Daily Thoughts 05/31/2018

Reading alcove at the 1895 Miramont Castle Museum, a restored Victorian mansion, Manitou Springs, Colorado

Daily Thoughts 05/31/2018

This morning, I went to the Penguin Random House Author Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. in the Louis L'Amour room.  I enjoyed listening to the authors speak.  They also had a nice spread.  I had some yogurt with granola and some coffee.

I liked the book, Times Convert by Deborah Harkness which is fantasy and the book, and the book Golden Child by Claire Adam set in Trinidad.  They also had a cookbook as a centerpiece, The Love and Lemons Cookbook written by Jeanine Donofrio with photographs by Jack Mathews.

I went to the librarians lounge in the morning.  I took a brief break.  I then did a scavenger hunt looking at some of the exhibits.

I walked the show floor and looked at some of the things which people had on display.  I always the Merrymakers dolls.  My favorite is Pete the Cat.

The show floor was much smaller this year.  I focused on the booths.  Some of the books I picked up were The Art and Craft of PR by Sandra Stahl, 101 Questions You Need to Ask in Your Twenties (and let's be honest, your thirties too) by Paul Angone, Fight Like a Girl The Truth Behind How Female Marines are Trained by Kate Germano with Kelly Kennedy, A+ Ace Your Teacher Interview Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition by Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed. D., The 2019 Rand McNally Road Atlas America's #1 Road Atlas, and many other books.

A few of the books which I liked were When Women Ruled the World Six Queens of Egypt by Kara Cooney published by National Geographic.

A graphic novel which stood out was Showtime at the Apollo, the Epic Tale of Harlem's Legendary Theater by Ted Fox, Illustrated by James Otis Smith.

I got a bag from the Librarians Lounge.  They served lunch at noon there.  I also went to the VIP Librarians Networking Reception.

It was a full day.

Web Bits

Book Expo 2018:  Booksellers Share Their Hot Picks

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bea/article/77056-book-expo-2018-booksellers-share-their-hot-picks.html

Library of Congress Acquires Its Largest Donation of Comic Books Ever

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/30/library-of-congress-acquires-its-largest-donation-of-comic-books-ever/?utm_term=.58e3a5c329b4

Librarian of Congress Reads to Local Children

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/local_news/librarian-of-congress-reads-to-local-children/article_3f589a72-b5be-594e-b5ad-584f769abe81.html

Daily Thoughts 05/30/2018

Feuerbach, Paolo and Francesca, 1863

Daily Thoughts 05/30/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time looking through the list of exhibitors on the Book Expo America website.

I am going to Day of Dialog this morning.  It should be interesting.

I got to John Jay College of Criminal Justice at 9:00 a.m.  I went upstairs to the mezzanine and had a few pastries.  I also had a cup of coffee.  I looked at the different vendors who were at the Day of Dialog.  There was Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Midwest Tape, Harlequin, Hoopla, Sourcebooks, and a lot of the bigger vendors and publishers.  Crooked Lane Books was a new vendor for mystery books.  There was a focus on mystery books this year.

There was an excellent lineup of authors. Many of these were picked out by the top editors in the big publishing houses.   The editors often talked about how they appreciated librarians.

I picked up a variety of advanced reading copies and regular books.  There were a number of books we will add to the library collection like The Battle for Paradise Puerto Rico Takes On Disaster Capitalists by Naomi Klein, Chibi the Official Mark Crilley How To Draw Guide, Mad Boy, An Account of Henry Phipps in the War of 1812 by Nick Arvin,

There were panels running all day.  I am not going over specific panels, just some of the books which I liked.

After each panel, they gave time to have authors sign the books which they read.  I am going to give away some of the signed books for the Adult End of Summer Reading Party.  One which stands out is John Woman by Walter Mosley, another is Bad Blood Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou, and there is also M.C. Beaton, The Witches Tree An Agatha Raisin Mystery.  I have a nice stack of books to give away during the Adult End of Summer Reading Party.

I will also put a few of the Advanced Reading Copies on the shelf where we share galleys for staff to look over.  There are some interesting books which I definitely plan to order for the collection including The Library Book by Susan Orlean, Proud My Fight for An Unlikely American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad, What Truth Sounds Like by Michael Eric Dyson, Elizabath Warren by Eric Felix, and other books.

