Friday, November 30, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/30/2018

File:The dwarf Don Diego de Acedo, "El Primo". Oil painting by M. Wellcome V0017108.jpg
The dwarf Don Diego de Acedo, "El Primo". Oil painting by M. Pineda after Diego Velazquez de Silva.  Circa 1644.  

Daily Thoughts 11/30/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized Mind last night.  I am reading about decisions on health based on probability.

I read some more of The Art Reading on the way home.  I am reading about how books became a necessity for the middle class.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I spent some time working with the biography books today.

I am also working on an order of business books.

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

I checked on the fiction books and the duplicate fiction titles today.

I spent a little time checking schedules.

The Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library Book and Bake Sale was today from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..  It is always nice to stop by and see the Friends of the Library.  They had done a successful paint and sip recently.  I visited them twice and had a cup of coffee on each visit.  I also had some brownies.  They will be at the library tomorrow, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..  I gave them some bookmarks for our Give Gab fundraiser tomorrow. https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/teen-computer-lab

Web Bits


Controlled Digital Lending Concepts Gains Ground

10 Takeaways for Libraries from the 2018 Midterms

Repurpose With a Purpose

Library of Congress Launches Crowdsourcing Platform

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/29/2018

The Chap-Book: The Poet and His Lady
The Chap-Book The Poet and His Lady, William Henry Bradley, 1895

Daily Thoughts 11/29/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized Mind last night.  I am reading about procrastination.

I also started reading The Art of Reading An Illustrated History of Books In Paint by Jamie Camplin and Maria Ranauro.  The book starts with a history of early printed books.

There was a Computers for Seniors program from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the computer lab.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I spent some time looking at fiction books from the mezzanine.

We have a training today for the Burbio calendar program this afternoon. https://www.burbio.com/states

I have been cutting bookmarks which we are giving out for the Give Gab campaign to support a Teen Lab/Young Adult area.

There is an Ipads class tonight in the computer lab from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I checked out the book, Corsair by James L. Cambias as well as A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias.

Tonight is the presentation by an architect for the Teen Lab/Young Adult area.  It started at 6:30 p.m.

We put out some bookmarks tonight for the Give Gab campaign for the Teen Lab/Young Adult area at the adult and children's circulation desks.
https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/teen-computer-lab

Web Bits



California Libraries Reopen, Respond to Wildfires

Why Every Generation Loves A Library

New NYC Museum Teams Up With Library of Congress For Animation Competition

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/28/2018

Allegorie der Poesie, Mosaik von Raffael.jpg
Die Allegorie der Poesie, Raffael 1508 - 1511. Fresco im Deckengewölbe der Stanza della Signatura, Vatikan.

Daily Thoughts 11/28/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized Mind last night.  I am reading about the importance of sleep and naps for memory.

I spent some time checking fiction books today.

I also spent some time checking biography books from our mezzanine.  Some of the books in our mezzanine are old and rare.

I also worked on scheduling for a little bit.

We have been steadily working on our Give Gab campaign to raise funds for a new Teen Lab/Young Adult Area.  https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/teen-computer-lab

We have a management meeting today.  We spent some time discussing scheduling, maintenance, and weeding this afternoon.

There is a Javascript class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the computer lab.

I checked out the book, The Art of Reading An Illustrated History of Books In Print by Jamie Camplin and Maria Ranauro.

Web Bits

Separated by Travel Ban, Iranian Families Reunite at Border Library
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-ban-insight/separated-by-travel-ban-iranian-families-reunite-at-border-library-idUSKCN1NX1P2?fbclid=IwAR2fMUZ8v0TCEwnMItxriWwp0U0Lx3xX9PVhE53Q9VAK55KFmCpVRfWI2Sc

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/27/2018

Jan Steen - Rhetoricians at a Window - WGA21729.jpg
Jan Steen, Rhetoricians at a Window, 1662

Daily Thoughts 11/27/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized Mind last night.  I am reading about how to organize time and how multitasking does not work.

