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Happy Halloween
∞ | October 31, 2005 in domestic life | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Conference week
Our annual state library association conference is this week. Not sure whether that means I'll have more or less time for blogging. (Hard to imagine it could be even less.)
One morning I'll be on a panel talking about JLG, and there's a knit night planned. The rest of my agenda is TBA en route.
My first conference as a "real" librarian. Feels pretty good.
∞ | October 25, 2005 in librariana | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Branding the library: tech, books, both?
Alane of It's All Good writes "books" is the brand of The Library. Yet, according to (a very small study by) Research and Markets, as reported by Government Technology, the key to winning greater support for public libraries is educating the public in the use of these [new] technologies.
Ah, cognitive dissonance: the bread and butter of the aware librarian.
∞ | October 24, 2005 in librariana | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Reader poll: messing with librarians
Don't.* (Go read the story of the librarian vs. the nuisance faxers, if you haven't already. I'll wait.)
Now tell me: just today, the book dealer from whom I bought my stolen book asked me to leave feedback on their seller page. I'm ambivalent: I think they messed up and then tried to do right, but I still wouldn't buy from them again. I'm willing to believe they did nothing on the scale of hundreds of illegal faxes or even shady SEO.
Should I just ignore them or what?
I think I may have mellowed since my Home Despot-trashing days.
*Argh, it's gone. Only echoes...
∞ | October 14, 2005 in librariana | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Google Librarian Center
"I'm so happy I now belong," wrote a colleague about Google Librarian Center, which is soon launching a quarterly newsletter for librarians.
∞ | October 12, 2005 in librariana | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Living with LibraryThing
I confess, the chances of me getting around to writing a coherent summary of LibraryThing and its charms are slim. Instead, little frustrated or gleeful posts like this are likely. The information architects' list had a spirited discussion of LibraryThing a couple weeks ago, too.
Only after plugging in almost a thousand books do I notice it doesn't notice initial articles. Yeah. I miss MARC a bit. But I decided to plunge ahead in a most rash and unlibrarianlike fashion, so I'll have to live with some warts. Which are outnumbered by the good bits so far.
I wish there were more robust search options. Most of the books in the church library are from the 1960's or earlier, before ISBNs were common. Many have LCCNs. LibraryThing often can't find them, even in LC. I know the records are in there. Let me at them!
Still in the inventory phase. Haven't even thought about tagging or classifying yet. Have, however, asked the parish administrator to order $70 worth of pockets, cards and glue from Demco. Hoping some people will show up to a "pocket party" if bribed with chocolate.
JM suggested shelving by title. At first I balked, but then I learned even the professional collection at my new job is shelved by title. If librarians' librarians like it that way, maybe it's not so anathema. Forget about spine labels - I can print lists by author and subject (or first tag, at least - sigh) for in-library browsing. Too bad there's no way to get an opac in the library room.
∞ | October 10, 2005 in librariana | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Be productive
So my new commute is about an hour on the bus. But it's not so bad - in one day I made this nifty, blaze-orange 3x5 card holder.
∞ | October 6, 2005 in domestic life | Comments (1) | TrackBack
BBs
My HS English teacher used to say writing is better when it's more like BB pellets than marshmallows.
Vacation was both restful & productive.
New job is awesome.
Brother is home safe.
∞ | October 5, 2005 in domestic life | Comments (2) | TrackBack
St. Andrew's refuses a conditional gift
At an Episcopal school in Austin:
This month, the St. Andrew's Board of Trustees officially released Cary McNair and his family from their $3 million pledge to the school's capital campaign after McNair objected to the use of "Brokeback Mountain" as reading material in a 12th-grade English class.
Via Bookslut. (Michael Schaub may love that city, but I love that church.)
∞ | October 3, 2005 in media | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Memo
From my brother's big boss, USAF Chief of Staff, Sept. 2, 2005 (freely available in the 9/30/05 Ali Times base newsletter online - if that archive link is busted, try this pdf):
We are a Nation at war. Today marks the 1,426th day we've been fighting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. World War II lasted 1,347 days.
∞ | October 1, 2005 in media | Comments (0) | TrackBack