I also picked out a few books which I want to read for my own edification, Damn Fine Story Mastering the Tools of Powerful Narrative by Chuck Wendig, Rising Out of Hatred The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow, and Accessory to War The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil Degrasse Tyson and Avis Lang.

We had a nice lunch.

I recognized a few people from Library Journal.  It was a pleasant experience.  There were a few people who had been let go from my library who were there.  I am glad they have found other places to work.

I picked up an extra program for the director of the Mount Vernon Public Library.  I will write a report on the conference when I get back to work on Tuesday.  I am on meeting time when I attend these conferences.

This means I also check my email when I get back to make sure things are in order at work.

I requested an advanced reading copy of Trump/Russia a Definitive History by Seth Hettena from Melville House.

Web Bits

Every Child Ready to Read Program

http://everychildreadytoread.org/about/

The 2017 Public Library Data Service Report: Characteristics and Trends

http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2017/12/the-2017-public-library-data-service-report-characteristics-and-trends/

Daily Thoughts 05/29/2018

In a Pine Wood Study, Christen Dalsgaard, 1863

Daily Thoughts 05/29/2018

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

I rested a bit on the way to work.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

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

I also worked on two orders of new books.

I printed up my ticket for the Book Expo Author Breakfast on Thursday at 7:00 a.m. which should be interesting.   There is a lot to do at Book Expo America.

On the way home, I read some more of Packing My Library.  Alberto Manguel is packing his library to move away from France.

Daily Thoughts 05/28/2018

A Scholar In His Study, Thomas Wyck, Around 1616-1677

Daily Thoughts 05/28/2018

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

Last night, I checked the Purchase Alerts for items on hold.

Today is Memorial Day.

I read a little more of Packing My Library.  Part of what Alberto Manguel does is define himself by what he reads in his essays.

I also read some more of Principles by Ray Dalio.  I am reading about prioritizing decision making by what is important.

I watched a little bit of How to Live to 100 which consists of visiting centenarians and asking them the secret of why they have lived so long.

I am going to look up the events I plan on going to for Book Expo America.  I plan on gathering some galleys to give away for the end of adult summer reading.

I am looking at the various things I am going to like the Day of Dialog between Librarians https://lj.libraryjournal.com/dayofdialog-2018/program and Publishers for Adult books, on May 30th, the Librarians Lounge, and the Book Expo Graphic Novel Cocktail Reception.  I also have a list of some of the galleys which I intend to bring back.  I also looked at the Education Sessions for Librarians and will be going to a few.
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/RNA/RNA_BookExpo_V2/2018/docs/BookExpo-Library-Programming.pdf?v=636626803011303594

I am going to be looking through the lists of booths and galleys to see what there is at the convention.

Daily Thoughts 05/27/2018

Carlos Botelho, My Father, 1937

Daily Thoughts 05/27/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day.

I have been reading Packing My Library An Elegy and Ten Digressions by Alberto Manguel.  This is a collection of essays on books and reading. Alberto Manguel is the Director of the National Library of Argentina.

I am watching the movie California Typewriter.  It has an odd feeling to it.  Part of it is set in one of the last typewriter repair shops in California.  There are also cameos by Tom Hanks and other famous people.  It has a retro feeling to it.  People seem to be clinging to the idea of the typewriter as compared to the computer.

I read some more of Principles by Ray Dalio.

Web Bits

Missing the Mark Time To Refocus Our Advocacy Approach Editorial

https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2018/05/industry-news/missing-mark-time-refocus-advocacy-approach-editorial/

What's Going On In Your Child's Brain When You Read Them a Story?

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/05/24/611609366/whats-going-on-in-your-childs-brain-when-you-read-them-a-story

San Francisco, Oakland Release Golden State Library Cards

https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/San-Francisco-and-Oakland-release-Golden-State-12944533.php

Daily Thoughts 05/26/2018

Renoir, Leontine Reading, 1919

Daily Thoughts 05/26/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Principles by Ray Dalio on the way work.  I am reading about how different people work differently and how it is important to recognize peoples differences in the workplace.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I spent some time looking over damaged material and items that were listed as not being in the catalog.

Web Bits

Ethan Hawke: Do People Really Still Use Libraries?

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/05/24/ethan-hawke-libraries

In Practice: Civility

http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2018/05/in-practice-civility/

SF Could Add More Library Branches to Meet Population Growth

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sf-add-library-branches-meet-population-growth/

Daily Thoughts 05/25/2018

Galerie Hollenstein, chrysanthemums with skull and two books, “All Souls' Day”, 1924

Daily Thoughts 05/25/2018

I checked the Twitter and Facebook this morning.

