Daily Thoughts 01/19/2012

Trinity College Library: the "Long Room" in the 18th Century, Watercolor of James Malton

Daily Thoughts 01/19/2012

On the way to work, I read some of A Nation Rising by Kenneth Davis.  Kenneth Davis is writing about Aaron Burr and his trial for treason for which he was acquitted.  Aaron Burr was accused of trying to create his own empire in Mexico and the southwest in the 1800s.

This morning, I updated the Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as provided some statistics on my programs.  I am thinking about doing a sign up sheet for the computer lab.

I spent some time talking about the website with a colleague.

We have the Computer Lab for Academic Use today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  I spent some time helping people look for jobs, print out resumes, sign up for email accounts, search the Lexis database for company information and use the teaching programs in the lab like Professor Teaches Excel, Mavis Beacon Typing Tutor and Learning Express Software Tutorials.

We also have the Mount Vernon Writers Network from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. tonight.The Mount Vernon Writers Network worked very well tonight.  The attendance is slowly growing.  It has been a full year that this program has been running as of tonight.  The Mount Vernon Writers Network now has a new logo, some marketing materials, and a few more new members.  We will be having William Bowden reading from his new book, Soul Sister Sonnets II on February 14, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m..  I am hoping that this will go very well.

On the way home, I read some more of A Nation Rising Untold Tales from America's Hidden History.  Kenneth C. Davis is writing about slave revolts.  He specifically writes about the Creole and the Amistad, two ships where the slaves revolted aboard the ships.  He also describes many accounts of how the Native Americans allied with run away slaves to fight settlers.

Web Bits

P. Craig Russell has a Kickstarter project teaching graphic storytelling.  I very much like his artwork.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/251462428/p-craig-russells-guide-to-graphic-storytelling 

Creating The Library of Tomorrow From the Ground Up
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/01/creating-the-library-of-tomorrow-from-the-ground-up/ 

A Bit More Occupy Stuff Because I am Interested

Occupy Cal Protests with library Sit-In
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/education&id=8511925

Occupy Detroit Update on Library Fight
http://occupydetroitfrontline.blogspot.com/2012/01/update-on-library-fight-victory-for.html

Occupy Wall Street Library Update
http://killingthebuddha.com/ktblog/ows-library-update/

Occupy Comics: Art + Stories Inspired by Occupy Wall Street
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1817933359/occupy-comics-art-stories-inspired-by-occupy-wall

Daily Thoughts 12/9/2011

John White Alexander: The Printing Press [showing Johannes Gutenberg] (from the cycle "The Evolution of the Book") Library of Congress (Jefferson Building), Washington, D.C., Public Domain


Daily Thoughts 12/9/2011


This morning, I am thinking of the cities proposed budget.  The key here is that it is proposed and there is still time to negotiate, debate, and advocate.  The city has a public hearing on the budget today, Friday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. in Mount Vernon City Hall, Council Chambers.  I will definitely be at the hearing.  In the budget there is a $300,000 cut proposed for the library this year.  Last year there was a $500,000 cut.  The proposed budget is $3.2 million.

It is another late night.  Last night, we had the Mount Vernon Writers Network at the library.  There is now a website http://www.mvwn.org/  .  There are images of three of our members books on the site.  We spent some time discussing a logo for the group.  We also had a new person come to the meeting, Robert Briggs who wrote http://www.ruinedtime.com/ 

We also have been working a little more on our website.  The logo has been updated and the library is planning a complete site redesign soon.  http://www.mountvernonpubliclibrary.org/  This was part of the Technology Committee meeting on Tuesday night. 

I have been having a lot of late nights at the library lately.  Tonight is another late night.  I worked late on Wednesday as well.  It has been a challenging, but rewarding week.