I am working on our Give Gab campaign for Giving Tuesday.  We are seeking funds for a new teen lab/young adult area. https://www.givegab.com/campaigns/teen-computer-lab  We spent some time working on the campaign this morning.  I am posting about this on different services like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Alignable.  It is also on the website.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I also checked some of the books in the mezzanine.

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

I turned in a final report for a grant for Arts Westchester.

The Crochet Group met today from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

There is a Path to Entrepreneurship program tonight from Women's Enterprise Development Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room.  It is also supported by the City of Mount Vernon.

Web Bits


A24's Library Now Available to Stream for Free on Kanopy

A Brooklyn Library Was Given Literary Landmark Status

Queen's Library "It's Time for Kind" Includes Food Drive, Letter Writing

Monday, November 26, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/26/2018

Cakes and Food Made of Seaweed
Cakes and Food Made of Seaweed, Kubo Shunman, 19th Century

Daily Thoughts 11/26/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read Arkady's World which is an Electronic Ark on Baen's books.  I enjoyed the story tremendously.  I thought the premise of a human boy surviving on a world of aliens was wonderful.  I also liked that the humans in the story were not the ones on top.  There was both an advanced machine civilization and an alien civilization which were competing in this novel.  I liked the premise of humanity being conquered and having to run to another alien civilization to remain free.

The story itself was a fast paced adventure story on a world with many different alien cultures in it.  It was fun and imaginative to read.

I also read some more of The Organized Mind.  I am reading about how people organize their time.

I watched some more episodes of Changing Body Composition Through Diet and Exercise on Kanopy.  I am learning about how combining green tea with caffeine helps with weight loss.  I also learned about the importance of sleep for weight loss.

Web Bits


Innocence and Experience

Digital Library Cards Are Offering Thousands of Ebooks to Everyone

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/25/2018

Sebastian Stoskopff - The Great Vanity Still-Life - WGA21833.jpg
Sebastian Stoskopff, The Great Vanity Still Life, 1641

Daily Thoughts 11/25/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also wrote a post on LinkedIn about the CPLA certification.  LinkedIn does not announce new degrees when you finish them.  It lists new jobs though.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cpla-certificate-received-november-15-2018-nishan-stepak/

I read some more of The Organized Mind last night.

I watched some more of Changing Body Composition Through Diet and Exercise on Kanopy.  I am learning about why it is important to eat fatty fish and nuts for omega-3 fatty acids.  I also learned that the more sedentary you are, the less carbohydrates you should eat.

I checked the purchase alerts for items that are on hold.

Web Bits


How Bookstores Are Balancing Politics and Business

Duke Library Houses Letter Penned by Alexander Hamilton

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/24/2018

Barter-Chickens for Subscription.jpg

A newspaper illustration depicting a man engaging in barter, paying his yearly newspaper subscription to the "Podunk Weekly Bugle" with various farm produce, F.S. Church, Harper's Weekly, 1874

Daily Thoughts 11/24/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized  Mind last night.  I am reading about how people connect online through social networks and dating sites.

I watched a video that is part of a series called Body Composition Managing Our Expectations by Dr. Michael J. Ormsbee which is part of the Great Courses on Kanopy.

I updated a few things in the ADP scheduling system.

Web Bits



Diversity Auditing 101: How to Evaluate Your Collection

Connecticut LIbraries Adapting to Community Needs

"Have a goob day": Boise Librarian Hides Notes In Books As Part of Guerrilla Kindness Project



Friday, November 23, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/23/2018

File:Georg Achen, Interior with reading woman (1896).jpg
Georg Achen, Interior with reading woman, 1896

Daily Thoughts 11/23/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of The Organized Mind.  I am reading about crowdsourcing.

I checked the displays and gift books this morning.

I read the New York Times Bestseller List and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller List.

I spent some time working on ADP.  I am working on next months schedule.

I prepared the sign in sheets for the computer classes for next month.

I also read through a copy of Booklist and a copy of Library Journal this afternoon.

A colleague is working on setting up a citizenship class starting in January.