They put me in charge of the building today.  It is not something which I find exciting.  My goal when this happens is for the patrons to have a peaceful, pleasant, enjoyable day without incident or excitement.

I read some more of Principles on the way to work.  I am reading about how to move past obstacles by recognizing pain.

I checked the gift books and the displays.

I finished writing the second grant for the Community Development Block Grant and got it in just in time.

I looked through the New York Times Bestseller list and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list.

I read the June copy of Bookpage.

I checked out two books, Packing My Library by Alberto Manguel and The Perfectionists How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World by Simon Winchester.


Web Bits

Book Expo Librarians Lounge 2018: The Full Schedule
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/76938-bookexpo-s-librarians-lounge-2018-the-full-schedule.html

PBS Unveils the Great American Reads' 100 Most Loved Books

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/76668-pbs-unveils-the-great-american-read-s-100-most-loved-books.html

Bill Gates Wrestles Big Questions With Five Books That Make Up His Summer Reading List

https://www.geekwire.com/2018/bill-gates-wrestles-big-questions-five-books-make-latest-summer-reading-list/

We Took Our Young Children on a Library World Tour and it Was Marvelous

https://www.thedailybeast.com/we-took-our-young-children-on-a-library-world-tourand-it-was-marvelous-11

Daily Thoughts 05/24/2018

Girl Reading,  Nikolaos Gyzis, 1898

Daily Thoughts 05/24/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis.  The last part was on diplomacy focusing on Isaiah Berlin.

I also started reading Superminds The Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together by Thomas W. Malone.  One of the major new advantages of computers is that you can get large groups of people to work together on a single problem from all over the world very easily.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I read a copy of Booklist.

There was a program today on the African American Cemetery in Rye from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  It was kind of interesting.  There are numerous civil war veterans buried in the cemetery as well as some men who served on ironclad ships.

We also had a program on Smart Phones and tablets in the computer lab from 5:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m.

I brought in the Community Development Block Grant in to city hall today which focuses on teen computers.  I have a second part which focuses on disability access.  I spent some time working on this tonight.


Web Bits

NBF To Expand Its Literary Programming

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/76955-nbf-to-expand-its-literary-programming.html

Core Competencies for Acquisitions Professionals

https://alair.ala.org/bitstream/handle/11213/9058/Core%20Competencies%20for%20Acquisitions%20Professionals.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Daily Thoughts 05/23/2018

 Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), 19th century, Scholars Books and Objects (Chaekkeori)

Daily Thoughts 05/23/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of On Grand Strategy on the way to work.  I am reading about Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his decision to work with Stalin.

I am looking at the book Superminds The Surprising Power of People And Computers Thinking Together by Thomas W. Malone.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.

I printed up the sign up sheets for the computer classes and wrote a letter for a volunteer.


Web Bits

US Public Schools Have Lost 20% of their Librarians Since 2000

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamrowe1/2018/05/21/u-s-public-schools-have-lost-20-of-their-librarians-since-2000/#77471afb5ce5

Reversing the Slide in Voter Support BackTalk

https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2018/05/opinion/backtalk/reversing-slide-voter-support-backtalk/

Which Musical Instruments Can You Now Check Out from the Brooklyn Public Library? An Explainer.

https://www.mhpbooks.com/which-musical-instruments-can-you-check-out-from-the-brooklyn-public-library-an-explainer/

Daily Thoughts 05/22/2018

An Old Woman Dozing Over a Book, 1655, Nicolaes Maes

Daily Thoughts 05/22/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this afternoon.

I also checked the displays and the gift books.

I worked on some orders for new books.

On the way to work, I read some more of Principles.  I am reading about why it is important to have transparency and honesty inside an organization.

I read the latest copy of the New York Times Book Review as well as the Times Literary Supplement.

I spent some time talking to a visitor from Los Angeles Public Library named Peggy Murphy who had once been a page at the Mount Vernon Public Library.  She is now the manager for electronic collections at Los Angeles Public Library.  It was an interesting conversation.  We are both going to Book Expo America with VIP passes.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers Class and a Beginning Microsoft Word class tonight in the computer lab.

Web Bits

What Exactly Is A Cozy Mystery?