This morning, I finished reading Free Ride How Digital Parasites Are Destroying the Culture Business, and How The Culture Business Can Fight Back.  The thing which bothered me about this book is that culture is viewed purely as a business in this book.  There is little or nothing about culture as education, or culture in libraries, or culture in government.  It is also completely focused on mass culture or mass media and has practically nothing on alternative culture.  If you are looking for a business book, this is worth reading.  It is not as concerned with the arts.

I also started the book, Back to Work by Bill Clinton which is basically a book on how to restart the economy.  He is focusing on how to use both government and business together to help the United States recover from the recession.

This morning, I updated the Twitter and Facebook account.  I also watched a bit of a video on Lynda.com called Writing Effective Email.  In addition, I looked at a couple of websites in Drupal by other libraries to see how they compared with our website.

I made some calls to local radio stations for Kenneth C. Davis to see if he could be interviewed.  Kenneth C. Davis is going to be at the library on January 12, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

I am looking at the website of Leonard Marcus who is an author who was born and educated in Mount Vernon, New York.  There is a picture of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, Jules Feiffer annotated by Leonard Marcus. http://www.leonardmarcus.com/

City Council Meeting


I was at the city council meeting for the budget hearing.  The meeting started at 7:00 p.m.. Some people mentioned that having a budget hearing on a Friday night was a bit unusual.  Six people spoke for the library including our union president, two of the board of trustees, and several of our regular library patrons.  The trustees warned that the cut of $300,000 could shut the library down at the beginning of the year.

Our union president talked about how we needed Saturday hours and more coverage of the building.  Patrons wanted to come to the library on the weekends.

People talked about a variety of different issues on the library.  There was a nice reminder that libraries improve property values and not having one would lower property values considerably.

I talked about how the trustees were visiting much more often and showing more dedication than before.   They often come by and spend time in the library.

I also spoke about how we needed to modernize the library; there was a need for more than just computers, people also needed E-readers, tablet computers, an excellent website, wireless access, and computer training.  There is more than just a digital divide there is a device divide and an access divide to modern technology.  We needed to have funds to have a modern library.

The meeting ran for a little over an hour.  One of our patrons who is also a friend of the library talked about how important it was for culture, it was like her second home.

There was also quite a bit about the importance of the youth bureau.

Other people had various issues with the city budget.  There were questions about the accountability of the city and increases in taxes.


Web Bits

Occupy Textbooks:  Dropout and Try Something New
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/892986-264/occupy_textbooks_drop_out_and.html.csp

A People's Digital Library and Prefigurative Politics Part 2
http://peopleslibrary.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/a-peoples-digital-library-and-prefigurative-politics-2/

Daily Thoughts 12/8/2011

"Dame mit Buch" (Priesterin mit Buch?). Um 1900. Öl auf Karton. 49,5 x 63 cm

Daily Thoughts 12/8/2011

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter accounts for the library.  We are slowly getting better control over the library website.  The logo was changed this morning and few adjustments were made  to the site.

On the way to work, I read some more of Free Ride.  Robert Levine is writing about why many newspapers with pay wall sites are doing far better than newspapers who have completely free content on the internet.  He is making a case for paying for the news online.  He derides the Huffington Post and praises the Wall Street Journal online.

The book, Back to Work by Bill Clinton has come in for me to read.  It should be interesting.

This afternoon, we are having the Mount Vernon Writers Network in Aisle 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  On the way to work, I stopped by to get some snacks for the event.  They are discussing a new logo for the Mount Vernon Writers Network as well as bylaws for the organization.  There should be more local authors coming tonight. 

I have been thinking a little bit more about what I will say tomorrow at the budget hearing.  Some of it will definitely be focused on computers as well as electronic devices like tablets, ebooks, and smart phones.  There is not just a digital divide between those who have little access to computers, there is also a device divide where many people have even less access to devices like E-readers and tablet computers.  It is not just access to computers that is important, there also issues surrounding training for computers.

