Monday, September 30, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/30/2013

Leontine Reading, 1909, Pierre Auguste-Renoir

Daily Thoughts 09/30/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker. Peter Drucker is reminding the reader that time is not something which you can get back and is irreplaceable.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library and checked the displays. I am going to work on displaying more books in the fiction room which has been reopened.

There was a programming committee meeting this morning. I have to spend some time setting up a November December computer class schedule. Part of this will include a few classes on how to download digital media at the library.

I spent some time this afternoon doing a little bit of weeding in the oversize and preparing for ordering e-books.

Web Bits

Digital Transition Drives BISG Annual Meeting

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/59309-digital-transition-drives-bisg-annual-meeting.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=8ccef1b5ce-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-8ccef1b5ce-304551865

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/28/2013

Desire Dehau Reading a Newspaper in the Garden, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1890

Daily Thoughts 09/28/2013

This morning, I read some more of The Goal. I am reading interviews with various people who have used Eliyahhu Goldratt's methodology. It is mainly manufacturing with some military operations. There is one example of a book manufacturer. I am almost done reading the book.

This morning, I spent a little time discussing computers with a colleague, and checked the social media for the library.

I spent some more time this afternoon weeding in the oversize books. I also discussed ordering e-books with a colleague.

Web Bits

Frequently challenged Books of the 21st Century

http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

Friday, September 27, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/27/2013

Reading in the Cismigiu Garden, Theodor Aman, 1879

Daily Thoughts 09/27/2013

On the way to work, I read some more of The Goal. Eliyahu M. Goldratt does a lot of explaining how bottlenecks occur in manufacturing. It gives some insite in how to spot where a company gets tied up and fails in their every day activities. It also does an excellent job of explaining the concept of workflows in an easy to understand manner. I think that I am going to go back and read The Innovators Dilemma and The Effective Executive.

I checked the library Facebook and Twitter this morning. I also checked the displays. I spent a little time looking at bestseller lists for ebooks. New York Times Ebook Fiction http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/e-book-fiction/list.html New York Times Ebook Nonfiction http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/e-book-nonfiction/list.html Digital Book World Bestseller Lists http://www.digitalbookworld.com/category/ebook-best-sellers/. I also took some time to look at some reports generated on ebook use at our library. It was interesting.

I also checked the displays and the gift books. I have some weeding to do in the afternoon. It has been another steadily busy day.

I did a little more weeding and checked out The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker.

Web Bits

Cory Doctorow on E-books In Libraries: Libraries and Writers Interests Are Closely Aligned

http://atyourlibrary.org/cory-doctorow-e-books-libraries-libraries-and-writers-interests-are-closely-aligned

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/26/2013

Reading In The Garden, 1910, Ipolit Strambu

Daily Thoughts 09/26/2013

I finished reading Professor Borges A Course In English Literature last night. I very much enjoyed it. Borges reminds us that we should not read anything we do not enjoy. The lectures show how fascinated, intrigued, and deeply devoted he was to literature. It was a very enjoyable experience reading this course outline.

I started reading The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox. This is a novel about a manufacturing executive obsessed with saving his company. The book reminds us that the goal of business is to make money, not necessarily to be effective or productive in doing the wrong things if it does not support the bottom line. The book was listed as one of Jeff Bezos's favorite business books.

This morning, I spent some time checking the displays and the gift books. I also read a copy of the latest Baker and Taylor Forecast and the New York Times Book Review. I put a book, Art Made from Books: Altered, Sculpted, Carved, Transformed by Laura Heyenga on hold.

This afternoon, the computer lab was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., there is also a computer class for Microsoft Excel tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. I spent a little time checking on flyers and announcements for future programs this afternoon.

I also spent a bit of time talking with a colleague about the Overdrive Advantage program.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/25/2013

Interior, Woman Reading, Gustave Caillebotte, 1880

Daily Thoughts 09/25/2013

I took an extra day off and had a long weekend which was relaxing.

This morning, on the way to work, I read some more of Professor Borges. I am enjoying reading about Robert Browning and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. During the 19th century the english appreciated poets more than they do now.

I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library. I also checked the displays and gift books.

I spent some time this morning doing ordering. There were some missing items to replace, a nice set of books from the collection management sheet where we write down patron requests, and quite a few books from the purchase alert for items with multiple holds. I also spent some time going through the website Earlyword, looked at the New York Times Bestsellers and the Publishers Weekly Bestsellers. I still have quite a few magazines to read.

