Daily Thoughts 08/05/2014

A Young Woman Reading, Rembrandt, 1634
 
Daily Thoughts 08/05/2014

I checked Twitter and Facebook for the library this morning.  I also checked the gift books and the displays.  I spent some time working with the oversize books.  I read a few copies of Publishers Weekly.

I placed the book Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science To Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron.

I did a little preparation for the Programming Committee meeting.  As part of the monthly statistics, one of our computer teachers suggested some classes we might want to do.  People like the Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Powerpoint as well as the Android Tablets class.  There are basic computer classes tonight, a Beginning Microsoft Word Class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and a Fundamentals of Computer Operations class from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Web Bits

How Technology is Reinventing the Library Experience
http://www.statetechmagazine.com/article/2014/07/how-technology-reinventing-library-experience

Report: Libraries Struggling with Ebooks

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/63552-report-libraries-struggling-with-e-books.html

Daily Thoughts 08/04/2014

Painting depicting a lecture in a knight academy, painted for Rosenborg Castle as part of a series of seven paintings depicting the seven independent arts. This painting illustrates Rhetorics. Peter Isaacsz or Reinhold Timm, 1620s.

Daily Thoughts 08/04/2014

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I also checked the gifts and the displays this morning. I placed my weekly order for new books.

I wrote the monthly reports today.  I will be working on the statistics for July tomorrow.

Two books came in for me to read Born Reading Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age-- From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything In Between by Jason Boog.  Jason Boog wrote for Galleycat.  Also, the book, I Forgot to Remember A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck with Daniel de Vise came in.  This is for the Brown Bag Nonfiction Book Club which meets on August 19, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

I spent some time planning computer classes for September and October.  I also spent some time talking about classes for the staff.  Our computer technician is teaching a Gmail class for the staff on Friday, August 8 and Friday, August 22 which should be helpful.

I also talked with a colleague about programming in September and October.  I like looking at the Programming Librarian Events and Celebrations Calendar to plan ahead.  http://programminglibrarian.org/library/events-celebrations#.U-AB-FVdVqU

We had a meeting of the Grants Committee this afternoon.  We discussed different grants that we might apply to.  One of us is going to Yonkers Public Library to look at grants.  They are a Foundation Center partner.  http://www.ypl.org/grantsandfoundations

I started reading I Forgot to Remember.  The book opens with the author being hit in the head by a ceiling fan and suffering traumatic brain injury which makes her forget nearly everything.

Web Bits

Can Google Build A Typeface to Support Every Written Language

http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/08/03/337168933/-no-tofu-doesn-t-equate-to-no-problem-for-google-universal-typeface

62 of the Worlds Most Beautiful Libraries

http://mentalfloss.com/article/51788/62-worlds-most-beautiful-libraries

Libraries are not A "Netflix" For Books
http://bookriot.com/2014/07/15/libraries-netflix-books/
 

Daily Thoughts 08/03/2014

Daily Thoughts 08/03/2014

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook for the Mount Vernon Public Library.

Web Bits

What Jobs Will Robots Take From Humans in the Future?

http://innovationinsights.wired.com/insights/2014/07/jobs-will-robots-take-humans-future/

Librarians are on the list.

Advice from the Field

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/03/education/edlife/questions-for-frank-gehry-arianna-huffington-and-other-experts.html?_r=0

Includes a section by Nancy Pearl on Libraries

Daily Thoughts 08/02/2014

A Reading Girl With A Cat, 1885, Fritz Von Uhde

Daily Thoughts 08/02/2014

I checked the library Twitter and Facebook this morning.

I spent an hour watching a presentation on Difficult Patrons on Webjunction.  I also watched part of a video on digital photography on Lynda.com.

I finished reading The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide.  It is a beautiful book.  Part of it is about death and sorrow and the passing away of older things.  The guest cat, Chibi, passes away, so do the landlords for the property which the bohemian writer couple live in pass away.  The property itself where they live is also demolished for progress.  This gives the book a whistful feeling.  The book was a New York Times Bestseller.  A member of the Brown Bag Nonfiction Book Club recommended it to me to read.

Web Bits

100 Books to Reread

http://www.nypl.org/blog/2014/06/27/100-books-reread?utm_source=eNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NYPLTopPicks201407&utm_campaign=NYPLTopPicks

The Case for Making Libraries Full of Toys and Games

http://qz.com/243024/the-case-for-making-libraries-full-of-toys-and-games/

Libraries Will Always Be The Place to Be

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/belair/ph-ag-etc-zumer-0730-20140731,0,5553104.story

Daily Thoughts 08/01/2014

Charles West Cope, Maiden Meditation, 1847
Daily Thoughts 08/01/2014

I checked the Mount Vernon Public Library Twitter and Facebook for the library.

I also checked the displays and gift books as well as put out some more flyers for events for the library.  I am working on setting up email training for the staff next week.  I also did a bit more work with the oversize books today.  I try and do a little bit each day.

I have to look at the Programming Librarian blog because there is going to be a programming meeting some time next week. I have to work on September and October's programming.

I placed the film Jodorowsky's Dune on hold which was an attempt to make the movie Dune which failed but helped establish a variety of science fiction artists careers.

On the way home, I read some of The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide. This is literary fiction.  It has the feeling of every day life mixed with some beautiful descriptions of gardens, simple activities, and the relations between cats and people.  This book has an excellent sense of space and setting. 


Web Bits

We Need Diverse Books Incorporates With First Advisory Board

http://www.slj.com/2014/07/advocacy/we-need-diverse-books-incorporates-with-first-advisory-board/

Top 5 Emerging Trends In America’s Libraries

http://www.impactlab.net/2014/07/31/top-5-emerging-trends-in-americas-libraries/

The Digital Life of Salman Rushdie

http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/digital-life-salman-rushdie

What’s Better than Kindle Unlimited for $120 a year?  This Free Alternative

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-31/what-s-better-than-kindle-unlimited-for-120-a-year-this-free-alternative.html

David Sedaris Has Trash Truck Named After Him
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/david-sedaris-has-trash-truck-named-after-him_b88678?utm_campaign=dailynewsletter20140801&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=title&utm_source=GalleyCat