Web Bits

Are Maker Spaces the Future of Public Libraries?
http://www.shareable.net/blog/the-future-of-public-libraries-maker-spaces

ALA Marginalia-- Blog Archive-- Happy Mutants -- rejoice-- ALA Boing Boing is coming
http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2011/12/07/ala-happy-mutants-rejoice-library-boing-boing-is-coming/

Daily Thoughts 11/21/2011

Books are weapons in the war of ideas : books cannot be killed by fire , 1942., United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt) / United States. Office of War Information.


I wrote this in honor of Veterans Day and read it at the Mount Vernon Writers Network.

The War of Ideas

In the war of ideas
we are all foot soldiers

Before the first shot
is fired men and women
march in the streets

War begins and ends
in the peoples minds

Be prepared to listen
keep quiet, be vigilant
our nation depends on you

Terrorism, extremism, fascism
wait for the unwary

A citizens duty is
to defeat demagogues, tyrants
before they are chosen

Remember books are weapons
ideas matter, you're responsible

Stand up straight, march
move forward and learn
the battle never ends

War and peace begin
in the peoples minds

The person who speaks
with heartfelt sorrow
and proper timing wins

The person who holds
their tongue save lives

The gold soldier conquers
the peoples hearts and minds

Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services. (03/09/1943 - 09/15/1945)


Daily Thoughts 11/21/2011

The Mount Vernon Writer's Network now has a website.  They are also incorporated as a nonprofit.  Things are getting better organized.  http://www.mvwn.org/

I have been reading more of The Better Angels of Our Natures.  Steven Pinker is writing about animal rights and the changes which have led to different approaches to animal experimentation, livestock handling, and food consumption.  He writes about vegetarianism and its moral underpinnings.

I finished taking Microsoft Powerpoint 2010 on Lynda.com.  I am going to take a little break from this.  I think I have covered most of the major Microsoft Office products.

In Westchester county, art funding is being cut by 50%.  I see cuts in funding to the arts and education.  These go together.  They are part of civil discourse.  I see many of the questions going forward are not just economic, but who will support and education.  Currently, our library has a Rotunda gallery where art is shown.  This could be greatly reduced.
https://www.artswestchester.org/get-involved/save-the-arts/



Web Bits

Occupy Wall Street Library

Amy Goodman: Brave New World of Occupy Wall Street
http://staugustine.com/opinions/2011-11-20/amy-goodman-brave-new-world-occupy-wall-street#.Tsp3q7JCqU8
This is a bit different.  It is from a reporter who was at the site.

Image of the Day Occupy McNally Jackson-- From Shelf Awareness
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1609#m14166

Occupy Wall Street Libraries Around The World In Pictures
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2011/nov/21/occupy-libraries-protests-pictures-world#/?picture=382034180&index=0

311 Campaign In Support of OWSL
http://thedeskset.org/311-campaign-in-support-of-owsl/
It is rather interesting that the city is blocking the Occupy Wall Street Library from setting up in the park again.

For Occupy readers library fits intents and purposes
No shortage of classic ideas Aeschylus to Zinn-- from the Boston Globe
http://bostonglobe.com/arts/2011/11/22/for-occupy-readers-library-fits-intents-and-purposes/oFfUfAFVQmhgU0g5s3uahN/story.html

Occupy Wall Street Put The Coverage on the Spotlight
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/business/media/occupy-wall-street-puts-the-coverage-in-the-spotlight.html?bl
This is a bit on the coverage in the main stream media.  It is kind of interesting.  There is a sensational feel to it.

Other
For Their Children Many E-book Fans Insist on Paper
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/business/for-their-children-many-e-book-readers-insist-on-paper.html

How Will We Read In Public Libraries
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/how-will-we-read-in-publi_b_1103601.html

Daily Thoughts 11/17/2011

Ein kleiner Bücherwurm, signiert Eduard Swoboda, Öl auf Leinwand auf Malkarton, 47 x 38,5 cm, 1902


Daily Thoughts 11/17/2011

I read some more of The Better Angels of Our Natures.  Steven Pinker is describing why democracies have less wars and why trade also reduces the amount of warfare globally.

