Daily Thoughts 05/21/2012

Palmer Cox's "The Brownies" reading a book, from "The Palmer Cox Brownie Primer", 1906
Daily Thoughts 05/21/2012

I read some more of the Odyssey translated by Alexander Pope on the subway to work.  Today, May 21, 2012 is Alexander Pope's birthday.  http://todayinliterature.com/today.asp?Search_Date=5/21/2012 Pope as Hedgehog and Monkey.

I updated the Twitter and Facebook account for the library this morning, checked the gifts, and the displays.  I also started doing a little more inventory in the mezzanine.  I am in the poetry section right now.  Sometimes you find interesting older titles like Poems of American Patriotism Chosen by Brander Matthews and Illustrated by N.C.Wyeth.

Part of this is keeping steady track of how things are going.

The shifting project in the oversize books is slowly moving forward.

I spent a little bit of time going over Evanced which is the system used for Summer Reading.  I will be working with Adult Summer Reading.  I also spent a bit of time looking at Bookletters which we use to generate our bestseller lists for the website.  It has a number of different bestseller lists on it including the New York Times Bestseller list.

I am looking at Library Journal Books Most Borrowed for May 15, 2012.  I also checked April and February for this.
http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/05/books/bestsellers-the-books-most-borrowed-in-u-s-libraries/

I spent a little bit more time on Codecademy learning CSS, I am totally stuck on Javascript.  It might as well be ancient Aramaic.  I have had a little bit of background with HTML and CSS.  What I might do is read a book on Javascript, finish the lessons on CSS then go back and do the exercises on Javascript.  I also spent a little more time on Lynda.com learning more about Dreamweaver.  The exercises are even easier to follow with some CSS background.

I checked out the book, JavaScript The Missing Manual by David Sawyer McFarland.  Scripting languages are different than markup languages like HTML and CSS from my understanding.  I am going to find out the difference in a while.  The book is from Pogue Press which is an O'Reilly imprint.

Web Bits

Connecting The Dots: Linking Broadband Adoption to Job Creation and Job Competitiveness
http://www.twcresearchprogram.com/pdf/TWC_WijewardenaReport.pdf
This has a lot to say about job creation mainly focused on African Americans, however, a lot of it is applicable in general.  The report is written by Time Warner Cable and the National Urban League.  I think there will be a role for libraries in this kind of program.

Funding Free Book Distribution Protests Proposed for NYPL Cuts
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/05/funding/free-book-distribution-protests-proposed-nypl-cuts/
Urban Librarians Unite is supporting these protests.  It is an interesting group.

Daily Thoughts 05/20/2012

Johannes Vermeer, A Lady Writing, circa 1665

Daily Thoughts 05/20/2012


I have been thinking a little bit about which systems I should learn.  Publishers often use either Wordpress.org or Drupal for their content management system.  Drupal is much harder to learn than Wordpress.org.  I have an idea how the free, online wordpress.com works, but don't think it is powerful enough to build a large complex website.

I spent some time watching the update to Social Media Marketing with Facebook and Twitter on Lynda.com.  Facebook redesigned their interface.  It was helpful to understand the new timeline and analytics for Facebook.  I still have to take the tour of the new Facebook.  I also started learning a bit of Javascript on Codecademy.  I am finding Javascript much harder than CSS.


Web Bits


The Man Who Took On Amazon and Saved a Bookstore
http://www.forbes.com/sites/philjohnson/2012/05/10/the-man-who-took-on-amazon-and-saved-a-bookstore/?goback=%2Egmp_1515307%2Egde_1515307_member_116879272
There are some interesting insights in this article about how to modernize a bookstore.

Writer's Cramp: In the E-reader Era a Book a Year is Slacking
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/in-e-reader-age-of-writers-cramp-a-book-a-year-is-slacking.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Daily Thoughts 05/19/2012

15th century classroom, 1915, Pre-Reformation Scholars in Scotland in the XVIth Centur, W. Forbes-Leith
Daily Thoughts 05/19/2012

I spent a little bit of time checking my social media accounts and email.  People are starting to post about Book Expo America which I am looking forward to.  It will be a chance to talk to people and network.  It will be interesting seeing what new things are coming out at Book Expo America.  I always like walking the event floor.

I spent some more time learning CSS on Codecademy.  It is one of those things where the more you practice the easier it gets.  Right now, I am learning about borders and padding and the box model.  EPUB documents which is a standard put out by the International Digital Publishing Forum use XML extensible markup language which is a variation of HTML.  There is soon going to be a new release of EPUB called EPUB-3 which will allow a greater variety of formatting and content for standard e-books.  It will also be use HTML5 which can be used to build apps for both personal computers and smart phones.  This should make apps much more open than they currently are.

I learned that although you don't have to do Codecademy in sequence, in order to finish the sections, you do need to follow from the beginning.  Some of the parts of the section on CSS towards the end have bits on Javascript which I have not learned yet.

I have also been spending more time thinking about what I am doing, thinking, and saying as well as relaxing lately.  I have not been reading quite as much.

