts 03/30/2015

The survey has started moving along.  There is a link for it now on the website.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PXYDLNH

I applied for the Lulzbot 3D Printer Giveaway.  It is sometimes interesting to apply to these things.
http://www.slj.com/2015/03/technology/lulzbot-3-d-printer-giveaway/

I put in an order for new books this morning.

I placed the book, Elon Musk Inventing the Future by Ashlee Vance on hold.

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

Web Bits

Photographer Documents Istanbuls Little Known Treasures: Libraries
http://www.todayszaman.com/arts-culture_photographer-documents-istanbuls-little-known-treasures-libraries_376464.html

Missouri Governor Proposes Massive Cuts for Libraries

http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/missouri-governor-proposes-massive-funding-cuts-for-libraries/101151

Get Cracking on Code Community Courses Lead to Jobs

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/03/30/get-cracking-on-code/

Urban Librarians Unite – has a list of letters you can write in support of libraries

http://urbanlibrariansunite.org

Daily Thoughts 03/29/2015

Portrait of Chino Hyogo at His Writing Desk, Katsushika Hokusai, 1835

Daily Thoughts 03/29/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time on the library survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PXYDLNH

I also watched a little bit of the documentary Fed Up which is about processed foods and sugar and how it is making many children severely obese.  The movie is a challenge to the food industry about how much sugar there is in food.  Katie Couric is the main voice of the film.

There are a couple of interviews with Michael Pollan in the film.  Michael Pollan wrote the books In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manual, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation, The Omnivore's Dilemma, The Pollan Family Table, and many other books about food.

I read the New York Times Book Review today.  I bought a copy of the Sunday New York Times.  I don't usually do this.  It has gone up to $5 for the Sunday newspaper.  I read it at the laundromat.

Web Bits

Vote to Decide Fate of Purchase's Library

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2015/03/28/purchase-library-vote-close-ballot/70604844/

Of interest to Westchester residents.

Queens Library Seeks Public Funding

http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2015/13/library_tl_2015_03_27_q.html

Part of ongoing building maintenance crisis in the libraries of the 5 boroughs of Manhattan.

Documents Reveal Long Trail of Library Privatization Talk

http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x68152623/Documents-reveal-long-trail-of-library-privatization-talk

General interest.

Doors, Radiohead Preserved by Library of Congress

http://news.yahoo.com/doors-radiohead-preserved-library-congress-183148187.html;_ylt=AwrBEiI39xdVdzIAMwHQtDMD

Daily Thoughts 03/28/2015

Daily Thoughts 03/28/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.  I also watched some of the documentary, Inequality for All by Robert Reich.  Robert Reich is an economist and worked for the department of labor under Bill Clinton.

Web Bits

10 Futuristic Libraries

http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/10-futuristic-libraries/

Review 'Improbable Libraries' a Fascinating Trek Among the Stacks

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-improbable-libraries-20150329-story.html

Daily Thoughts 03/27/2015

Bouquet of Dahlias and White Book, 1923, Henri Matisse

Daily Thoughts 03/27/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.  The library is showing Makers, Women Who Make America today.  The documentary was quite interesting.  We watched the episodes on Women in Hollywood and Women in Business.

I started reading Werewolf Cop by Andrew Klavan on the way to work.  It starts very much like a police procedural novel.

I spent some time working on programming this morning focusing on flyers and dates for events.

I also checked the gift books and the displays.


I read the April Bookpage and picked out a few books to order.  I have a couple copies of Publishers Weekly and a copy of Booklist which I need to read.


I finished reading Werewolf Cop by Andrew Klavan.  It is a mix of supernatural with police procedural.  The story is very much about what it means to be corrupt inside in a way that is evil.  At the same time it shows how a person can be incorruptible.

I liked how the book was put together.  It had a real sense of back story.  Europe was falling apart with gangsterism, right wing nazis, leftist riots, union riots, and corruption.   This was starting to spread to the United States.  At least part of the corruption is supernatural in nature, bolstered by crime which adds to the problem.

I did not find the supernatural part to be particularly scary.  It was more about darkness, regret from uncontrollable violent actions, and anger than fear.  The werewolf part of the story is about rooting out hidden evil and seeing peoples souls as they are.   There is a historical tension in the story created by the past souls who have not succeeded in finishing the quest that the hero of the novel completes. It was refreshing to read.  It was also very fast paced.