The book Spontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil, MD came in for me to read.  I like the style of his writing.

Last night, I finished reading The Death Ray by Daniel Clowes.  There is a certain darkness to the tale.  A man gets superpowers because he smokes cigarettes.  He also has a death ray gun given to him by his father which he uses to dispose of the men who cheated on his wife.  It successfully satirizes the superhero genre and makes it seem very ordinary.  I enjoyed reading it.  One of my colleagues is reading it right now.   She likes the copyright page.

This morning, I updated the Facebook and Twitter accounts.  We also got our first check from Better World Books which is nice.  I also checked the displays.  One of my colleagues has a display of holiday books up.

This afternoon, the computer lab is being opened between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. for Academic Use.

We have the Mount Vernon Writers Network today from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m..  It will be in Aisle 7 instead of the rotunda.  We are each writing a poem about veterans.  We mostly discussed the incorporation of the group into a nonprofit organization, publicity, and setting up a logo.  At the end several people read poems about veterans.

I read a bit more of  The Better Angels of Our Natures. Steven Pinker is describing how governments killed many more people with democide (systematic killing of citizens by government forces) and genocide during the 20th century than with war. 


Web Bits

Occupy Wall Street Library

At Occupy Cal Let Books Take The Place of Banned Tents
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/11/17/at-occupy-cal-let-books-take-the-place-of-banned-tents/

Another ironic statement.

NYPD Targets Occupy Wall Street Library Again
http://6minutesummary.blogspot.com/2011/11/shelf-awareness-pro-for-thursday_17.html#4523020

Occupy Wall Street Library Targeted Once Again
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/occupy-wall-street-confiscated-once-again_b42509

ALA Alarmed at Seizure of Occupy Wall Street Library
http://ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pr.cfm?id=8568

Peoples Library at the Brooklyn Bridge -- It is in Push Carts
http://peopleslibrary.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/dscn29781.jpg
There is something existentially satirical about this picture.

Another Equally Ironic Push Cart Library Picture
http://peopleslibrary.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/382617_710125056602_7104406_36191014_1062147162_n.jpeg 

Occupy Wall Street Library Goes Mobile
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/occupy-wall-street-confiscated-once-again_b42509

How I Helped Rescue OWS Library
http://www.salon.com/2011/11/17/saving_ows_library/

Daily Thoughts 10/20/2011

Still Life with Spring Flowers, Anna Munthe-Norstedt, 1892

Daily Thoughts 10/20/2011

I read some of Without A Net Librarians Bridging The Digital Divide this morning on the train to work.  The author is describing how the library is often the only free place in many communities for internet access.  There are many adults who do not have access to a computer.  At our library we often help people who have never used a computer fill out job applications, request government forms, and acquire an
email account.

This afternoon, the computer lab was opened from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m..  Several people came in who had attended the Tuesday night computer classes to practice typing and using the word processor.  People are starting to ask about Excel and web design classes.

This morning, I updated the Twitter and Facebook account.  I also checked the displays.  We got a large donation of young adult books.  Many of them were 2011 practice books for the SAT, PSAT, and AP classes.  There were also a variety of books on Shakespeare.  In addition there were a few books on the Ipad and the Ipod which were new.

This evening, we are having the Mount Vernon Writers Network from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Grace Greene Baker Community Room.  I am looking forward to the meeting. 

The Mount Vernon Writers Network went well.  We were discussing incorporation for the organization as well as bylaws and officers.  This is the first time I have had this experience.  There is a core group of people who are coming every evening that the organization meets. We also read some poetry later in the evening.  There is a plan to do a public performance in Mount Vernon in December of poetry.

I also spent some time reading Without A Net on the way home.  The author is describing key terminology for libraries in how librarians talk to people who are new to computers.  A lot of the material is how to show people the basics of what a computer is, how to use a mouse, and how to use vocabulary people who have never used a computer understand.