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/76834-the-enduring-appeal-of-the-cozy-mystery.html

Here are the Winners of the 2018 Nebula Award

https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/20/17368312/nebula-awards-2017-winners-science-fiction-fantasy-nk-jemisin-martha-wells

Different Bernstein Takes at WNO, Library of Congress Concerts

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/different-bernstein-takes-at-wno-library-of-congress-concerts/2018/05/21/10052286-5d14-11e8-b2b8-08a538d9dbd6_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4371af6161d9

Daily Thoughts 05/21/2018

Antonio Machado y su musa, retrato de Antonio Machado (1875 - 1939), en el oleo modernista de Leandro Oroz Lacalle (1883 - 1933).

Daily Thoughts 05/21/2018

My computer screen went out on Sunday. This morning, I took the computer and monitor to the repair shop.  They confirmed that the monitor was dead.  I got a new monitor at Target and set it up this morning.  I also got an external hard drive to increase memory for the computer.

Having no computer access can make me a little antsy.

This is why I did not post yesterday.  I also took some time to look through my paperwork.

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

Last night, I got some extra reading done.  I read more of On Grand Strategy.  I am reading about Clausewitz's descritpion of the Napoleonic wars versus Tolstoys description of the Napoleonic wars.  It shows two very different persepctives on the same war.

I also read some more of Principles.  I am reading about why it is important to have multiple ways to bring in money in a business.

There is an article in the Mount Vernon Inquirer about a special event which the Mount Vernon Public Library is supporting.

ArtsWestchester to present a free evening of West African dance and drumming in Mt. Vernon

http://www.mvinquirer.com

Daily Thoughts 05/19/2018

Reading By the Brook, Winslow Homer, 1879

Daily Thoughts 05/19/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of On Grand Strategy this morning.  I am reading about the issue of slavery in the founding of the United States.  There is also some discussion about why South America did not grow as a unitary republic.

I started reading Principles by Ray Dalio which is a business book focused on principles of success in business and investing.

Web Bits

How to Protect Rare Books and Manuscripts from the Ravages of Climate Change

https://psmag.com/environment/saving-our-archives-from-climate-change

From 14 Million Photos in the Library of Congress, She Chose 440 To Tell the Story of America

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-anne-wilkes-tucker-20180518-htmlstory.html

                                                                                                                                             

Daily Thoughts 05/18/2018

Reading on the Garden Path, Albert Aublet, 1883

Daily Thoughts 05/18/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of the book, On Grand Strategy.  I am learning about different historical figures associated with political and military strategy: Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Augustine, Philip II, and Queen Elizabeth of England.  The book appears to be a slow march through history and strategy.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I have been doing more planning for programming including a cookie decorating program, a music composition program, and a rock painting program.

There is a meeting for programming on Monday which I have to send a colleague to.

I also have been working on the computer classes a little bit.

I am in the computer lab right now.

I read some more of On Grand Strategy.  The book has moved to the founding of the United States and the revolutionary war.

I also read a short science fiction novel, Binti by Nnedi Okorafor.  Nnedi Okorafor has won the Hugo and Nebula Awards.  Her writing is creative and gripping.  This book is 90 pages, but has a very complete story in it.

Web Bits

Circulating Tool Library, Chattanooga Public Library

http://www.theunfoundation.org/projects/2018/5/17/circulating-tool-library-chattanooga-public-library

Daily Thoughs 05/17/2018

Hans Heyerdahl, At The Window, 1880

Daily Thoughts 05/17/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I finished reading The Space Barons Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos by Christian Davenport.  Christian Davenport writes for the Washington Post which is owned by Jeff Bezos.  This is a very positive, upbeat description of the race for space by private companies.  It holds your attention very well and is thoroughly entertaining.

I also started reading On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis.  It starts with the old question which is better being a hedgehog, focusing on one things, or being a fox learning many things.  Apparently people who are foxes tend to maker better predictions about the future.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I spent a little time thinking about programs today.  I have to finish up my planning for the end of the year programming.

I looked over some books that needed mending.  I also looked over some books that were listed as not being the catalog.

Web Bits

Romantic Times Book Review is Closing

https://www.rtbookreviews.com/

'Lunar Library' Aims to Preserve Humanity's History on the Moon

https://www.space.com/40598-lunar-library-wikipedia-astrobotic-moon-mission.html

Daily Thoughts 05/16/2018

Gutenberg Bible, Library of Congress, 1944

Daily Thoughts 05/16/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Space Barons.  There are five people who are mentioned in this book who stand out, Elon Musk, Paul Allen, Jeff Bezos, Burt Rutan, and Richard Branson.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I am looking at the book, On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis.

