Daily Thoughts 08/31/2015

Community Center, Abstract Poster, Works Progress Administration, Between 1936 and 1941

Daily Thoughts 08/31/2015

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I placed an order for new books and dvds.

There is a town hall meeting this evening at 6:30 p.m. in the community room for the public.


The beginning computer classes are tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  We have one session for Fundamentals of Computers and a Beginning Microsoft Word.

I spent some time printing up flyers for various programs.  I also had the poster printed for September is National Library Card month.

I spent some time working on the Latino Americans 500 Years of History Grant.

The townhall meeting was quite interesting.  There were a lot of recognizable patrons, a few board members, a number of people from the Friends of the Library, and the Mount Vernon Public Library foundation.

People talked a lot about the importance of the local history room, the need for better community outreach, more programming for the children, and improved technology.

I read some more of The End of All Things by John Scalzi.  I like the diplomacy and intrigue in the novel.  There are four factions, the Colonial Union which is an organization of earth colonies, earth, the Conclave which is an alien alliance, and the Equilibrium which is an organization which wants to break apart the Conclave, destroy earth, and end the Colonial Union.  This makes for a complex story.


Web Bits

This City Offered Free Public Transportation to Anyone Reading a Book on a Bus

http://magazine.good.is/articles/romania-bus-ride-free-reading-books

Neil Gaiman: ‘my parents didn’t have any rules about what I couldn’t read’

http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/aug/29/neil-gaiman-banned-books-censorship-interview?CMP=fb_us

The Curious Case of Basketball Star Turned Authors: Kareem Abdul Jabbar

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/67920-the-curious-case-of-the-basketball-star-turned-author-kareem-abdul-jabbar.html

Why Public Libraries Matter
http://www.thenation.com/article/why-public-libraries-matter/

Daily Thoughts 08/28/2015

Woman Reading, Olga, Pablo Picasso, 1920


Daily Thoughts 08/28/2015



I read some more of Stephen Baxter Ultima.  The book is a mix of alternate history, wormholes, and interdimensional travel.  There are Romans in space and other anomalous ideas.  I am finding it an entertaining sequel to Proxima.



I checked the gifts and the displays.  I also checked the Facebook and Twitter page for the library.



We had a meeting this morning discussing adult programming.   There are a variety of programs which we are working on.  September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Americans month.  We are going to do some specials involving a grant from Latino Americans 500 Years of history.  We also have a music program planned.




We are also working on updating a new website for the library which has a much cleaner appearance.



We are also working on a grant from Arts Westchester for a memoir writing class.

 I spent some time reading through a copy of Booklist. 




I read through several copies of Publishers Weekly and the latest Book page.  I put the book, Three Moments from the Explosion Stories by China Mieville on hold as well as the book, Memory Theater by Simon Critchley which is about philosophy and memory.




Kenneth Davis who was an honoree at the Mount Vernon Public Library Foundation gala last night and a successful local author, gave us a copy of each of the books which he had written to be added to our collection.


Web Bits




On writing, rejection, and persistence
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/67906-on-writing-rejection-and-persistence.html






Barnes and Noble Closes the Book on Queens
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20150827/REAL_ESTATE/150829878/barnes-noble-closes-the-book-on-queens
I go to the Bay Terrace Barnes and Noble.  I would rather it did not close.

Daily Thoughts 08/27/2015

Georges Braque, Woman Reading 1911

Daily Thoughts 08/27/2015

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library this morning.  I also checked the displays and the gift books.

I spent some time working on scheduling as well as setting up the list of computer classes for September.  There is a computer class tonight on Beginning Microsoft Excel from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  We have a new big screen monitor for the class.

I spent some time reading through the New York Times Book Review.  I also spent some time ordering new books on health and medicine to update the collection.

Tomorrow we are having a programming meeting to discuss adult programming.

Two books came in for me to read, they are both science fiction.  The first is Ultima by Stephen Baxter and the second is The End of All Things by John Scalzi.

We discussed the book In Montmartre Picasso, Matisse and the Birth of Modernist Art by Sue Roe for the book club from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.  People liked the photographs in the book,  They especially liked the picture of Picasso as a young man.  For the next book club, we are reading The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain which should be entertaining on September 24, 2015 from 1:00 p.m.to 2:30 p.m.