Web Bits

Decaying Libraries Crumbling Futures

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jimmy-van-bramer/decaying-libraries-crumbl_b_6933956.html

April is Autism Awareness Month-- Partner Up to Reach Families in Your Community

http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2015/03/april-is-autism-awareness-month-partner-up-to-reach-families-in-your-community/

Daily Thoughts 03/26/2015

Shen Zhou Reading in Autumn Scenery, Palace Museum, Beijing, 15th Century
Daily Thoughts 03/26/2015

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

I finished reading The Mechanical by Ian Tregellis.  It was a satisfying read.  I liked the alternate history angle of the French versus the Dutch.   I also liked the idea of pitting alchemy versus chemistry.  It made for an entertaining story.  The bits on machines having free will or being controlled were also well done.  This is a captivating fantasy with a unique setting.

I checked the displays and the gift books today.   I also worked on a flyer for an upcoming digital photography class in May.  I am starting to put out books on poetry today.

We had the book club meeting for The Second Machine Age by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee.  It was interesting discussing the book.  More people came and checked out the book than came to the book club which is something that has not happened before.  We are reading Mom and Me and Mom by Maya Angelou for the Thursday, April 23, 2015 book club from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

I read another copy of the Times Literary Supplement and the April 2015 Forecast from Baker and Taylor.

I checked out the book Werewolf Cop by Andrew Klavan.

Web Bits

ALA President Responds to House Proposal to Eliminate IMLS

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/03/ala-president-responds-house-proposal-eliminate-imls

Daily Thoughts 03/25/2015

William McGregor Paxton, Woman with a Book, 1910

Daily Thoughts 03/25/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Information Doesn't Want to Be Free Laws for the Internet Age by Cory Doctorow.  There is a line in the book which reads "Information doesn't want to be free-- people do" which is part of the essence of this book.  People want to be able to freely create different media without too many restrictions.  There are many arguments against digital locks and digital rights management in this book as well as a very open view on copyright.

I checked the gifts and the displays.  April is national poetry month.

Beard Foundation Announces Best Cookbook Nominations
http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-beard-foundation-best-cookbook-nominations-20150324-story.html?track=rss
Our library buys lots of cookbooks.

Man Booker 2015 International Prize Finalists Announced
http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/man-booker-international-prize-2015-finalists%E2%80%99-list-announced

On Thursday, March 26, 2015, The Brown Bag Book Club will be discussing the book, The Second Machine Age Work Progress and Prosperity In A Time of Brilliant Technologies by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew Mcafee.  This is an important subject.  I have been looking at some articles to show as part of the book discussion.

How Robots and Algorithms are Taking Over-- Review  of The Glass Cage Automation and Us

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/apr/02/how-robots-algorithms-are-taking-over/

Tesla Basically Just Ignited the Driverless Car Era

http://mashable.com/2015/03/19/tesla-google-driverless-car/

Why Not Utopia

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/why-not-utopia.html?_r=0

The Future of Employment How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerization

http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf

Human Investment Managers Risk Obsolescence

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/17129fc0-a48c-11e4-8959-00144feab7de.html#axzz3VOllDRiD

I read a copy of the latest Times Literary Supplement.

I spent some time talking to a person about doing digital photography classes in May.

Tonight we have Karen Leahy doing an author talk about her book, The Summer of Yes: An Ex-Nun's Story from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the community room.

On the way home, I read some more of The Mechanical by Ian Tregellis.  It is very much a story about free will and slavery set in an alternate history.

Web Bits

Check It Out The Race for ALA Presidency

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/65740-check-it-out-with-andrew-richard-albanese-the-race-for-ala-presidency.html

JP Porcaro's ALA Presidential Platform
http://makingithappen.me/?page_id=152
I met JP Porcaro at a couple different conferences including Urban Librarians Unite and Metro New York Library Council.  He seems to be quite sincere and straightforward about what he believes.

A 24 Hour City Deserves A 24 Hour Library

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624954/A-24-hour-city-deserves-a-24-hour-library.html?pg=all

Rural Library Say IRS Tax Cuts Have a Toll for Elderly Patrons

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/rural-libraries-say-irs-tax-cuts-have-toll-for-elderly/article_da6587a2-471a-5a29-86b4-490d30f115dd.html

Daily Thoughts 03/24/2015

Rembrandt, Old Man Reading a Book, 1628

Daily Thoughts 03/24/2015

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


On the way to work, I read some more of Information Doesn't Want to Be Free. Cory Doctorow describes how it is necessary to have fame or notoriety before you can make an adequate living in the creative professions.  The internet is often a key to this.