I am in the computer lab right now.

I spent some time going over plans for programming with a colleague.  I have quite a bit more to do.

I read a copy of Library Journal.  I also put in some orders for books.

A colleague made some edits to the Community Development Block Grant today.

I also spent some time looking at calendars from other library websites in Westchester county.


Web Bits

Library Square—New Development With Community Programs Faces Opposition from MV City Council

http://www.blackwestchester.com/library-square/

Library Square—This was proposed in 2015

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/mount-vernon/2015/11/19/library-square/76006216/

New Pop Up Library Aims To Engage Underserved Neighborhoods

https://hoodline.com/2018/05/new-pop-up-mobile-library-aims-to-engage-underserved-neighborhoods

Daily Thoughts 05/15/2018

Reading, Nicolae Vermont, 1919

Daily Thoughts 05/15/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read some more of The Space Barons.  I am reading about Burt Rutan the man who made Spaceship One which won the Ansari X Prize and was the first commercial spaceship.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

Web Bits

The borrowers: Why Finland's cities are havens for library lovers

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/15/why-finlands-cities-are-havens-for-library-lovers-oodi-helsinki

True Mixed Use Features Library, Hotel, Retail

http://www.globest.com/2018/05/14/true-mixed-use-features-library-hotel-retail/?slreturn=20180415073426

Daily Thoughts 05/14/2018

Mask and Books, Wladyslaw Slewinski, 1897

Daily Thoughts 05/14/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read some more of The Square and the Tower.  I am reading about issues with the internet like fake news and election manipulation.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I spent some time working on book orders.

I am in the computer lab.

I am working a little bit on the Community Development Block Grant.

I read some copies of the Times Literary Supplement and the latest New York Times Book Review.  I put a few books on order.

I have a copy of the Ingram Advance to read.

I am putting together the list of programs for summer reading as well as the end of the year programming.

I spent some time working on scheduling.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers Class and a Beginning Microsoft Word 2013 class tonight in the computer lab.

On the way home, I finished reading The Square and The Tower Networks and Power from the Freemasons to Facebook by Niall Ferguson.  This book rewrites history as a struggle between networks and hierarchies.

I started reading The Space Barons Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos by Christian Davenport.  This book is about incredible drive, inventiveness, and entrepreneurial combined with visions of science fiction and space becoming reality.  Christian Davenport is describing the beginnings of Space X run by Elon Musk and Blue Origin by Jeff Bezos.


Web Bits

Adulting 101

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/05/01/adulting-101-library-programming/

University of Texas Library Puts Books Away In Storage to Make Way for Makers

https://www.mhpbooks.com/the-university-of-texas-library-puts-books-in-storage-to-make-way-for-makers/

Book Expo 2018: Like A Candy Store for Librarians
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bea/article/76871-bookexpo-2018-like-a-candy-store-for-librarians.html

Daily Thoughts 05/13/2018

An Author & Bookseller, Thomas Rowlandson, 1797

Daily Thoughts 05/13/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I reserved a few books on how to paint rocks.  The theme for this years Adult Summer Reading is Libraries Rock.

I have been reading more of The Square and the Tower.  I am reading about how cell phones changed politics by making it easier to form protest movements.

I spent some time this morning looking at the Community Development Block Grant.

I checked the purchase alerts for holds.

Web Bits

How Copyright Law Hides Work Like Zora Neale Hurston's From the Public

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/05/07/how-copyright-law-hides-work-like-zora-neale-hurstons-new-book-from-the-public/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.09f54363f4af

BookExpo/BookCon Preview

https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2018/05/shows-events/bea/bookexpobookcon-2018-preview/

Recipe Club: The Most Delicious Group In the Library

http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2018/05/recipe-club-the-most-delicious-library-group/

Daily Thoughts 05/12/2018

Vase With the Poet Zhou Dunyi, 1587

Daily Thoughts 05/12/2018

I checked the Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of Designing Adult Services this morning.  I looked at a variety of different programs listed in the book to see if there was anything new which we could try.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I wrote the final review for the Writings of Audre Lorde workshop supported by Humanities New York.  I have to send back the books used for the program soon. 

