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