Web Bits


Growing Your Librarys Role: Creating A Community Garden With Impact

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/22/2018

File:Anders Zorn - Reading (Mr. och Mrs. Charles Deering) (etching) 1893.jpg
Reading (Mr. Och, Mrs. Charles Deering) , Anders Zorn, 1893

Daily Thoughts 11/22/2018

Happy Thanksgiving!

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized Mind last night.  I read about where you keep spare things like keys and birth certificates.  I also read about when it is a good idea to have more than one of the item of the same kind in different locations like hairbrushes and toothbrushes.

I watched a little bit more of The Art Journaling training video on our Creativebug trial.

I spent a few minutes looking at the YALSA guidelines for Teen Spaces.
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/guidelines/guidelines/teenspaces.pdf

Web Bits


James Billingont, who put the Library of Congress Online, Dies at 89

Best Books of 2018, According to NYPL

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/21/2018

FelixVallotton-LaBibliotheque.JPG
La Bibliotheque, Felix Vallotton, 1921

Daily Thoughts 11/21/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of The Organized Mind.  I am reading about filing systems.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also checked some books that were listed as not in the catalog.

I spent some time discussing fliers with a colleague.

Right now, I am in the computer lab.  There is no computer class tonight because of Thanksgiving eve.

I spent a little time working with Give Gab.

I have to write a report for Arts Westchester.

I spent a little time this afternoon cleaning my desk and organizing.

Right now, I am back in the computer lab.

I am looking at a book called From Bacteria to Bach and Back the Evolution of Minds by Daniel C. Dennett.

Web Bits

More Little Free Libraries Pop Up in Westchester
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2018/11/20/more-little-libraries-pop-up-westchester/2069070002/


The Year In Architecture 2018

Local Music Remix Digital Audio Production Tools for Your Library

Despite Hurdles, The Seed Library Movement Is Growing



Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/20/2018

Bookman advertisement March 1895.jpg
Advertisement for the New York Literary Journal, "The Bookman", George Frederick Scotson-Clark, 1895

Daily Thoughts 11/20/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of The Organized Mind.  I am reading about affordances or organization tools like coathoooks for coats, baskets for keys, trays for letters, and other devices.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I placed a hold on the book, The Bullet Journal Method Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll.

I also watched a video from Creativebug on Art Journaling.  We are looking at a trial of the service right now.

Currently, I am at the public computers desk.

I spent some time checking books which are not in the catalog.

I also spent some time checking oversize books.

I did a little work with Give Gab.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers and a Beginning Microsoft Word 2013 Class from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Web Bits


Libraries Across the Country Are Honoring Stan Lee

Harvard Library Converting Fourth Floor of Lamont Library Into Creative Writing Space


Monday, November 19, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/19/2018


Clio, the Muse of History by Francesco Furini.jpg
Clio, The Muse of History, Francisco Furini, First half of the 17th Century.

Daily Thoughts 11/19/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some more of The Organized Mind.  I am reading about using notecards and notebooks to organize your life.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I am checking some of the oversize books.

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

I put in some orders for new books.

I checked some books that were not in the system.

Web Bits

Nearly One in Five Teens Can't Always Finish Their Homework Because of the Digital Divide
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/26/nearly-one-in-five-teens-cant-always-finish-their-homework-because-of-the-digital-divide/?fbclid=IwAR0XY-oQ-jGhjwOykKMNfFRKa-WKGXTYS1h8RZrp056_hhfKLqvsiro4b4c


Fighting  for Our Local Library

Native Americans Protest Auction of Artifacts at Medford Library in Massachusetts

Book End: Caboose Will Become Children’s Library

MFA and Boston Public Library Collaborate on Toulouse-Lautrec Exhibit

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/18/2018

Ivan Pavlov by M.Nesterov (1930).jpg
Ivan Pavlov, M. Nestorov, 1930

Daily Thoughts 11/18/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time looking over the library databases.

Last night, I read some more of The Organized Mind.  I am reading about how memory is flexible and we tend to remember things in a way that is different than the way things actually happened.  I am also reading about how we tend to remember the first and the last things which we saw and everything inbetween tends to get muddled up.

I checked the purchase alerts for items on hold.