I have been thinking a little bit about the startup environment that I found most interesting.  I find Codecademy http://www.codecademy.com , Skillshare http://www.skillshare.com  and General Assembly http://generalassemb.ly all very interesting because they are all acknowledging themselves as educational startups focused on new ways to learn and teach things.  I have also noticed that New Work City has hosted some Skillshare classes.  Meetup in a way often focuses in similar way.  You meet with other people to discuss things.  Also, My Metro has been very focused on helping individual professional development.  It is a new function in the New York Metropolitan Library Council. http://metro.org/individual-membership/

One of the interesting thngs about General Assembly is that exists to generate entrepreneurship and has a number of companies in residence that can stay for approximately one year then move on from the office space and training space.

Web Bits

E-book Consumers Read More Books Says Pew Report
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/51359-e-book-consumers-read-more-books-says-pew-report.html

Daily Thoughts 05/16/2012

Engraving of a Reader, 18th Century, Octave Uzanne, Le Livre, Paris, A. Quantin, 1880.

Daily Thoughts 05/16/2012


This morning, I updated the Twitter and Facebook pages for the library.  I also checked the displays and gift books.  Everything appears to be in order.

I also updated one of the displays with books on illustration.

We have the computer lab open between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. today.  The Mount Vernon Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting is also happening today at 6:30 p.m. in the Trustees room.

I spent some more time on Codecademy.  I am slowly getting CSS.  I think I can look at a web page and understand most of what is happening with style sheets.

I did a little bit of inventory in the mezzanine or storage in the 800s.  I'll probably doing a little bit each day.  Right now, I am in the poetry section looking at poets like Longfellow and Langston Hughes.

I read through the May 13, 2012 New York Times Book Review and put the book, Lives of the Novelists A History of Fiction in 294 Lives by John Sutherland on hold.

Web Bits


Stories in your pocket: how to write flash fiction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/14/how-to-write-flash-fiction
It's national flash fiction day.  Write a three sentence story, maybe a paragraph, and post it on Twitter.

Daily Thoughts 05/15/2012

Sketch of the interior of Mudie's Lending Library , 509, 510 & 511 New Oxford Street, circa 1880

Daily Thoughts 05/15/2012

This morning, I updated the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library.  I also checked the displays and the book sale.  I also had a chance to read through the latest issue of Publishers Weekly and prepare some order lists for the future.

I addition, I spent a little time on Codecademy, I am currently working on advanced CSS which is confusing at best.

Teach Yourself Code is a resource site for learning Ruby on Rails.  http://www.teachyourselfcode.com/

I am planning on going to the Digital Show and Tell that is part of Book Expo America on June 7, 2012.
http://www.bisg.org/events-0-813-digital-show-tellsponsored-by-bea.php#agenda

There is also a Librarian Dinner and a Librarian Luncheon presented by the American Association of Publishers.  It will be a nice place to network.  It is part of a series of events focused on librarians and publishers.
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/Show-Info/For-Librarians-and-Educators/Schedule/

I walked around a bit today and looked at the shelves.  The shifting project in the oversize books is well on its way to getting finished.  I also followed up with some of the publicity which came out for the author event with Ellen Datlow, John Langan, and Laird Barron.

I also checked on the computer classes today.  They are going well.  Most of today has been about making sure details are taken care of.

Web Bits

Are Publishers Waking Up from their Dream About Apps?
http://gigaom.com/2012/05/07/are-publishers-waking-up-from-their-dream-about-apps/?utm_source=%23frankguillen&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=FrankGuillen+Buzz

Apps are interesting.  Very few libraries have tablet computers right now.  There are far more e-books and e-readers than tablets in libraries. 

Many Libraries: As the world’s books go online, we must resist centralization” Technology Review, published by MIT.
http://www.teleread.com/library/%e2%80%9cmany-libraries-as-the-world%e2%80%99s-books-go-online-we-must-resist-centralization%e2%80%9d-technology-review-published-by-mit/

Daily Thoughts 05/11/2012

This print depicts a fairly typical poetry reading-except that sparrows are substituted for humans. A distinguished poet, seated before a folding screen, recites his poems for a private audience. His wife and children are seated near him. While most members are attentive, a mother turns to hush adolescents in the back row. In the upper left corner there are twelve "haiku" poems by different writers. These poets were probably members of a poetry club that commissioned Zeshin to design this print for a humorous New Year's greeting.  Shibata Zeshin, Meiji circa 1873 to 1891
Daily Thoughts 05/11/2012

I read some more of Steve Jobs.  The book is describing how Steve Jobs moved towards a new way of thinking about computers where the computer became attached to a number of peripheral devices starting with the Ipod.  It was interesting reading about his music choices.  Steve Jobs loved Bob Dylan, the Beatles and Bach.  Part of his philosophy was to focus on design before engineering to make a beautiful product.

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter accounts for the library.  They waxed the floors in the work room last night.  This meant that I took some time to organize my things a little better.  I also checked the gift books and the displays.  Because I check these things every day, it does not take a huge amount of time.

