Thursday, August 31, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/31/2017


Felix Vallotton, Reading Woman, 1922

Daily Thoughts 08/31/2017

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I watched three sessions of The Great Courses, Science of Mindfulness: A Research Path to Well Being.  Each session was half an hour.  The Great Courses are available on Hoopla Digital which the Westchester Library System subscribes to.  Westchester Library System card holders get five sessions a month for Hoopla Digital.

I read some more of Information Services to Diverse Populations today.  I am reading about services to different groups like the homeless, the mentally ill, the aged, and different ethnic groups.

I did another exercise in the book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  It was on how to draw negative spaces.  I drew the outline of a chair in my living room.


Web Bits


The Meaning of Digital Readiness


Creating Equitable Access to Opportunities


Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/30/2017

Still Life with Book - Roman Selsky
Still Life With Books, Roman Selsky, 1926

Daily Thoughts 08/30/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris last night.  This is an incredible book.  The art work is unique.  It is drawn on what looks like a notebook meant to simulate the main character's Karen Reyes drawings.  The art goes from very crude to very refined.  Emil Ferris in addition to the story draws in comic book and magazine covers for horror stories.  There is a mix of black and white drawings and color drawings.  In addition to the stories, there are many references about art and drawing throughout the graphic novel.

I found the story lines to be quite striking.  They were quite dark.  The content is meant for adults.  There is sex, violence, and even a murder in the book.  This adds to the content.  The graphic novel was well worth reading.

I also read some more of Stellar Customer Service.  This book uses the words stellar, remarkable and other words to emphasize how to create superb customer service.  It focuses on the end user of the services more than the process of serving people.  Each chapter is by a different author.  There is an important idea in this book.  It is that technology does not replace excellent customer service.  People still need help from other people.

I checked on a few programs which are happening next week.

I am on vacation right now.

I finished reading Stellar Customer Service Training Library Staff to Exceed Expectations Edited by Mou Chakraborty.  The last chapter reminded us that customer service is built on teamwork, leadership, and positive interactions with patrons.

I started reading Information Services to Diverse Populations Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals by Nicole A. Cooke.  Right now, I am reading about cultural competence, the ability to work with diverse populations.  The book opens with saying that the field needs more diversity and greater education on social justice.

Web Bits


Texas Libraries Hit Hard by Hurricane Harvey

Amazon Opens Latest NYC Store at 34th Street

Library to Study Making Lincoln Collection A More Visible Asset

Carla Hayden Wants You to Know that the Library of Congress is America's Other Attic


Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/29/2017

A Man Reading by Thomas Sword Good.jpg
A Man Reading, Thomas Sword Good, 1826


Daily Thoughts 08/29/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I sent a little money to the Texas Library Disaster Relief Fund
https://squareup.com/store/txla/

I read some more of Stellar Customer Service this morning.  I am reading about having a user centered approach to customer service focused on design thinking.

I read some more of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters as well.  There are some great backstories in this graphic including some material on the holocaust and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  I like how the main character, Karen Reyes views another child named Franklin as a Frankenstein with a heart of gold.  Emil Ferris does a good job of showing some of the darkest as well as best aspects of human nature.

I placed a hold on the book, Creating Policies for Results from Chaos to Clarity by Sandra S. Nelson and June Garcia, Public Library Association, 2003.

I talked to the Northeast Document Conservation Center today.
https://www.nedcc.org/


Web Bits


How to Get Kids to Look Away from their Screens and Take Pleasure in Books

Encore: growing up in the hidden apartments of New York City's Libraries.

Everylibrary, Follett Partner to Save School Librarians

Blood, Bookworms, Bosoms and Bottoms:  The Secret Life of Libraries

ALA Comments to the FDLP

I Saved Every Letter You Wrote Me: The Library of Congress Digitizes Hamilton


Monday, August 28, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/28/2017

AdventuresIntoDarkness0901.jpg
Adventures Into Darkness

Daily Thoughts 08/28/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I spent a little bit of time thinking about policies.