I joined the New York Library Club at the request of a member.
https://nylibraryclub.org/

Web Bits



Secret Libraries of London

Reframe Advocacy to Highlight Library's Essential Services

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/17/2018

File:A Quiet Read by William Kay Blacklock.jpg
A Quiet Read, William Kay Blacklock, circa 1900

Daily Thoughts 11/17/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I rested on the way to work.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

The Garden Club is meeting today from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  I had one of their cups of coffee.

Also, the English Language Learners Group is meeting as well at 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

We discussed literacy a little bit.

I also spent some time looking at flyers with a colleague.

I am looking at Mergent right now.  I generated a consumer list based on book buying, book reading and income for Mount Vernon, New York.

I placed some holds for The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan.  The Garden Club is planning on reading the book.  I placed some holds on The Library Book by Susan Orlean for the book club for next month.


Web Bits



How Libraries Can Help Readers Become Writers

Friday, November 16, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/16/2018



File:Edouard Vuillard - Lucy Hessel Reading (Lucy Hessel lisant) - Google Art Project.jpg
Edouard Villard, Lucy Hessel Reading, 1913

Daily Thoughts 11/16/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of The Places That Scare You.  I read about a meditation exercise where you breathe in negativity and then breathe out positivity.

I also read some of The Organized Mind by Daniel J. Levitin.  I am reading about how people categorize each other.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also spent some time checking the New York Times Bestseller List and the Publishers Weekly Bestseller List.  I also checked to see if we had the winners for the National Book Award.

I also checked the collection management sheet we keep at reference for book requests by patrons.

I spent some time checking duplicate titles.

I was at the public computers for an hour today.

I also spent a little time going over the ADP time system.

There is a new literacy program from the Westchester Library System called Read Better.

Web Bits



S.F. Public Library Serves As Refuge from Wildfire Smoke

Competitive Book Sorting Event Pits New York Library Workers Against Washington State

Rare Subscription Libraries Still Standing In South Carolina After Centuries


Thursday, November 15, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/15/2018

File:Maurice Poirson - La lecture et la méditation.jpg
Maurice Poirson, Vichy, la sieste dans le parc au bord de l'Allier / La lecture et la méditation / Le repos, 1880

Daily Thoughts 11/15/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read some more of Healing the Angry Brain.  I am reading about different ways to calm anger and irritation.  Activities like progressive relaxation, mindfulness meditation, and deep breathing are discussed.  Also, how to break off from confrontation is described as well as how angry thinking is poor thinking.  I am almost at the end of the book which has material on empathy and compassion.  I finished reading the book on the way to work.

I also finished reading Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells which is the 3rd book in the Murderbot series.  In this book, Murderbot poses as a security robot to help prevent a cover up of a corporation trying to gain alien technology.  It is a fast paced, quick read with lots of action.

I looked up some more information on STEAM programs.  I learned about the LEGO First League http://info.firstinspires.org/first-launch-2019?utm_source=first-inspires&utm_medium=quicklink&utm_campaign=program-registration-019&utm_content=fll  and the Larchmont Mamaroneck STEM Alliance https://lmstemalliance.org/index.html.

I spent some time checking duplicate copies of books today.

We also put out our Holiday display of books, music, and DVDs which includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, and Thanksgiving.

The library stayed open during the snowstorm today.  We had a Smartphone Class tonight in the computer lab from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Web Bits



Testifying to the Power of Hip Hop at the New York Public Library

Acevedo, Nunez, Reed, Stewart, and Tawada/Mitsutani  Win National Book Awards

Library Book Clubs Can Change Lives

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/14/2018


File:Enough - Frank A. Nankivell 1902. LCCN2010651498.tif
Enough / Frank A. Nankivell 1902. 

Daily Thoughts 11/14/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read some more of The Places That Scare You.  I am reading about compassion and loving-kindness meditation.

I also read some more of Healing the Angry Brain.  I am reading about neuroplasticity or how the brain changes with repeated activities over time.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I read the latest Ingram Advance.  There was a special issue for Professional, Technical, Reference and Computer Books 2018.

I also put in for two orders of books.

I spent some time preparing for next months schedule.  We also discussed programs for March, April, and May.