I also read some more of The Mechanical.  I like the description of how the character, Jax, who is a mechanical becomes unbound from his controller.  Also, the war between the French and the Dutch in the new world is interesting.  It presents an alternate history to our own.


I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.  I also had some flyers printed.  I am talking to someone about having digital photography classes at the library.


The crochet class is today from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  I pulled a few books on crochet for the class to look at.  The class has been going well.


I also read a copy of Booklist this morning and selected a few more books for the collection.


There are two computer classes tonight, A Fundamentals of Computers Class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and a Beginning Microsoft Word class from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

On the way home, I read some more of The Mechanical.  I rather like that there is a theological argument about whether an intelligent machine has a soul in this story.  It makes the story interesting.

I also read a bit more of Information Doesn't Want to Be Free on the way home.  Cory Doctorow argues that the internet is a conversation more than it is about content.  People are talking about the content.

I watched some of the BBC series Planet Earth which is a 5 DVD set about visiting some of the most remote places on earth to look at animals.  There is some unique footage in the series including video of a snow leopard and her cub.  The series is quite beautiful to watch and the last dvd in the series is about the future of the most remote places on earth and the animals that live there.  If you like animal videos this series is excellent.



Web Bits

Special Report on New York City's Libraries

http://investinlibraries.org/img/overdue.pdf

Maintenance Issues


Joanne Harris Condemns Clean Reader App for Replacing Swear Words in Novels
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11492003/Joanne-Harris-condemns-Clean-Reader-app-for-replacing-swear-words-in-novels.html

Daily Thoughts 03/23/2015

Portrait of a Man Writing In His Study, Gustave Caillebotte, 1885
Daily Thoughts 03/23/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Mechanical.  I like how intelligent machines are described as being servants.  How they are controlled with alchemical geas is interesting.  There are even descriptions of a secret language which only the machines can hear.

I checked the gift books and the displays.  I also spent some time discussing programming this morning.

The book, Information Doesn't Want to Be Free Laws for the Internet Age by Cory Doctorow came in for me to read.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Beginning Microsoft Word class from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. tonight.

I spent some time updating the Bookletters pages for Fiction and Nonfiction today.

I also spent some time scheduling programming today.

I started reading Information Doesn't Want to Be Free by Cory Doctorow. The Introduction includes parts by Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer.  Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman are Having a Baby.
http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/amanda-palmer-neil-gaiman-are-having-a-baby/100711 
The book itself is about creativity and copyrights.  It is an argument against digital rights management. Cory Doctorow also argues against Watermarks.

Web Bits

Reader Helps Tell Story of Detroit Libraries 150 Years

http://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2015/03/21/rochelle-riley-library/25159719/

Why Not Utopia?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/why-not-utopia.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1409232722000&bicmet=1419773522000&_r=0

Ink On Paper: On the Beauty of Typewritten Book Covers

http://www.themillions.com/2015/03/the-magic-of-typewritten-book-covers.html

Daily Thoughts 03/22/2015

Georges Crogaert, The Reading Woman, 1888

Daily Thoughts 03/22/2015

I checked the Twitter and Facebook this morning.  I also looked at some new books.

I started reading The Mechanical by Ian Tregellis.  The story is set in an alchemical clockwork empire presided over by the Dutch.  Their adversaries are French master chemists. It does not feel like Victorian steampunk, it has a more baroque feel to it.

I watched a recording of the Webcast for Beyond Book Displays.
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/02/webcasts/beyond-book-displays-helping-readers-help-themselves/#_
There was some interesting material on endcap displays and posters.

I took the course, Building A Positive Social Media Presence on Webjunction.
http://learn.webjunction.org/course/view.php?id=107 
It is a solid overview for a beginner. It did not have anything new for me.

Web Bits

Book Lovers Rally In Front of City Hall for More Library Funding

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/book-lovers-rally-front-city-hall-library-funding-article-1.2157530

Westchester Library System Presents Breakfast With Frank Bruni

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/03/prweb12589644.htm

Daily Thoughts 03/21/2015

The Seeds and Fruit of English Poetry, Ford Madox Brown, 1845
 
Daily Thoughts 03/21/2015

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

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I also read some more of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.  I like the description of Maya Angelou leaving the south for California to stay with her mother.