I read some more of Stellar Customer Service today.  I am reading about how to use Secret Shopper programs to test library customer service.

I spent some time looking at the images for National Library Card Sign Up Month in September.

I watched some of the extras for the show Mars by National Geographic today.

I read some more of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters today.  Fantagraphics Has Surprise Hit in Debut 'My Favorite Thing Is Monsters.' https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/73037-fantagraphics-has-surprise-hit-in-debut-my-favorite-thing-is-monsters.html

Web Bits


Facebook Confirms It Will Add Subscriptions to Instant Articles


Staying In Top Genre Shape


Congress Examining Title 44 and the Federal Depository Library Program


Bikers Rally for Gurnee Library Programs


Sunday, August 27, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/27/2017

The Reading of the Lottery Winners, Anne Claude Philippe de Tubières, comte de Caylus (French, Paris 1692–1765)

Daily Thoughts 08/27/2017

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

Last night, I watched some of the National Geographic television series Mars.  I like the break between the shows where it explains the technology of going to Mars.  I found the show a bit overly dramatic.  In order to tell a story, there needs to be a continuous series of disasters to hold most peoples interest.  I am more interested in how they would succeed without constant disaster.  This makes me different than most television viewers.  Watching Elon Musk talk about Mars was fascinating.  I am planning on watching more of the series.

I read some more of Stellar Customer Service.  I am reading about how it is important with customer service to have policies in place to deal with difficult situations.

I also read some of the graphic novel My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris.  The book is incredible.  The main character is a young werewolf with artistic talents.  The characters are fascinating.  Her brother is a tattooed artist who is incredibly sexually attractive and her mother is deeply superstitious with oddly compulsive supernatural abilities.  It is about art, monsters, and growing up.  There is a lot of darkly erotic content, so it is for adults.

September is National Library Card Month.

I checked the New York Times Bestseller list and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list.

I also checked the purchase alerts.

As I read the story more closely for My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, I begin to see the monsters as metaphors for very dark behavior and alienation.  The young girl Karen Reyes is trying to solve the murder of her beautiful upstairs neighbor.  The story has phantasmagorical elements to it.  Karen Reyes sees ghosts and views some people as different characters from fiction.

Web Bits


Libraries Have Become A Broadband Lifeline to the Cloud for Students

You Can Be Forgotten By Google, But Not the British Library

Library Cards Open Doors to the World

Quart Into A Pint Pot:  The Accommodation Problems of the British Museum Library

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/26/2017


Copyright Page of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1899

Daily Thoughts 08/26/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I am looking at Kanopy which is a new service from the New York Times.

https://www.kanopystreaming.com/

I read the graphic novel, Monstress Volume 2, The Blood last night.  It is beautifully rendered.  I like the combination of ancient Lovecraftian horror, magic, Asian mythology, and anthropomorphism in this comic.  It is one of the best comics I have seen recently.

I spent some time working on scheduling for computer classes this morning.

I am also working on preparing for programs for Hispanic Heritage month.

On the way home, I read some of Stellar Customer Service, Training Library Staff to Exceed Expectation by Mou Chakrabouty, Editor.  The book reminds us that everyone should participate in customer service training, not just the frontline staff.

Web Bits


This Little Known LA Library Offers A Look Into Political Movements of the Past

Friday, August 25, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/25/2017

Reading Girl, Rik Wouters, 1915
Daily Thoughts 08/25/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Creative Library Marketing and Publicity Best Practices Edited by Robert J. Lackie and M. Sandra Wood.  There is a central idea here that customer service and advocacy feed directly into marketing.  Some of the best marketing that occurs is because of advocacy.  I thought the Advocacy University link was quite good.  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advocacy-university  There is a lot you can get from this book on basic marketing.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I put in several orders for books today.  I also requested a small table for a fax machine.

I spent some time cleaning up what was left from the Adult Summer Reading program.  We are having the staff raffle today.  It is time for Library Cake!  There is swag left over which we will use to promote the library.

The cake was good. People were happy with their prizes.