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

I checked out the book, Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells today.

We finished putting in a display for Stan Lee near the rotunda.

Web Bits


Troy Library adds C-Pen Readers, Devices that Scan, Read Text Aloud

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/13/2018

Ivana Kobilca - Parizanka s pismom.jpg
Parizanka Pismom, Ivana Kobilca, 1892

Daily Thoughts 11/13/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

On the way to work, I read The Painted Art Journal 24 Projects for Creating Visual Narrative by Jeanne Oliver.  I often read these books to learn about different art techniques.  I find it interesting reading about gesso, image transfers, painting and other artistic techniques.  It helps me understand what patrons want.  I am not a painter.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

I also placed some orders for new books.

I printed up some more business and computer bookmarks.

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

I spent some time looking at books that are not in the system.

I updated the ADP scheduling for my department.

We are doing a comics display for Stan Lee who just died.

I read through the latest copies of Library Journal and Booklist today.

I also checked out the book, The Organized Mind Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload by Daniel J. Levitin.

There is a Fundamentals of Computers class tonight and a Beginning Microsoft Word 2013 class from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Web Bits


Stan Lee, Marvel Comics Impresario, Dies at 95

Pick Up A Book and Pedal As More Montreal Libraries Get Bicycle Desks

Amazon Picks NYC, Arlington VA as New HQ Sites

Monday, November 12, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/12/2018

File:A butcher's boy, reading, has his delivery stolen Wellcome L0049798.jpg
A butcher's boy, reading to improve his mind, is so absorbed in his book that his delivery of meat is stolen by a passer-by. Coloured etching by T.L. Busby, 1826


Daily Thoughts 11/12/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also spent a little bit more time looking at STEAM programs.  Arts Westchester has some STEAM programs in its calendar.

I read some more of The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron. This book is about an active form of Buddhist meditation which brings compassion into every day life.

I also read some more of Healing The Angry Brain.  The author describes a model for a cycle of anger and gives an example of improperly handling anger and an example of properly handling anger.


Web Bits



A Look at Why The Stark County Library Levy Failed

Book Art: Repurposing Is the New Recycling

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/11/2018

File:Charles Dickens (1812-1870).jpg
Charles Dickens 1812-1870, picture from Journeys Through Bookland by Charles Herbert Sylvester, 1922

Daily Thoughts 11/11/2018

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

I also read some of The Places That Scare You A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chodron.  This is a book on buddhism.  I usually don't discuss certain topics on this blog.  I used to order the non western religion books while I was at Brooklyn Public Library in the History Biography and Religion section of the library.

I also read some of Healing the Angry Brain How Understanding the Way Your Brain Works Can Help You Control Anger & Aggression by Ronald Potter-Efron.  I am reading about how the brain works.  Ronald Potter-Efron describes the a model of the cycle of how emotions process through the brain.  He describes how it is possible to become much more aware of how you are reacting emotionally.

Last night, I skimmed through a copy of Marketing the 21st Century Library, The Time Is Now by Debra Lucas-Alfieri, Elsevier Science 2015.  I downloaded it on my smart phone through Total Boox which is a service available through the Westchester Library System.  It only works on devices like smart phones and tablets, not desktops.

I watched a short animated DVD of Robin Hood based on the Howard Pyle book published by Dreamscape Video.  I am finding much of their animation to be very interesting.  Dreamscape Video also published a short DVD called Ada's Ideas: the story of Ada Lovelace, the worlds first computer programmer which also was very enjoyable to watch.

I watched a presentation on creating a Comic Con for libraries.  This is the PDF that goes with it.
https://on24static.akamaized.net/event/18/62/78/0/rt/1/documents/resourceList1541342693226/librarycon2018howtopanel1541531717062.pdf

I checked the Purchase Alerts for items on hold.

I also finished my monthly report covering October.