Web Bits


Terry Pratchett's Final Novel on Sale
http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/terry-pratchetts-final-novel-on-sale-in-uk/109099

Daily Thoughts 08/26/2015

Jove Decadent, Ramon Casas i Carbo, 1899 
 
Daily Thoughts 08/26/2015

I have steadily been reading more of Zero World.  I like the action in the story.  It is very intense.  It has a visceral high octane feeling to it.   The story is almost secondary to the scenes of fight, flight, escape, and trickery.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I also checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

There was a Wordpress class at the library tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I read through a copy of the Ingram Advance and the Baker and Taylor Forecast.  I also read the latest New York Times Book Review.

I sent in a small order for computer repair books.   I also have been working on an order of health books.  I am trying to cover many common ailments like heart disease, diabetes, lupus, and other health conditions.

On the way home, I finished reading Zero World by Jason M. Hough.  There is a bonus novella called The Dire Earth which is about the beginnings of a zombie apocalypse caused by a terrible alien disease.

September 1st is National Library Card Month.  Snoopy is the representative this year.

Web Bits

The Surprising Benefits of Reading Before Bed
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-reading-before-bed-2015-8 

There was a Hidden Conveyor Belt Under the Capital that was Just for Moving Books
http://gizmodo.com/theres-a-hidden-conveyor-belt-under-the-capitol-that-wa-1726416698
A secret of the Library of Congress.

Mount Vernon Public Library Holds Literacy Gala for its Children's Library
http://justcliqit.com/mt-vernon-public-library-holds-literacy-gala-for-its-childrens-library/
I worked the late shift tonight at the the library.

Daily Thoughts 08/25/2015

Girl Reading at the Window, Gwen John, 1911

Daily Thoughts 08/25/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I checked the gifts and the displays.

There is going to be a screening of a Mayoral Debate today at 6:00 p.m. in the Grace Greene Baker community room.

There are two programs today as well, the Crochet Class from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the Graphic Novels Club from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

I spent some time working on the schedule for the computer classes for September.

There is a Wordpress class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I have two lists of books to create, a list of books on computer repair, and a list of books on health.

Web Bits

The Surprising Benefits of Reading Before Bed

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-reading-before-bed-2015-8

50 Inspirational Quotes from Literature

http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/get-inspired-by-literature-infographic/108869

Daily Thoughts 08/24/2015

Reading at Zola's House, Paul Cezanne, 1870

Daily Thoughts 08/24/2015

On the way to work, I read some more of Land of the Silver Apples.  The story occurs in our world as well as Fairyland and Elfland.  Fairyland is described as mischievious with strange creatures.  Elfland is a land of illusion where nothing is at seems, it is deceptively beautiful.  The main characters sister has been kidnapped by elves in this story.

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the displays and the gift books.  The Adult Summer Reading program ended on August 20, 2015 while I was on vacation.

I spent some time working on orders for material for both books and some dvds.  I looked through the purchase alerts this morning.  I have a very large stack of magazines to go through for ordering including Publishers Weekly, Booklist, The new York Times Book Review, the Times Literary Supplement, the Ingram Advance and the Baker and Taylor Forecast.

I placed the book, The End of All Things by John Scalzi on hold this morning.

Dr. John Howard is doing a program today on the artist Jacob Lawrence today from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

We are also having two computer classes, 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.

I finished reading The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer on the way home.  It is an excellent story most of all.  It makes me want to read the sequel, The Island of the Blessed.   Nancy Farmer even includes an appendix with the meanings of Pictish symbols and a bibliography of books on mythology.  The book is a very well researched piece of fantasy.

I also started reading Zero World by Jason M. Hough which is science fiction.  Jason M. Hough has a background in game design and 3D art.  I think helps create an excellent setting for his novel.

Web Bits 

Coloring Book Clubs Cross Line Into Libraries
http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/coloring-book-clubs-cross-the-line-into-libraries/

Thoughts 08/22/2015

Bartolomeo Passarotti, Portrait of a Scribe, 16th Century

Thoughts 08/22/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Proxima yesterday which was very interesting.   I rather like the surprise twist with the ending.  There is a sequel coming out called Ultima which I saw in Barnes and Noble.

I also started reading The Land of the Silver Apples which is a young adult fantasy novel by Nancy Farmer.  The main character, Jack is a young bard in training.  I rather like the medieval feel and setting.  There is a lot of lore and legend in the story about fairies and monasteries as well as some interesting poetry to read so far.