I checked out some books for vacation.  Stellar Customer Service Training Library Staff to Exceed Expectations Edited by Mou Chakrabouty, Library Technology Buying Strategies  Edited by Marshall Breeding, Guide to Electronic Resource Management Sheri V.T. Ross and Sarah W. Sutton, Information Services to Diverse Populations Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals by Nichole A. Cooke, and the graphic novel Monstress Volume 2 The Blood by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda.




Thursday, August 24, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/24/2017


The Poet on the Mountaintop, 1500, Shen Zhou

Daily Thoughts 08/24/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

There is a Rainforest Butterflies program tonight at the library from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the community room.

I read some more of Creative Library Marketing and Publicity last night.  I am reading about setting up a social media strategy.  Our library has to work on getting some more photograph oriented sites up like Instagram which reaches a younger audience.

I checked the gift books and the displays.

I spent some time going over shifting with a person who works with me.  We are shifting the 900s.

I checked some of the short story collection.

I put in two orders of books.  I also put in the order for Spanish books.

The Rainforest Butterflies Program went very well tonight.  There was very good turnout.

Web Bits

September 2017 Is Library Card Sign Up Month
http://www.ilovelibraries.org/article/library-card-sign-month-2017


New Ideas In Congress for Supporting Libraries

In practice: School's Redesigned Library of the Future Leads to Deeper Learning

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/23/2017

The Innatentive Reader - Henri Matisse
The Inattentive Reader, Henri Matisse, 1919

Daily Thoughts 08/23/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

The Adult End of Summer Reading Finale is here.  We are going to raffle off a Samsung Galaxy Tab.
There is also going to be a concert for people who participated in the programs.

I placed an order for the graphic novel,  Mycroft Holmes and the Apocalypse Handbook by Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

First Annual Black Book Expo 2017, September 22nd and September 23rd
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-new-york-black-book-conference-expo-and-awards-tickets-36968579015?aff=erelexpmlt

On the way to work, I read some of Creative Library Marketing and Publicity.  The first thing I read about was how to create a marketing plan.  The second portion was about conversations with your patrons.  It included some material on recording those conversation.

I checked the gift books and the displays.

I also worked on a postcard for the October 7, 2017 Mount Vernon Author Day.

We had Cookie Thomas, the musician here today for the Adult Summer Reading Finale.  We had a decent turnout tonight and we raffled off some items with our logo and a Samsung Galaxy Tab.  I think overall, our Adult Summer Reading program was helpful for our statistics.

We also had a Microsoft Access class in the computer lab and an English Conversation Class for Spanish Speakers.  It was a very busy night.

Web Bits

Top 21 Secrets of the Strand Bookstore in NYC

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/22/2017

Salvator Rosa - Autoportrait.jpg
Salvator Rosa, Autoportrait, 17th Century

Daily Thoughts 08/22/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of Digitizing Your Collection.  I am reading about how it is important to get volunteers and your community involved in digitization projects, quite often libraries don't have the staff to do these projects by themselves.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I spent some time shifting the 900s.  I also looked through a donation of books from a fellow librarian.  There were a lot of books on Frank Sinatra.

I also spent some time scheduling the people who are doing programming for a grant for Hispanic Heritage which is from September 15 to October 15.  It is a mix of Argentine Tango, Flamenco dance, and South American paper art.

We also worked on our monthly schedule for September.

I checked out the book, Creative Library Marketing and Publicity Best Practices Edited by Robert J. Lacke and M. Sandra Wood.

Web Bits


Bookstores Are Booming.  Bookselling As a Second Career Is Too


Monday, August 21, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/21/2017

Public librarian.jpg
Advertisement for "librarians" for the commercial H. Parmelee Library Co., December 1900

Daily Thoughts 08/21/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also spent some time looking at the New York Times Bestseller lists.

I read some more of The Patron Driven Library on the way to work.  I am reading about how librarianship is changing and what it means to work in the new environment in libraries.  Many of these changes are driven by a combination of a change of focus from collections to services and a constant stream of new technologies.  Libraries are introducing new features like media labs, expanded study areas, more wireless access, and special collections which combine digitized images and traditional media.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.