I spent some time at the Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library Book and Bake Sale Today and made some announcements at different points around the day for the

I met briefly and talked with colleagues about the Mount Vernon Local Author Fair.  This should be interesting.

I am working on the Community Development Block Grant right now.

Web Bits

Libraries Partner With Connect Home for Digitally Inclusive Communities

http://www.districtdispatch.org/2018/05/ala-and-connecthomeusa/

Getting a Library Card for Summer Reading

https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/getting-a-library-card-for-summer-reading/article_e77a1b1a-a86d-572e-862e-e251cb5910be.html

                                                                                                                             

Daily Thoughts 05/11/2018

Young Man and Skull, Paul Cezanne, 1898

Daily Thoughts 05/11/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Square and the Tower last night.  I am reading about how the internet was created starting with ARPANET.

On the way to work, I read some of Designing Adult Services.  I am reading about the site Webjunction which offers training for libraries. https://www.webjunction.org/

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I worked on arranging a pick up for Bettter World Books next week.

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

I spent some time in the computer lab.

Today is the Book and Bake sale for the Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library.  I bought some muffins and had them after lunch.

I also worked a little bit on the Community Development Block Grant.

Web Bits

12 Most Popular Libraries in the World

https://lithub.com/the-12-most-popular-libraries-in-the-world/

New Beacon Library Is An Activist's Dream

https://crosscut.com/2018/05/new-beacon-hill-library-activists-dream

This would fall under membership libraries.

The Oldest Cookbooks From Libraries Around the World

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oldest-cookbooks

Daily Thoughts 05/10/2018

Manet, Marguerite De Conflans, 1875

Daily Thoughts 05/10/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of The Square and the Tower.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I worked on some book orders.

I have a program at 6:00 p.m. for the film Resilience.

I checked out two books today, The Space Barons Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and The Quest to Colonize the Cosmos by Christian Davenport and Designing Adult Services Strategies For Better Serving Your Community by Ann Roberts.

I spent an hour between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at city hall in the Memorial Hall room learning about the application for the Community Development Block Grant.  It is twice as long as the original application. 

The Resilience film went very well today.  It was followed by a panel discussion by Delia Farquharson, LCSW who is a city council person and Dr.  Sonia Cole.

Web Bits

Rise of the Unmanned Library Means Elderly and Children Are Shut Out

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/09/rise-unmanned-library-means-elderly-children-shut/

A Haven for the Homeless

https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-05-09/in-santa-monica-california-a-haven-for-the-homeless-seeks-to-do-more

Daily Thoughts 05/09/2018

Edouard Manet, The Reader, 1860

Daily Thoughts 05/09/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read a little more from The Square and the Tower.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I did a little work with the oversize books.

I spent some time discussing how a sip and paint program is put together.

I read a copy of Booklist and the New York Times Book Review.

The last session of the Audre Lorde program is tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Trustees Room.

There was also a session of HTML 5 and CSS 3 in the computer lab from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Web Bits

Meet the Black Women Upending the Romance Novel Industry

https://www.buzzfeed.com/bimadewunmi/meet-the-black-women-upending-the-romance-novel-industry?utm_term=.djvDMb697#.blbEWY345

The Welcome Labyrinth What We Gain and Lose As Libraries Change

https://www.chronicle.com/article/The-Welcoming-Labyrinth-What/243364

Daily Thoughts 05/08/2018

Niels Frederik Schiøttz-Jensen, A Lady Reading in the Garden, 1894

Daily Thoughts 05/08/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent a little time thinking about programming and signage.

Today is the library vote for the budget and trustees from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Public Library. http://mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/save-the-date/

I read a little bit more of The Square and the Tower.  I am reading about how Stalin created the gulags and gained bureaucratic control of Russia.  There is also some material on how Nazi Germany broke up the Jewish business networks in the 1930s.

I am off from work today.

I finished my monthly report for May.  The final results of the election will be confirmed tomorrow.

Web Bits

A Business Traveler's Guide to Working at the Library

https://medium.com/everylibrary/a-business-travelers-guide-to-working-at-the-library-d6a5df03a71a

The Intertwingularity is Here: When Humans Transcend Print Media
https://www.oreilly.com/ideas/the-intertwingularity-is-near-when-humans-transcend-print-media?cmp=fb-data-confreg-article-jpny18_fb_org_0508
It seems like it make take quite a bit longer.  I partially comprehended this...  It is a good reminder that an e-book is software not a "book."