The new person who has been hired for the computer lab is doing well. He has been consistent. There should be a new person working at the cybercorner soon.

I spent some more time weeding in the afternoon in the oversize books. I still have quite a bit more to do.

Web Bits

Censorship and Invisibility: A Boomer Perspective by Barbara Jones

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-jones/censorship-and-invisibili_b_3974877.html

Jeff Bezos Favorite Business Books

http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-favorite-business-books-2013-9

Friday, September 20, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/20/2013

Daily Thoughts 09/20/2013

In the Cabinet des Estampes (Bibliothèque Nationale), 1897

This morning, I read some more of Professor Borges. I like how he describes different important figures in English literature, he includes a historical background, a bit about their personality, and a bit about their writings. I especially like his description of the relationship between James Boswell and Samuel Johnson.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays. We had a management meeting this morning. I showed off a few things about the Kindle Fire. Specifically, three services: Overdrive for Ebooks, Freegal for music, and OneClickDigital for Electronic Audiobooks. The meeting went well.

The computer lab is open today from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..

I spent a little time weeding in the oversize books. I also did a little preparation for programming.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/19/2013

Daily Thoughts 09/19/2013

Reading in the Garden, Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1915

This morning, on the way to work, I read some more of Professor Borges A Course In English Literature. The book consists of 25 lessons taught by Borges about the english language. It is quite interesting. Borges understood Latin, Anglo-Saxon English, and Old English. He starts off the book with Beowulf. There are a lot of anecdotes. I especially liked the anecdote of how in the middle ages people believed that whales would float around like islands and sailors would land on them and the whale would go to the bottom of the ocean and eat the sailors.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays, helped a colleague with setting up the computer lab, and did some weeding in the oversize books. There are two computer classes tonight, and the lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

I spent a little time on the Kindle Fire today. I also registered for an October 7, 2013 workshop. NYSED Conservation and Preservation Discretionary Grant Writing http://metro.org/events/384/

Web Bits

25 Amazing Street Art and Mural Works About Books, Libraries and Reading

http://ebookfriendly.com/books-libraries-in-street-art/

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/18/2013

Madame Aline Gibert, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1887

Daily Thoughts 09/18/2013

I finished reading Handling the Truth On Writing the Memoir by Beth Kephart on the train to work. There is an amendment section with a long list of recommended titles. I plan on reading Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.

This morning, I checked the displays, provided some additional statistics on the Adult Summer Reading program, and updated the library social media. I also spent a little more time weeding the oversize collection. I have a lot more to do.

I spent a little more time looking at local businesses. The October Bookpage came in for me to read. I also have to read the latest Times Literary Supplement.

I put the book, Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon on hold. It looked interesting.

Web Bits

Oh My God Theres a Cat in Russia That Wears a Bow Tie and Works as a Librarian

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/oh-my-god-theres-a-cat-in-russia-that-wears-a-bow-tie-and-wo

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/17/2013

Woman In Black Reading A Newspaper, 1912, Rik Wouters

Daily Thoughts 09/17/2013

This morning, I read some more of Handling the Truth on the Writing of the Memoir by Beth Kephart. She has numerous short chapters. The last chapter I read was on the fuzziness of memory and how people remember things differently.

I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library this morning and the displays. I also took a few minutes to look at Grumpy Cat which is a silly humor book about a very grumpy cat with a bad attitude. It is an internet site also http://www.grumpycats.com/ It reminds me a little bit of I also checked out the book, Professor Borges A Course on English Literature Edited by Martin Arias and Martin Adis. I rather like the quotes Borges has about libraries.

I spent some time weeding in the oversize books. This afternoon, I have a seminar on One Click Digital which is a system to download electronic audiobooks at 2:00 p.m.. I have a few questions about how it might work with the Kindle Fire or tablets.

For a bit of silliness, Thursday, September 19, 2013 is International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

This afternoon, I listened to a seminar from One Click Digital on their electronic audiobook platform. I registered for the service, then downloaded the app to the Kindle Fire so I could listen to electronic Audiobooks.