Daily Thoughts 10/7/2011

"Le bibelot de Chine", oil on canvas, 1930, 38 x 46 cm, Francois Barraud

Daily Thoughts 10/7/2011

Today has been a quiet steady day.  I checked the Twitter and Facebook account, and looked over the displays.  I also selected some pictures of the library for a display; mainly of the bookmobile and the rotunda.

I also did some minor edits to the website.  I am learning a bit more about how the library website works.  I have a lot more to learn.  I finished taking Microsoft Word 2007 from Lynda.com.  I think the video instruction is excellent.  I am still taking the class on Drupal 7.

This afternoon, I spent some time talking to the computer instructor to see if we could do an extra hour of instruction for the computer lab.

A story on the Mount Vernon Writers Network from the Mount Vernon Inquirer  . http://www.mvinquirer.com/mount_vernon_writers.htm

Web Bits

The New York State Library has a new document called Creating The Future: A 2020 Vision and Plan For Library Service in New York. http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/adviscns/rac/creating.pdf   There is a lot in here which can significantly change how libraries are run.

Daily Thoughts 10/1/2011

Standing portrait of Ngaio Marsh taken circa 1935 by Henry Herbert Clifford.  Ngaio Marsh was famous for writing mysteries.


Daily Thoughts 10/1/2011


I have been reading more of Damon Runyon A Life.  Right now I am reading about prohibition and speakeasies.  I also learned that it was a tradition for reporters to bet on the boxers they covered before the idea of conflict of interest became more prominent.  


I spent some more time on Lynda.com studying Microsoft Word 2007 and InDesign CS5.


The Mount Vernon Writers Network was at Lola's Tea House on 9//29/2011.  I am looking forward to the group being at the library again on October 20, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.   The group did a presentation "Why We Write", where each presenter gave a brief biography, a reason why they write, and read two poems.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.253795491331098.58899.160871413956840 


The Mount Vernon Writers Network has also posted a number of pictures from meetings on Facebook.  Many of them were at the Mount Vernon Public Library.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.221604064550241.52179.160871413956840


I noticed some of our local libraries are advertising Bookmyne which is an application for the Iphone which connects with our catalog.  
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bookmyne/id350625461?mt=8


The Money May Be Lacking But A Library Refuses to Go Quietly
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/us/central-falls-ri-library-fights-to-stay-open.html?_r=1&hpw

Daily Thoughts 8/18/2011

John Singer Sargent, Simplon Pass: Reading, 1911, Watercolor On Paper  

Daily Thoughts 8/18/2011

I finished reading Stand and Deliver.  There is an excellent reminder that people go nowhere without specific goals in their life.   I also updated the Twitter account and checked on the Facebook account.  We are having the Mount Vernon Writers Network, 8/18/2011 from 6:00-8:00 p.m..  I think it will go very well because there is a little bit more networking and preparation put into the program itself.  The Mount Vernon Writers Network is on Facebook.  I am rather enjoying it being held at the library.

I also spent some time looking at the databases.

The Writers Networking Event went very well.  We are planning for an outing to Pelham, New York to Lola's Tea House which has a writers group as well.  We are going to discuss why we write.  I read two poems including:

Blue Sky Thinking

Sky blue thinking is as vast as open fields

where we touch the earth.

Blue sky thinking is wide as the blue sky

where we touch the heavens

Sky blue thinking is moving past hills

rolling on a slow train

Blue sky is endless open vistas

flying on a fast plane

Sky blue thinking is like a robins egg

solidifying our reality

Blue sky thinking is an indstrial diamond

the world of tomorrow

Sky blue thinking promises the new

Blue sky thinking lives in the now

Blue sky and sky blue are the same color.

I read some more of Make Yourself Unforgettable.  There are some interesting sections on listening and being relaxed.  Right now, I am reading about patience.