Where Do We Stand? Libraries and Self Published Authors
http://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=14002

Daily Thoughts 05/07/2018

Still Life With a Gold Chain, Pieter Claesz, 1636

Daily Thoughts 05/07/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Square and The Tower.  I am reading about the laying of the undersea telegraph cables in the 19th century.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

We had sexual harassment training this morning which was mandatory for the staff.

I read a poem by Mary Oliver and a poem by Audre Lorde in a poetry reading today.

There was a management meeting today.  It went quite smoothly.

I am invited to the Library Networking Reception on Thursday, May 31 at Book Expo America hosted by the Free Library of Philadelphia.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers Class and a Beginning Microsoft Word class tonight.

I spent some time going over my plans for programming for June, July, and August 2018.

Web Bits

You Can't Be Complacent Anymore -- PL Talks With Patrick Sweeney

http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2017/10/we-cant-be-complacent-anymore-pl-talks-with-patrick-sweeney/

The Spectacular Wonder of Europes Libraries

https://www.wired.com/story/photo-gallery-europe-libraries/

American Libraries are Having a #MeToo Moment

https://qz.com/1268485/american-libraries-are-having-a-metoo-moment/

Save Barnes & Noble
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/06/opinion/save-barnes-noble.html

Daily Thoughts 05/06/2018

Ofelia, Thomas Francis Dicksee, 1864

Daily Thoughts 05/06/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Square and the Tower this morning.  I am reading about how steam and the telegraph extended personal networks i the British Empire.

I checked the Purchase Alerts for items on hold at the Mount Vernon Public Library.

Web Bits

Librarians Set to Descend on Capitol Hill for National Library Legislative Day

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/76779-librarians-set-to-descend-on-capitol-hill-for-national-library-legislative-day.html

Daily Thoughts 05/05/2018

Writing Box (Suzuribako) With Design of Fans, 17th Century

Daily Thoughts 05/05/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning

I read some more of The Square and the Tower this morning.  I am reading about the genealogy of Queen Victoria and the family network of the Rothschilds.

I am watching The Archive of American Television Leonard Bernstein Omnibus.  Right now, Leonard Bernstein is commenting Beethoven's 5th Symphony in C.

I watched a streaming video on Kanopy called Putting Customers First which is about library customer service.

Web Bits

Tracy K. Smith and Jacqueline Woodson Talk Reading, Race and Spreading the Gospel of Literature

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/books/tracy-k-smith-and-jacqueline-woodson-talk-reading-race-and-spreading-the-gospel-of-literature.html

Certified Sustainable Library By Design

https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2018/05/buildings/lbd/certified-sustainable-library-design/

Wide World of E-Sports

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/05/01/wide-world-e-sports/

If you cannot make it in person, you can participate in Virtual Library Legislative Day on May 7 and May 8

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoCD9w-1OKOWajEEBJ0szHhJK2Kohcv-v4knnfHQXSOka4YQ/viewform

Finding Advocacy Allies

https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/05/04/finding-advocacy-allies/

Can Reading Make You Happier
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/can-reading-make-you-happier

Daily Thoughts 05/04/2018

Words of Comfort, Sir Hubert Von Herkimer, 1879

Daily Thoughts 05/04/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Square and the Tower on the way home.  It is starting to answer questions about initiation in secret societies.  It also describing how hierarchical social structures limit the spread of information and networks spread ideas quickly.  There is a constant struggle between censorship and free expression.  I found the writing on the early printing press and how it spread quickly quite thoughtful.

I also read some of the life-changing manga of tidying up a magical story by marie kondo last night.  This is much easier to read than the book.  It is clearly aimed at young women. The manga is cute, funny, and light hearted.  This would be a good read for a young adult that needs to be more organized.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.

One of my colleagues is at the Westchester Library Association conference today.

I checked the New York Times Bestsellers and the Publishers Weekly bestsellers.

I placed some orders for new books.

I worked on some scheduling.