Web Bits

Library Stories-- Susan Orlena-- Guest Editor
https://medium.com/s/library-stories


Trove of War Posters Discovered at New Hampshire Library

Omaha Public Library: Cook Up Something New With The Help of the Library

10 AM Tuesday: Superhero Storytime @ Thomas Ford Library
                                                                                    

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/10/2018

Meditation, Madame Monet Sitting on a Sofa, 1870 - 1871 - Claude Monet
Meditation, Madame Monet Sitting on a Sofa, 1870-1871

Daily Thoughts 11/10/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night I finished reading Stop Workplace Drama by Marlene Chisholm.  The thing which I liked about this book is it asked a lot of questions.  There were questions at the end of every chapter.  It was helpful in that it clarified each concept in the book by asking lots of questions.

This book is about change.  It does not just ask to change other people, it asks you to change your own attitude towards others.  It asks you to stop being negative and take responsibility for your actions.  A lot of the book is about finding positive qualities in other people, then bringing them out into the work environment.

I am reading Catching the Big Fish Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity by David Lynch.  David Lynch is a film maker, writer, and producer.  He started out as a painter.  He discusses transcendental meditation, creativity, and some of his experiences working with film.  The book is inspirational in nature.  It asks us to go deeper into our consciousness and seek out the bigger things in life.  I finished reading it at 12:10 p.m.  The cable people had come by to fix a fallen cable.


I updated my Linkedin profile with my CPLA Certified Public Library Administrator certificate information.

I started working on my monthly report for Tuesday.  I also spent a little time on a S.T.E.A.M. project.

Web Bits

Mixed Success, But No Library Wave In Midterms 2018

WWI Centennial Bridging Past and Present

Every City Should Have a Toy Library



Friday, November 9, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/09/2018



Palmer Cox (Canadian, Granby, Quebec 1840–1924 Granby, Quebec)

Daily Thoughts 11/09/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I got my certificate in the mail today for my CPLA Certified Public Library Administrator classes.  It is good for the next 5 years.

I finished reading Who We Are and How We Got Here Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past by David Reich.  There was a bit on how when people are conquered, the men who conquer spread their DNA into the conquered population.  This creates a form of inequality.  There were some descriptions of how there is difference between a persons ancestry and a persons race.  There are emerging genetic identities which are different than what happened before.  How people will be viewed in the future will be different.

This is an important book.  It challenges ideas that people were part of a continuous past.  It shows that different genetic groups formed and faded away, people were constantly migrating all over the world, and that there are many surprises about humanities genetic past.

I also read some more of Stop Workplace Drama by Marlene Chism.  I read about how to keep your energy up and make it easier for things to change.

Last night, I also finished reading Artificial Condition by Martha Wells.  It is the story of how a Security Robot broke free and went rogue.  It has an unexpected twist to it which makes the story thoughtful.  I like that the security robot, naming itself murderbot does not act like a person and has nonhuman motivations.  This is the second book in the Murdot series.  There are four books in the series so far.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

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

I spent some time discussing a colleagues visit to the Forward Thinkers meeting with Jamaal Bailey in the professional building.  She represented the library as part of the meeting at 6:00 p.m..  She brought a variety of giveaways including pens, bookmarks, fliers, and other swag.

There is a Lets Build Robots Codrones Workshop with Tweens in the computer lab  from 3:00 p.m. to 5;00 p.m..  The tweens are coding drones so that they can fly.

Another one of my colleagues is at the New York Library Association conference today.

I checked out the book, Catching the Big Fish Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity by David Lynch.

Web Bits



Step Inside the World's 8 Most Futuristic Libraries

K-12's Digital Transformation Is Giving Libraries A Modern Makeover

What Happens When You "Accidentally" Destroy A Library Book?
https://lithub.com/what-happens-when-you-accidentally-destroy-a-library-book/

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/08/2018

Monkey before skeleton, 1900 - Gabriel von Max
Monkey Before Skeleton, Gabriel Von Max, 1900

Daily Thoughts 11/08/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read more of Who We Are and How We Got Here.  I read about Africa and ancient DNA.  I am also reading about inequality and DNA.  There is a pattern where men of higher status pair up with women of lower status and have children.  This is across cultures.  People mix and populations disappear as well as migrate.  This is why it is very hard to track ancient DNA.  People change constantly.