Web Bits

Who says libraries are dying?  They are evolving into space for innovation

https://theconversation.com/who-says-libraries-are-dying-they-are-evolving-into-spaces-for-innovation-44820

Planning Your LIbrary Vote by Libby Post

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/08/advocacy/planning-your-library-vote/

In SOMA, a hidden research library reflects its founders

http://www.sfchronicle.com/art/article/In-SOMA-a-hidden-research-library-reflects-its-6458999.php

 

Daily Thoughts 08/19/2015

At the Garden Table, August Macke, 1914
 
Daily Thoughts 08/19/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I am going to the Board of Trustees meeting this evening at 6:30 p.m.

I went to the board meeting tonight and made a statement about weeding the collection to the board.  I also spent some time listening to one of my colleagues discussing weeding.  I have some comments to make about what I heard.

I have to do a few things tomorrow involving standing orders for New York Times Bestsellers in hardcover.

We got a grant to do a memoir writing class from Arts Westchester.  A colleague is working on it.  It should be interesting.

Tomorrow, my colleague is doing the final end of summer reading party for adults.

I read some of Proxima by Stephen Baxter on the way home.  The colonists have killed each other off except for two of them who are watching the native life.  There are intelligent stem like creatures with leaves.

Web Bits

Bedtime Stories for Young Brains

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/17/bedtime-stories-for-young-brains/?smid=fb-share&_r=0

A Library Writes Its Own Story

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/08/a-library-writes-its-own-story/401438/

Daily Thoughts 08/18/2015

The Vacation Reading Club at Your Public Library. WPA Poster, 1939

Daily Thoughts 08/18/2015

I checked the Twitter and Facebook this morning for the library.  This weekend I got a rocking chair and a sofa chair from a garage sale.  It makes for comfortable reading.

I read some more of The Economics of Inequality.  I am learning that the definition of Capital and Labor is changing.  For example if a a person is self employed they produce both labor and capital.  This interesting to me because if you have an employed owned operation it also produces both labor and capital.  Also, I learned that automation can replace labor.  There are situations where labor and capital become fluid.

Today, I went to the mall and walked around.  I went to Barnes and Nobles and bought two paperbacks, Nancy Farmer, The Land of the Silver Appples which is fantasy Proxima by Stephen Baxter which is hard science fiction.  I started reading Proxima today.  The main character has become an involuntary colonist for a far off world.

Web Bits

Libraries on the frontlines of the homelessness crisis in the United States

https://theconversation.com/libraries-on-the-front-lines-of-the-homelessness-crisis-in-the-united-states-44453

Strong Libraries, Strong Societies

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/strong-libraries-strong-societies/

In Rockaways Library, 'A Sign of Recovery'

http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-rockaways-library-a-sign-of-recovery-1439858247

Daily Thoughts 08/17/2015

Portrait of Natasha Nesterova (On a Garden Bench), Mikhail Nesterov), 1914

Daily Thoughts 08/17/2015

I took a few days off to not think about libraries and books.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook this morning.  I also placed an order for new books.

I finished reading Lagoon by Nnede Okorafor.  I like how the author described the aliens.  They had a magical quality to them.  The aliens were made of technology and what they could do seemed indistinguishable from magic to human beings.

The setting in Lagos, Nigeria made the story interesting as well.  The author drew from current news, myths, and fairytales to create a unique story.  I very much enjoyed reading this book.  It drew from a lot of disparate elements.

I am also reading The Economics of Inequality.  This is a hard book to read.  It reads like an academic treatise.  It feels like a text for European college students.  This was not written for an American audience.  It does not feel like a popular work like Thomas Piketty's Capital.  The concepts are harder to grasp, even though the book is much shorter.

Web Bits

Brooklyn Public Library to Sell Branch to Real Estate Developer

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/08/buildings/brooklyn-public-library-to-sell-branch-to-real-estate-developer/

Inside Amazon Wrestling Big Ideas In A Bruising Workplace

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html?_r=0

Did Technology Kill the Book or Give It New Life?