I did a little work on orders.

I read a copy of the New York Times Book Review today.  I also placed orders for mystery books, new nonfiction, and fiction.  I should have an order of Spanish titles available tomorrow.

I also contacted the two people who I am working on the grant with about hours.  I have to get this together very soon.

In addition, we are working on a save the date postcard for the October 7, 2017 planned Mount Vernon Author Day.  We have a list of about 50 local authors.

I finished reading The Patron Driven Library A Practical Guide for Managing Collections and Services in the Digital Age by Dee Ann Allison.  The last part of the book describes new types of jobs for librarians.  It also describes new models for library buildings.  Many of these models are very digitally oriented with many fewer staff and much more flexible floor plans.

We activated our subscription to the Historical New York Times today.
http://mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/waldo-historical-ny-times/

Web Bits


The 'New York Times' Books Desk Will Make You Read Again


Sunday, August 20, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/20/2017



Portrait of Hermine David, Jules Pascin, 1910


Daily Thoughts 08/20/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent a little time working on a Spanish language order as well as an order of mysteries.  I have been thinking a little bit about the order process.


I am planning for some programs for Hispanic Heritage Month.

I read some more of The Patron Driven library.  Dee Ann Allison is writing about e-books and the changes which electronic publishing has brought to libraries.  This includes some very technical subjects like the semantic web, RDA (Resource Description and Acess), and online identification for scholarly articles.  It further goes into open access and libraries as publishers and preservers of electronic content.

I started reading Digitizing Your Collection Public Library Success Stories by Susan Caro with Contributions by Sam Meister, Tammy Ravas, and Wendy Walker.

I am interested in the idea of Day of Dialog as part of the Brookyn Book Festival.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/library-journal-school-library-journal-day-of-dialog-brooklyn-tickets-36555114331

I registered for The Name of the Game: Playing Tabletop Games to Build 21st Century Skills
http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/name-of-the-game.html


Saturday, August 19, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/19/2017



Caricature "Résurrection de la Censure" (resurrection of censorship) by the french artist J. J. Grandville, lithography. 1832
 
Daily Thoughts 08/19/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I checked the gift books and the displays.

I spent some time setting up for the Acrylic Painting Class this morning which was well attended.

I also did some shifting in the 900s and checked some of the travel books.

I worked on two orders for books.  I started on a third focused on Spanish Language which a colleague, Mayra Cabrera provided.

On the way home, I read some more of The New Librarianship Field Guide by R. David Lankes.  There is a focus on community in the sense of the people who use or live around a library.  This is a move away from collections.  There is still a service orientation but it extends outside of the building.

The book is conceptually interesting and has some useful philosophical pieces.  However, there are some oddities like the purpose of a library is to improve the community.  I found this a little nebulous.  Also, some of the ideas have a touch of jargon to them.  I thought that calling community outreach community reference was a bit of a stretch.

If you want to read something which comes up with new ideas about libraries, this book is interesting and thoughtful.  However, in some ways, I found it very impractical.  I also thought some of the arguments about collections no longer being central creates a tension between old and new thinking about libraries which is not always productive.

I registered our library for the Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament.


Web Bits


Charlottesville Violence Poses New Challenges for Libraries

                                        

Friday, August 18, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/18/2017

In the Atelier (Róza Teleki) - Miklos Barabas

 

In the Atelier (Róza Teleki) Miklos Barabas,  1838


Daily Thoughts 08/18/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The New Librarianship Field Guide.  I am reading about the purpose of libraries.  The authors view is very community and service focused.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I read a copy of Publishers Weekly and a copy of Library Journal.  I also looked at the New York Times Bestseller list and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list.

I did a little work with programming today for flyers.

The 900s are starting to be shifted.

I looked through a few more copies of Publishers Weekly.

I did a display of art books from Arts Resource Transfer today.

We spent some time discussing a planned Author Day for Saturday, October 7, 2017.