I also read some more of Stop Workplace Drama.  I am reading about how people reinvent themselves to more readily fit with a leadership image.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I printed up some fliers for the Veterans Day Program tonight, A Spirit of Sacrifice: New York State in the First World War from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight.

I also printed fliers and bookmarks for a colleagues visit to the Professional Building on 11 West Prospect Place in Mount Vernon, New York.  We are having the Women's Enterprise Development Center on November 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room.

I spent some time going over Give Gab today.  We are working on a STEAM campaign for teens and tweens.

I also put in two orders for new books.

There is a Beginning iPhones class tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the computer lab.

Web Bits


Amazon May Split Headquarters

New Course: Supercharged Storytimes

Leaving Dewey for BISAC

As Part of Ongoing Accessibility Effort Deerfield Library Offers Sensory Kits

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/07/2018

File:FictionHouse house ad.jpg
House ad, Fiction House (defunct magazine & comics publisher), Wings #61, 1945, Fiction House

Daily Thoughts 11/07/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent some time working on bookmarks this morning.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

Right now, I am listening to Mariko Tamaki who is talking about how superhero comics are written.  It is part of LibraryCon Live.

I visited the online exhibitor spaces.  Lionforge had a very nice booth with a couple articles on the company.


‘There Are a Lot of Stories That Need to be Told’
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/09/business/stories-need-to-be-told.html

Lionforge Is a New Kind of Comics Publisher
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/78178-lion-forge-is-a-new-kind-of-comics-publisher.html

I read some more of Who We Are and How We Got Here last night.  I learned that there are restrictions on DNA leaving China for study.  Also, the Han Chinese are the largest ethnic group in the world.

I also read some more of Stop Workplace Drama.  I am reading about integrity and telling the truth.

I printed up some fliers for programming and finished editing some bookmarks.

Web Bits

2018 World Fantasy Awards


British Library to Open Exhibition About Literature’s Favorite Cats



Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/06/2018

File:William Hogarth - Soliciting Votes - WGA11457.jpg
William Hogarth, Soliciting Votes, 1754

Daily Thoughts 11/06/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I slept for ten hours last night.  I have been covering some extra shifts on the public service desks lately.

I took a break from serious reading and read The Storm by David Drake.  The book is very pure science fantasy, not something you see a lot of these days.  It reminds me of Jack Vance.  There are  a lot of Arthurian touches to the story.  I rather like the main character Pal of Beune.  There are nights with energy shields and energy swords, strange creatures in a world which has been changed beyond recognition, and bits of castles and ale.  Pal of the Beune is a champion for humanity where there are not many people left.  He solves knightly problems using both his sword and his sharp intellect.  This is a light read with plenty of entertainment value.  I read an advanced reading copy.  The book is due out in January of 2019.

Today was a federal holiday. I went and voted today.

I also spent some time working on two bookmarks.  One on new business books and one on new computer books.

Web Bits


Harvard Converts Millions of Legal Documents Into Open Data

Keepers of the Secrets

Want to See the First Full Drawings of Captain American and Mickey Mouse?  Go to the Library of Congress.

Monday, November 5, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/05/2018


WPA Poster, WPA Art Project between 1936 and 1940

Daily Thoughts 11/05/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I rested on the way to work.

I checked the gift books and the displays this morning.

I put in two orders for new books.

I spent some time writing a description of our business collection for an event on November 8, 2018.  I also worked a little bit on getting another program together.

I checked out the book, Artificial Condition by Martha Wells.

I spent some time looking at the new business books and the new computer books. 

Web Bits


The Library of Congress Makes Thousands of Fabulous Photos, Posters, and Images Free to Use and Reuse

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/04/2018

A Cosey Corner
A Cosy Corner, Frank Millet, 1884

Daily Thoughts 11/04/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I got the first proposal for doing a math and science program at the library this morning.

I read some more of Who We Are and How We Got Here.  I am reading about the contentions of using DNA on ancient Native American remains.  Earlier, I read about caste in India as well as endogamous marriage practices and how they affected heredity.  There is a lot of very contentious and controversial material in this book.  The author tries to be as fair as possible.