I also took some time to walk around a bit in the shelving.  The library aides are shifting the oversize books to make things a little bit more orderly.  There also was a bit of rearrangement in the paperback fiction collection which makes it easier to find things.  Things are looking a bit more orderly in the stacks.  Also, a colleague has been inventorying the mezzanine to make sure that all the books are in the computer system.

I did a little bit more time studying CSS on Codecademy.  I am learning more about how CSS interacts with HTML.  After I finish all the CSS, I am going to give a shot at Javascript.  I also spent a little time on Lynda.com learning about Project Management.

I am still thinking about learning some more computer skills.  There is the Stanford School of Engineering Open Courseware system http://see.stanford.edu/see/courses.aspx
There is also the MIT Open Courseware system http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/

I found these by looking the information up on Quora.  In addition there is Google Code, http://code.google.com/edu   and P2PU  Peer to Peer University http://p2pu.org/en  and Code Avengers if you want to learn Javascript  http://www.codeavengers.com/

I took some time to look through the My Metro activities and saw a group called  http://metro.org/events/181/   New York Cultural Tech "Show and Tell" at Metro.  It looks like something which would be worth going to where I could learn something.

I put the book Railsea by China Mieville on hold.  It is a fantasy book.  I also put the graphic novel, Flex Mentallo Man of Muscle Mystery on hold. 


  I took some time to look at the New York Times Bestseller list for Graphic Novels http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/paperback-graphic-books/list.html   I also took some time to look at the Top 100 Graphic Novels for April from Diamond Comic Distributors which is the largest distributor of comic books and graphic novels in the United States.  http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/945?articleID=121116

On the way home, I read some more of Steve Jobs.  Right now, I am reading about the creation of the different electronic devices that Apple makes;  the Ipod, the Iphone, and the Ipad.  There is a picture of an Ipad like device from 2005 in the book.  I am also learning about how Steve Jobs continually worked to make the devices appear simpler and have less parts.  His design focus was not just on the outside of the devices that Apple built, but also on the insides.

Daily Thoughts 05/09/2012

Gabriel Bernard de Rieux (1687–1745), president of the second Court of Inquiry in the Parliament of Paris, president of the Court of Finances, by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, c1739-1741
 

Daily Thoughts 05/09/2012


This morning I read a little bit more of Steve Jobs.  Steve Jobs was very much interested in typography and design. He liked the Bauhaus style   Walter Isaacson describes many instances of how Steve Jobs focused on creating a special look and feel for Apple products.

Last night was very enjoyable.  There was not a huge crowd, but the people who were there asked lots of questions.  Ellen Datlow talked about how she chose material for anthologies and the process of getting authors to submit work.  It was quite interesting.

This morning, I checked the gifts, updated the Twitter and Facebook accounts for the library, and checked the displays.  I have to spend a little time preparing for orders in Titletales.  I also am charging the E-readers right now because a patron wanted to learn a little bit about e-readers in the computer lab this afternoon.  The Computer Lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.

I am going to the Salmagundi Club Library dinner.  The person arranging for the dinner has helped me out before.  It should be very interesting.  http://www.salmagundi.org/content.cfm/salmagundi/Annual-Library-Dinner/id/76

I spent some time showing a patron how to use the Kindle touch today.  I also am looking at a class called How to Teach Yourself to Code at General Assembly on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. as part of Internet Week New York.  I tried to get notes for this class on key resources but could not get all of them yet.

I finished some more exercises on CSS in Codecademy.  It is getting even harder as it goes along.

Daily Thoughts 04/25/2012

Anton van Duyl (the artist's husband), Therese Schwarz, 1918


Daily Thoughts 04/25/2012


I spent some time this morning making sure we had copies of books for the author panel including; Lord Tophet by Gregory Frost, Lovecraft Unbound edited by Ellen Datlow, Poe edited by Ellen Datlow, House of Windows by John Langan, Occultation by Laird Barrons and other titles for the May 8, 2012 author panel.

On the way to work, I read some more of The Power of Habit.  Charles is describing a process of changing bad habits.  He also describes belief plays an important role in changing habitual behaviors.

I spent some time updating the Twitter and Facebook pages for the library, I also checked the displays and the gift books.  There were a few more orders to suggest for Title Tales.

I am also preparing for tomorrows programming meeting.  Mount Vernon, New York has a new arts council.
http://www.mvac.co/about_9.html

The computer was down for a bit today so I spent some time cleaning my desk, double checking the displays and gift books.  We also had the computer lab open for slightly later hours.

I had a chance to look through two of the professional book catalogs for librarians, ala editions, and Neal-Schuman Publishers.  There was a lot more on technology than I saw before.  There were even some books on metadata which I might actually look for and read.

I spent some more time on Codecademy learning more advanced HTML including tables.  The next step I think is learning CSS.  Then after that it is beginning JAVA.

On the way home, I read some more of The Power of Habit.  The author is describing what he calls keystone habits, exercising, sharing dinner with your family, and working safely which lead to changes in other habits like dieting.