Web Bits


The State(s) of National Advocacy I Federal Advocacy

Civil Rights Marker Honors Challenge to Library Segregation


Thursday, August 17, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/17/2017

Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 2.jpg
Henry Holiday (1839-1927) after Lewis Carroll [Real name: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832-1896) - The Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight Fits by Lewis Carroll, MacMillan and Co, Limited, St. Martin's Street, London, 1931.

Daily Thoughts 08/17/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read a little bit more of The Joy of Less on the way to work.

I checked the gift books and the displays today.

I also spent some time looking over the oversize books.

I went to the Mount Vernon Awards Ceremony for Arts Westchester.  We got part of the money for a grant for Hispanic Heritage month.  This should be very nice.  It was at 6:00 p.m.

I checked the books, The Stone Sky and The Fifth Season by N.K, Jemisin.  The Fifith Season won the 2016 Hugo Award.

I will be working on an order of Spanish language books with a colleague.

I finished reading The Joy of Less A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify by Francine Jay on the way home.  The last part is how to live a minimalist lifestyle focusing on consuming less and experiencing more.  I also read a bit more of The New Librarianship Field Guide by R. David Lankes.

Web Bits


Message from Reshma Shaujani, Founder of Girls Who Code

How Libraries Can Turn Stories Into Maker Projects

After clashes with white nationalists, U-Va. Library Employee Suffers a Stroke


Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/16/2017

Medieval-university.jpg 
French school, 14th century - Image from: Innozence IV, Apparatus super V libros Decretalium, 296ff., Paris, Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne, ms. 31, f. 27

Daily Thoughts 08/16/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some of The Patron Driven Library A Practical Guide For Managing Collections and Services in the Digital Age by Dee Ann Allison. I am reading about the concept of how technology extends the capabilities of different departments in the library like technical services.  This extension also increases the resources available in the public catalogs and on library websites.

Web Bits

Libraries Obsolete, No Way Say Millenials.


Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/15/2017

Elizabeth I when a Princess.jpg
Elizabeth I when a Princess,  formerly attributed to William Scrots, January 1546

Daily Thoughts 08/15/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Joy of Less on the way to work.  I am reading about how to organize a home office.

I checked the displays and the gift books.  I also looked over some oversize books.

I spent some time discussing the October 7 Author Fair with a colleague.  I am also working on scheduling for next month.

I am working on the list of computer classes for next month.

I did a little shifting in the 900s.  I also checked some of the books in the 900s.

There is a Fundamentals of Computer Class tonight 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.


Web Bits


Be Heard Advocacy In Action: Federal Advocacy


Monday, August 14, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/14/2017

Education - Rik Wouters
Rik Wouters, Education, 1912

Daily Thoughts 08/14/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Patron Driven Library on the way to work.  I am reading about how consortiums purchase databases and other electronic resources.

I am looking at GIST for ILLIAD which is an acquisitions module which can be added to ILLIAD.
http://www.gistlibrary.org/illiad/#.WZIPB5LysdU

I also took a moment to look at Design Thinking for Libraries
http://www.designthinkingforlibraries.com/

I  checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also spent some time discussing databases.

I was turned down by the Westchester Community Foundation today.

This afternoon, I put in two order for books and looked through a copy of the New York Times Book Review.

The Adult Board Games Night is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Fiction Room.

There is also 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 Patron Driven Library.  Dee Ann Allison describes advocacy as a form of very intensive marketing.  She has a few interesting links including Turning the Page Advocacy Training http://www.ala.org/pla/education/turningthepage , The Edge Benchmark Initiative http://www.libraryedge.org and Impact Survey http://impactsurvey.org/advocacy

I also read some of the Joy of Less on the way home.  I am reading about how to organize bedrooms and wardrobes.  Francine Jay reminds us to make your bed every morning.