I spent a few minutes looking at Major Employers in Westchester County. http://business.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/employersMunicipality.pdf

Web Bits

ALA Calls For A Leap Forward In Erate Goals: Streamlined Program

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2013/09/ala-calls-leap-forward-e-rate-goals-streamlined-program

Pet Words by Brad Leithauser

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2013/09/writers-favorite-words-reflect-their-world-view.html?mbid=social_retweet

Monday, September 16, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/16/2013

Young Woman In A Kimono Reading, 1887, Emile Bernard

Daily Thoughts 09/16/2013

Last night, I finished reading The Thicket by Joe Lansdale. I read it in one day. The story had me from the start. It feels more like a camp fire yarn than a western. There is a lot of humor in the story. I liked that the characters were just a little less bad than the bad men who they were hunting.

The heros are a black grave digger with a big shotgun, a somewhat feral hog, a dwarf sharpshooter, and a young man who has had his preacher father shot by outlaws. The story progresses very quickly because it is the story of a chase. It picks up all kinds of quirky characters, a prostitute with good intentions, a sheriff who wants to hunt outlaws, and constantly runs into danger. The bad men are very bad. They even include a bad woman who ends up dead.

It is an enjoyable read meant for adults. The language is fairly colorful. There are themes of redemption, revenge, and how the despised can end up more dangerous than the average person.

I also finished reading The Devil In the Grove which is about the Groveland Boys four young African Americans being held on trial for the rape of a white girl in Florida during the 1950s. Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP play a prominent role in the reporting as well as Sheriff Willie McCal and the Klu Klux Klan. The story itself is quite gripping.

This morning, on the way to work, I was reading Handling the Truth on the Writing of the Memoir by Beth Kephart. She is describing the use of the weather and the setting to set the tone of a memoir. This morning, I checked the displays, checked the library social media, and arranged for a few minor changes to the computer class schedule. I also did a little more weeding in the oversize books. I have to work on ordering and write the monthly report today.

I spent a bit of time on ordering, put the monthly report together, and sent in the August monthly report.

Web Bits

Nation's First All-Digital, Bookless Library Opens In Texas

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/bookless-all-digital-library-opens-in-texas/

Pew More Americans Using Smartphones for Internet

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/pew-more-americans-using-smartphones-for-internet/


















Saturday, September 14, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/14/2013

Daily Thoughts 09/14/2013

I have been steadily reading more of Devil In the Grove. There is a lot that is hard to take in the story. It can be quite brutal. There is some interesting material on the relationship between the NAACP and the FBI; also on how J. Edgar Hoover got along with Thurgood Marshall.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays. Two more computers were brought into the lab today. We now have ten computers in the computer lab. We also are having our first computer class in Spanish today.

I spent some more time weeding in the oversize books.

The new director has been updating our equipment. We have new copy machines. There have also been some nice touches to the building. The front door was painted recently and the staff room was redone. They are working in the kitchen right now to replace the sink.

Web Bits

Maker Stations Popping Up In Libraries Across the Country

http://atyourlibrary.org/maker-stations-popping-libraries-across-country

Friday, September 13, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/13/2013

The Green Dress, John Singer Sargent, 1912

Daily Thoughts 09/13/2013

I rested on the way to work today.  In the morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library.  The new computer lab assistant did some checking of the links on the website yesterday.

I did a little more weeding in the oversize books in preparation for the new shelving to be put in.  I also checked the displays and the gift books.  I am meeting with Ingram today to discuss their Ipage system for ordering books.

I spent a little time yesterday practicing on the Kindle Fire.  I am getting better at downloading music and handling ebooks.  This is something which we have to work at so we can help patrons a little better.

I spent a little time updating Bookletters today with new listings for fiction and nonfiction.

I spent some time going over Ipage today with the Ingram representative.  Ingram has a system for ebooks for libraries.  It was interesting.

I also spent a little time on planning for computer classes.

Web Bits

Resolving Public Libraries at Amazon
http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/2013/09/04/resolving-public-libraries-at-amazon/

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/11/2013

Rik Wouters, Reading Woman, 1913

Daily Thoughts 09/11/2013

This morning, I read some more of Devil In the Grove which is excellent.  It reveals a lot about human nature.  It also shows the economic, educational, and social effects of racism in very stark terms.  I am also reading Handling the Truth on the Writing of the Memoir by Beth Kephart.

This morning, I checked the Facebook and Twitter for the library.  I also spent some time thinking about the cybercorner.  Eventually, there will be a separate desk and area for the computer lab and cybercorner hopefully.