Web Bits

Digital Literacy Support In Libraries: More Than Just Your Computer Classes

http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2018/05/digital-literacy-support-in-libraries-more-than-just-your-computer-classes/

The Growing Necessity of Radicalism in Library Advocacy and Political Outreach

https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/pollib/vol2/iss1/6/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

https://www.ascladirect.org/2018/05/may-is-mental-health-awareness-month/

Newsmaker: Michael W. Twitty

http://www.ilovelibraries.org/article/newsmaker-michael-w-twitty

White Plain's Library New Cafe to Debut Next Week
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/white-plains/2018/05/03/everyday-healthy-cafe-making-debut-white-plains-library/577293002/

Daily Thoughts 05/03/2018

P.S. Krøyer - Roses. Marie Krøyer seated in the deckchair in the garden by Mrs Bendsen's house, 1892

Daily Thoughts 05/03/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Square and the Tower last night.  There is an attempt to legitimize secret socities and place them in a historical context like the Masons, the Illuminati, and other groups by describing them as social networks of people.  It is not completely convincing in its approach, because the author removes the occult elements and indoctrination process in these kinds of societies.

I checked the gift books and displays this morning.  I put in a display for Mental Wellness Month.  We are showing the film Resilience on May 10, 2018. https://kpjrfilms.co/resilience/  There is going to be a panel discussion afterwards.

I spent some time working on the final changes to the Mount Vernon Arts Initiative 2018 and turned it in.

I also wrote a rating for one of my reports.

I put out the latest Bookpage today.

I am also doing a little planning for ordering books using statistics from Bluecloud Analytics.

Tonight there is a class for Beginning Internet in the computer lab from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Trustee Candidate and Budget Information Session is at the Mount Vernon Public Library is tonight in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room at 6:30 p.m.

This is the video for the Trustee Information Session tonight. It is very interesting to watch.

Web Bits

Champaign Public Library Debuts Coworking Space

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-05-02/champaign-public-library-debuts-coworking-space.html

I sent in a letter of support for Brooklyn Public Library.  They are worth supporting.
https://www.bklynlibrary.org/standup/contact?utm_source=facebook

Daily Thoughts 05/02/2018

Painting and Merit, Alessandro Longhi, circa 1761

Daily Thoughts 05/02/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I finished reading habeas data Privacy vs. the Rise of Surveillance Tech by Cyrus Farivar.  This book is about the legal issues and cases surrounding surveillance technology like Stingray, electrothermal imaging, beepers, and phones.  It describes how it is increasingly easy for governments to do mass surveillance of society.  There is a reminder at the end that many people don't even know that they are being watched.

I read some more of The Square and the Tower last night.  There is a theme of hierarchy versus networks in the book.

Budget Presentation and Trustee Information Session Video, May 1, 2018 Fleetwood Neighborhood Association. https://www.facebook.com/nstepak/videos/1336456029789069/

I checked the gift books and the displays.

I am in the computer lab right now.

I read a copy of Publishers Weekly.

I also read the latest copy of Bookpage.

I spent a little time working on orders for new books.

I put together some lists which I posted from Booksite of new material.

Web Bits

The Right to Browse A Library Puts Books Into Storage and Readers Cry Foul
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/05/02/601852816/the-right-to-browse-a-library-puts-books-into-storage-and-readers-cry-foul

Homeless Will Get Help from Atlanta's Central Library During Renovation

https://www.myajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/homeless-will-get-help-from-atlanta-central-library-during-renovation/tARYKSVBh714BNv4ls1OYP/

Obama Foundation Makes Unique Library Deal for Obama Presidential Center

https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/obama-presidential-center-to-include-chicago-public-library-branch/

For Libraries "The Customer Is Always Right" Might Be Wrong
https://lithub.com/for-libraries-the-customer-is-always-right-might-be-wrong/

Libraries an Underestimated Tool for Smart Cities
http://www.urenio.org/2018/04/26/libraries-an-underestimated-tool-for-smart-cities/

Daily Thoughts 05/01/2018

Daily Thoughts 05/01/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I read some more of habeas data on the way to work. I am reading about Stingray which is a system for tracking cell phones.

Right now, I am covering the computer lab.

The crochet group is today from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers Class tonight and a Beginning Microsoft Word Class.

Web Bits

Scholars Talk Wriitng: Do Book Editors Do Much Editing?

https://www.chronicle.com/article/Scholars-Talk-Writing-Do-Book/243262/

The mysterious Cambridge library tower, supposedly full of banned books, is opened to the public

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/cambridge-university-library-tower-banned-books-opening-copyright-a8325196.html

The Library of Congress is Experimenting With GIS

https://www.fedscoop.com/library-congress-experimenting-gis/