Sunday, August 13, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/13/2017

Self-Educating Caretaker - Vasily Perov
Self-Educating Caretaker, Vasily Perov, 1868

Daily Thoughts 08/13/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading The Librarians Guide to Book Programs and Author Events by Brad Hooper.  It is a solid overview of different types of book programs.  I learned how to better prepare for an author panel, put together the right questions for a book club, and be better prepared to interview authors.  This is a useful book if you run book programs for libraries.  I learned quite a bit.

I spent some time looking at the One Book, One Community Guide
http://www.ala.org/tools/sites/ala.org.tools/files/content/onebook/files/onebookguide.pdf

I did another practice exercise from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  A colleague had provided me with some charcoal for drawing.  I practiced drawing my hand and drawing my hand holding a pencil.  The next Lunchtime Art Drawing Session is on August 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m..  We will be using Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain as our textbook.

I started reading The Patron Driven Library A Practical Guide For Managing Collections and Services In the Digital Age by Dee Ann Allison.  This is about how technology changes the focus from the collection to the user of the collection.  As more services and information are outside the library walls or on the internet or in databases, the focus becomes more on the person who is using the library.


Web Bits


The Mexican American Book Connection

Opposition to Escondido Library Outsourcing Grows


Saturday, August 12, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/12/2017

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - A Young Scholar and his Tutor - Google Art Project.jpg
Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - A Young Scholar and his Tutor 1629-1630 

Daily Thoughts 08/12/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading Adding Value to Libraries, Archives, and Museums Harnessing the Force that Drives Your Organizations Future by Joseph R. Matthews.  This is a complex forward looking book with very current ideas.  Some of the areas covered including the Library as Platform, digital content aggregation, the focus on communities in libraries, and quite a bit on social media.  There is a lot which our library has not implemented in this book.  It is a mix of theory and practical application.  If you are interested in 21st century librarianship and how to apply it, this book is right on target for you.

I worked on two orders of books today.

I checked out the book, The Librarians Guide to Book Programs and Author Events by Brad Hooper as well The Patron Driven Library A Practical Guide For Managing Collections and Services in the Digital Age by Dee Ann Allison.

No One is Coming to Save Us is our book club pick for August 31 from 6-7:30 p.m http://www.bookclubcentral.org/2017/08/11/sjp-pick-author-interview-stephanie-powell-watts/

I read some of The Librarians Guide to Book Programs And Author Events on the way home.  It is a solid, practical book.  I am reading about how to select books for book clubs.

Programming Model from Programming Librarian for a Local Author Day
http://www.programminglibrarian.org/programs/local-author-day

Web Bits


Romance Novels Generated by Artificial Intelligence



Friday, August 11, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/11/2017


Kitagawa Utamaro - Young Woman Reading as Older Woman Writes - MFA Boston 11.2158.jpg
Kitagawa Utamaro - Young Woman Reading as Older Woman Writes, Circa 1806

Daily Thoughts 08/11/2017

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.


I rested for a little bit on the train, then I read Adding Value to Libraries, Archives, and Museums.  I am reading about collaborating online and sharing information through social media.


I checked the gift books and the displays.

I spent some time discussing the Community Reinvestment Act from the banks as well as some ADA issues.

I spent some time reading through the New York Times Bestseller Lists and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lists.

I watched the video of the Westchester Central Library Status committee during lunch.

I turned in my final assignment for the Planning and Management of Library Buildings class today.  It was for a new digital media lab.

Web Bits

Social Media and Libraries Survey-- Techsoup and Webjunction
http://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/social-media-libraries-survey.html
I took the survey.


What Happened to Google's Effort to Scan Millions of University Library Books?

Maurice Sendak’s Little Know and Lovely Posters Celebrating Books and the Joy of Reading

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/10/2017



Portrait of Adelaida Simonovich.jpg
Portrait of Adelaida Simonovich. 1889. Oil on canvas. The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Daily Thoughts 08/10/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook today.

I read a little bit more of The Joy of Less today.  I am reading about cleaning up living rooms.
I also read some more of Adding Value to Libraries, Museums, and Archives.  I am reading about large electronic content aggregators like the Digital Public Library of America and The Internet Archive.  I read a little bit more of The New Librarianship Field Guide.  A central idea in this book is that librarians work to create knowledge through conversations.