I read some more of Stop Workplace Drama as well.  I am reading about gaps between what needs to be done and how things are done.

Web Bits



Challenge, Change, Opportunity

Privacy and the Public Library:  NYPL's Chief Digital Officer Looks to Raise Awareness in Seattle Visit

Anti-Tax Fervor Closed Their Libraries.  Now Residents Are Trying to Go it Alone

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/03/2018

Books and Cards
Books and Cards, Reisai, 18th to 19th century

Daily Thoughts 11/03/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

Last night, I read Exit Strategy The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. It is the last book in a series.  The main character is a rogue artificial intelligence in a mix of biological synthetic body.  She is essentially an armed security robot gone rogue.  The story has lots of action and intrigue in it.  It is also a quick read of 169 pages.  It was a nice break from serious reading.

I also read some more of Who We Are and How We Got Here.  This book is an odd synthesis of academic and popular writing.  The writing is very dense, it has a lot of information on the pages.  I have learned some new things.  Essentially, the science of ancient DNA combines the archaeological record with the study of human populations using DNA.  DNA samples are mapped from ancient skeletons and then compared to the archaeological record and DNA samples from modern populations.  This traces how people moved and interacted in the past.  There are many maps throughout this book showing the movement of different ancient peoples going back hundreds of thousands of years.  It is not just the DNA which is being described, it is how DNA interacted with ideas, language, and culture.

This gives insights which are very different from the standard archaeological record.  People did not stay in one place, there were constant migrations, intermixing, and changes in populations.  This leads to some new ideas.  For example, there are three types of moving populations, hunters, farmers, and pastoralists.  There are many surprising ideas which touch on race and peoples origins.  This book challenges conventions.

I checked the displays and the gift books this morning.

A colleague is running a Gardening Club at the library from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m..  We discussed the Master Gardeners Program that is part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

There is a leather working workshop in the fiction room.  A designer is making leather purses with patrons.  This is funded from Arts Westchester.  The designer needed a place to do her workshop and asked us to provide the space with us.

I spent some time discussing a trip to the New York Library Association conference this month with a colleague.

I also did a little more work with books that are not in the system.

Web Bits


Relive the heyday of Punk in exhibition at Liverpool's beautiful Central Library

UB is developing a new data science librarian training program, thanks to a National Library of Medicine grant.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/02/2018

Seymour Joseph Guy, 1867 - Evening.jpg
Seymour Joseph Guy, Evening, 1867

Daily Thoughts 11/02/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I read some of Stop Workplace Drama on the way home last night.  I read about the importance of having clarity for your goals.

I also read some more of Who We Are and How We Got Here.  I am reading about different ancient peoples like the Ancient North Eurasians, the Funnel Beaker Culture, and the Yamnaya.

I checked the displays and the gift books today.

I spent some time looking over the mending.  I also spent some time checking items that are not in the system.

I also read:

Diverse Viewpoints and Voices In Graphic Novels:  Must Have Graphic-Novels for Black History Month and Beyond

https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=181012-Diverse-Voices-in-Graphic-Novels

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

I spent some time discussing programming.

Web Bits



American Star Libraries 2018

Advocacy and the Power of Narrative

Kayaks, Ukuleles, Neckties:  The Weird and Useful Things You Can Check Out from Local Libraries


Thursday, November 1, 2018

Daily Thoughts 11/01/2018


Illustration From the Love Story of Ursula Wolcott, Ethel Reed, 1895

Daily Thoughts 11/01/2018

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook.

Last night, I read some more of Who We Are And How We Got Here.  I am reading about how different populations of ancient humans intermixed and migrated.  Modern humans have DNA from several different ancient peoples including the denisovans and the neanderthals.  Homo Sapiens slowly pushed out and overwhelmed the other human species around 40,000 years ago.

I checked the displays and the gift books.

I spent some time checking the books that had to be mended.  I also spent some time going books that had cataloging issues.

I discussed ADP with a colleague.

I spent some time working in the public computer area.

There is a class on iPads today in the computer lab from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I am looking at the book, Exit Strategy by Martha Wells.  I also placed a hold on the book, Artificial Condition which is the second book in the series.