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33717596

Never Read a Romance? Grow Up

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/67802-it-s-not-the-sex.html

Inflatable Space

 Wild Inflatable Space Elevator Lift People 12 Miles Up
http://www.space.com/30272-space-elevator-inflatable-concept-patent.html
 It could be used as a platform for high altitude research, hybrid aircraft, and a few other things. 

Daily Thoughts 08/14/2015

Farmer Sitting at the Fireside and Reading, Vincent Van Gogh, 1881

Daily Thoughts 08/14/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


I received an Advanced Reading Copy of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend A Novel by Katarina Bivald.


I am also checking out the book, Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor.

We had a short meeting discussing policies.

I am also meeting someone to discuss GED math tutoring.

On the way home, I started reading Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor about aliens landing in a lagoon near Lagos, Nigeria.

Daily Thoughts 08/13/2015

The Round Table, Georges Braque, 1929

Daily Thoughts 08/13/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read some more of Digital Gold.  I read about the capture of Ross Ulbricht (Dread Pirate Roberts) the founder of Silk Road.  It is interesting how they describe bitcoin as becoming more valuable when Ross Ulbricht is captured.  It changes the dynamic of bitcoin from one that appears criminal to one that is more law abiding.

I placed a large order of biographies this morning.  I also spent some time preparing for a program on Jacob Lawrence on August 24, 2015 in the Grace Greene Baker Community room from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The book, The Economics of Inequality by Thomas Piketty translated by Arthur Goldhammer came in for me to read.


I spent some more time at Webjunction.  I took another one hour refresher on collection development, Building the Collection.  I knew all the pieces in this part of the online series.

I am still thinking of Arlen Schumer.  He is quite interested in doing lectures at other libraries.  His website is here.  http://www.arlenschumer.com/

I registered for International Games Day on November 15, 2015
http://igd.ala.org/register/

Web Bits

Chain, Chest, Curse Combating Book Theft In Medieval Times

http://medievalbooks.nl/2015/07/10/chain-chest-curse-combating-book-theft-in-medieval-times/

At Local Libraries Ebook Collections Are Growing But Print Is Still King

http://www.omaha.com/living/at-local-libraries-e-book-collections-are-growing-but-print/article_9757e6d5-a6f0-51e1-87a8-436268d6b62a.html

The Rise of Phone Reading
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-rise-of-phone-reading-1439398395

Susan Schmidt: United for Libraries -- Being Seen, Being Heard
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/08/organizations/susan-schmidt-united-for-libraries-being-seen-being-heard/#_

Daily Thoughts 08/12/2015

Reading in Cismigiu Garden, Theodor Aman, 1879

Daily Thoughts 08/12/2015

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

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

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

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

Daily Thoughts 08/11/2015

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


I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Web Bits

Science Proves Reading to Kids Really Does Change Their Brains

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/science-proves-reading-to-kids-changes-their-brains_55c26bf4e4b0f1cbf1e38740?linkId=16161340

Scott Bonner Interview-- Director of Ferguson Municipal Library

http://circulatingideas.com/transcripts/scott-bonner/

Daily Thoughts 08/10/2015

Joos Van Craesbeeck, 1650, Young Man Sitting Indoors Writing

Daily Thoughts 08/10/2015

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


I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


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

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

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

Web Bits

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

Library Card Can Lead to Students Success

http://www.caller.com/news/local/library-card-can-lead-to-students-success-1c7ed804-fcd1-0252-e053-0100007f4085-321053501.html

PW Asks: Most Millenials Prefer Paper Books

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/67650-pw-asks-most-millennials-prefer-paper-books.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=d82f7682bc-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-d82f7682bc-304658553

Daily Thoughts 08/09/2015

Still Life, Giorgio Morandi, 1918

Daily Thoughts 08/09/2015

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook today.

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

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

Web Bits

Oxford Online Bodleian Archive: Illumination for All

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/08/bodleian-library-oxford-archive-online-illumination-for-all-democratic

Why College Libraries Are Going Bookless

http://the-digital-reader.com/2015/08/05/why-college-libraries-are-going-bookless/

Daily Thoughts 08/08/2015

Andre Derain, Still Life, 1914

Daily Thoughts 08/08/2015

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

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


Web Bits

Obscure and Popular Books Part of Berkeley Library Weeding Process

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/08/04/obscure-and-popular-books-part-of-berkeley-library-weeding-process/

If Librarians Were Honest

http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/08/07/if-librarians-were-honest-the-artists-library/