I worked a little bit on schedules.

I checked the gift books and the displays.  I spent some time looking over oversize books.

I also spent some time checking on the Adult Summer Reading Program.  The Adult Summer Reading Finale is on August 23rd at 6:00 p.m..  Cookie Thomas will be performing at the finale.

I looked at http://www.libraryreads.org  today.

I did a list of Children's Books for Bookletters as well as a list of Young Adult books for Bookletters.

I also spent an hour looking through library policies.

There is a video of the Central Library Study Committee for tonight.


Web Bits


Keep Mount Vernon Public Library Central Status

Overdrives Libby App to Include Remote Library Card Signup

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/09/2017

Inkstand - Louis Comfort Tiffany
Inkstand, Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1904

Daily Thoughts 08/09/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I started reading The New Librarianship Field Guide by R. David Lankes.  R. David Lankes focuses on the library in the community.  He also wrote The Atlas of New Librarianship.  I also started reading Adding Value to Libraries, Archives, and Museums.  This is a very dense book with a lot of theory and strategy in it.  It focuses on value to the library patron.  I read a little bit more of The Joy of Less as well.

I checked the gift books and the displays.  I also checked some oversize books.

I worked on an order for new books this morning.

We discussed the end of summer reading finale on August 23, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the community room.

I looked through a copy of the New York Times Book Review and the New York Review of Books.

I am planning on applying for the New York State Discretionary Grant Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials.

Web Bits


Save Libraries For Less Than Coffee


Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/08/2017

File:Library1812.jpg
 19th-century painting representing Alexander I's visit to the Russian National Library on January 2, 1812.


Daily Thoughts 08/08/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.


I finished reading Trend Trading for Dummies by A. Wiley Brand on the way to work.  A. Wiley Brand reminds us that fear and grade are two emotions that can destroy a trader.  He tells us unless you are feeling well don't trade stocks.  I found the book to be useful.


I finished reading No One Is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts.  This is truly exceptional writing.  The author creates tension and an unexpected, but satisfying ending to the book.  It is the book we are reading for the book club this month.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I did some work with scheduling.

I sat down and wrote my monthly report with statistics today.  There were a few new things I added.  One of the clerks who works for me is helping with resumes.

We are also working on the summer reading program.

The Crochet Group met today in the fiction room from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

I got good news.  I got at least part of the Arts Westchester grant.  I have to tell the people who are working with me.  I am going to the awards ceremony on the 17th of August.

I checked out the book, Adding Value to Libraries, Archives, and Museums Harnessing the Force that Drives Your Organizations Future by Joseph R. Matthews.

Web Bits


A Visit To Senator Tester's Field Office

Bipartisan Bill Would Support Library Wifi

Boxmobile  The Book Mobile Alternative

The Long, Accident Prone History of Getting the Library Congress Out of the Capitol Building

Inside Trinity's Long Room Library- More Magical Than Hogwarts

Monday, August 7, 2017

Daily Thoughts 08/07/2017



Sir Roger Newdigate at the Library at Arbury, by Arthur Devis (1712-1787)

Daily Thoughts 08/07/2017

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more on the train to work.  I read a little bit more of No One Is Coming to Save Us.  I like the focus on pregnancy in the novel and what it means.  I also read some more of Trend Trading for Dummies.  I am reading about people use different time lengths to trade.  Some people day trade which is about trading by the hour, some people swing trade which is over a year, and others invest over several years.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I put in a variety of orders for books and media.

I also checked some of the oversize books and the 900s.

I am waiting for a response from several different grants.

I spent some time planning for the monthly report and discussed how to do a monthly report with a colleague.

I was too busy to get to reading the New York Times Book Review today.  I will read it tomorrow.

There was a Scratch class for children in the Computer Lab from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Adult Board Games Night was from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

We also had Fundamentals of Computers Class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the Beginning Microsoft Word class from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.


Web Bits



Upping Your Library Intelligence: Put In the Time

Unsilencing the Library