We had a computers for seniors class this morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The film Hidden Colors 3 was shown from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

On the way home, I finished reading I Know Why he Caged Bird Sings. There is a beauty and recklessness to the story which makes it startling. 

Web Bits

New York Libraries Need 1.1 Billion in Repairs
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20150320/BLOGS03/150329997/ny-libraries-need-1-1b-in-repairs

Daily Thoughts 03/20/2015

Reading the Newspaper War News, Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1905

Daily Thoughts 03/20/2015

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

On the way to work, I read some of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.  I am finding Maya Angelou's prose writing to be even better than her poetry.  It is captivating.

I checked the book, The Mechanical out after reading this review from NPR.  The Mechanical Will Make Your Clockwork Pulse Pound.
http://www.npr.org/2015/03/18/392627380/the-mechanical-will-make-your-clockwork-pulse-pound

I checked the gifts and the displays this morning.  I also rearranged the computer classes a little bit.  We are going to be doing a Fundamentals of Computers and a Beginning Microsoft Word Class on Monday instead of an Online Job Search class.  More people are interested in learning the basics of computers.

I also looked through the DC Entertainment Graphic Novels Essentials and Chronology 2015 which was sent to me as a paper copy.  It is free.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/dc-entertainment-graphic-novel-essentials-and-chronology-2015

I spent some time preparing for a program tomorrow.  I also sent the outline for a flyer to our graphic designer.

I talked with someone about career services.

I also spent a little time breaking up the list of items that have not gone out in the last five years and sending the pieces to different libraries.

There were a lot of small things that I needed to do today.

I read some more of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  I am planning on choosing one of Maya Angelou's books for the book club in April.  April is National Poetry Month.  The prose is beautiful, at times harsh, and a bit unforgiving.

Web Bits


How Robots and Algorithms are Taking Over by Sue Halpern-- A review of the Nicholas Carr book, The Glass Cage.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/apr/02/how-robots-algorithms-are-taking-over/

ALA, APA Release Joint Statement Regarding Ruling in Support of Kentucky Public Libraries
http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/03/ala-pla-release-joint-statement-regarding-ruling-support-kentucky-public

May 2, 2015 is Independent Bookstore Day

http://indiebookstoreday.com/

Daily Thoughts 03/19/2015

Artist Unknown, 1800, Bookshelves, National Museum of Korea

Daily Thoughts 03/19/2015

I read some more of Job U.  The author Nicholas Wyman started his career as an apprentice chef, then went back to school and got a Masters in Business Administration.  The book shows many different career paths through education.  For example Volkswagen has an apprenticeship as an Automotive Technician which leads to a job at the factory, then later people who went through the same apprenticeship can apply for a bachelors degree in engineering and business administration.  This reminds me of the practice of many people who go into nursing who first get a medical assistants degree, work as a medical assistant, then go to school to become an licensed practical nurse.

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I put the book, Information Doesn't Want to Be Free: Laws for the Internet Age by Cory Doctorow on hold.  It should be interesting reading.

I spent some time working on a list of material that has not circulated in the last five years.

I read through a copy of Library Journal and the latest Ingram Advance.

I have been discussing the purpose of the computer classes with a variety of people.  I am reminding them that the program is focused on digital literacy.  Two examples of sites that do this for libraries are http://digitallearn.org/learn  Digital Learn, and http://diglitny.org/  Digital New York.

I looked at Hoopla Digital today.  I watched a little bit of Freakonomics the movie which is also a book and listed to the track Money from Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Remastered.  The service appears to be fairly good.

I also spent some time looking through the Escape The Ordinary 2015 Summer Reading Manual.  A theme which was not covered is heroes in history.  There was also no steampunk which could be interesting.

On the way home, I finished reading Job U How To Find Wealth and Success By Developing the Skills Companies Actually Need by Nicholas Wyman.  This is an argument for skills based education.  It challenges the notion that going to college is always the best thing for people.  There is some material on MOOCs Massive Open Online Classes towards the end as well as certifications.  The argument is well presented.  There is an index and notes at the back of the book.

Web Bits

Rakuten to Buy Overdrive
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/65926-rakuten-to-buy-overdrive.html

What Happens When You Give a Wikipedia Editor A Research Library?

http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/03/17/wikipedia-research-library/

Someone Keeps Photocopying Their Cat at the University of Wisconsin Library

http://time.com/3749329/photocopy-cat-university-of-wisconsin-library/

A classic prank.