I also spent some more time on the displays; September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, and September 22 through September 28 is Banned Books Week.  Also, September is National Library Card Sign Up Month.  Please sign up for a library card if you do not have one.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/10/2013

The Good Book, Frederico Zandomoneghi, 1897

Daily Thoughts 09/10/2013

I am reading Devil In The Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King. This book is revelatory in its content. It shows people at their absolute worst. The book won the Pulitzer Prize. One of our library patrons recommended it.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays. September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage month. We are also having an ESOL class at the library starting on September 23, 2013 in the mornings, Monday through Thursday.

I had a little bit of time to do some more weeding in the oversize books.  I try and do these kind of things consistently.

 There is a business class tonight and tomorrow night, WEDC (Women's Enterprise Development Center) First Steps program which is about business planning from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  We have a new screen in the community room and a new projector which makes doing programming much easier.

Web Bits

Marketing Will Replace Editorial as the Driving Force Behind Publishing Houses http://www.idealog.com/blog/marketing-will-replace-editorial-driving-force-behind-publishing-houses/

I like to think there is some integrity in editing, much more so than marketing which is about sales. Forgoing quality for the sake of sales is bothersome.




Monday, September 9, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/09/2013

Reading, Pablo Picasso, 1921
Daily Thoughts 09/09/2013

This weekend I read Steal Like an Artist 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon.  It is a book designed to inspire people to be creative and do art.  The book is funny, has lots of quotes and is aimed at helping people stay focused on their art.  I also read Volume 1 of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo graphic novel based on Stieg Larsson's msytery novel.  The content is very dark and meant for adults. The illustration and coloring work are excellent.

This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.  I also spent a little bit of time ordering as well as checked the displays.  I also spent a little bit of time in the computer lab with our new hire.

 In addition, I started weeding a section of the oversize books.

 We should be getting in people to replace one of our oversize stacks soon, so before we move the books, I am weeding them.
Web Bits

Oyster Launches Netflix for Books
 http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2013/09/05/oyster-launches-netflix-for-books/#!

 Sunday Dialog: Tumult In the Book World
 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/opinion/sunday/sunday-dialogue-tumult-in-the-book-world.html?smid=li-share#!





Friday, September 6, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/06/2013

Scranton, Philips C. "Maytime Is Curtain Time" (1923)

Daily Thoughts 09/06/2013

I relaxed on the way to work this morning.  I checked the displays and the social media for the library.  We had a management meeting today where we discussed electronic resources and devices, the new computer classes, and the new hire for the computer lab who is starting today.

It has been a hectic today.  I am also contacting people about doing different programs.  We have the Women's Enterprise Development Center program from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on September 10 and September which is a small business program.  We also had our first senior program for computers yesterday.

I am also going to be doing a weeding project in the oversize books soon.  There is a lot to do.  Our budget is going to be put up for vote in April as well as a number of the positions of the board of trustees are going to be voted on.  This is both exciting and a bit nerve wracking at the same time.

The computer lab was open a little late today from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It was a very busy day.

Web Bits

A Fitting Memorial for Pohl and Crispin

http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/2013/09/06/a-fitting-memorial-for-pohl-and-crispin/

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/05/2013

Viennese Domestic Garden, Erasmus Engert, Between 1828 and 1830

Daily Thoughts 09/05/2013

I finished reading Night Film last night. I rather liked how Marissa Pessl creates rational arguments for the inexplicable at the end of the book. It is very entertaining. I enjoyed reading the book.

This morning, I checked the displays and updated the Facebook and Twitter for the library. We are having our first Computer Basics for Seniors Class this morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A colleague is teaching it. I hired a computer lab assistant yesterday. I think it will work well.

I have been reading through review journals.  There is a new book called Kansas City Lightning: the Rise and  Times of Charlie Parker by Stanley Crouch.  I think it should be very interesting reading.

I put the book, The Thicket by Joe R. Lansdale on hold.  I like Joe Lansdale.  This should be interesting because it is a western set in the turn of the twentieth century oil boom.

The Computer Lab is open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.  There is also a session for learning Microsoft Excel tonight.

In addition, there is a Special Meeting of the Mount Vernon Public Library Board of Trustees at 6:30 p.m. in the Trustees room.

Things have been very busy lately.

Web Bits

Start Ups Take Library Jobs Reinventing Libraries Eric Hellman
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/09/future-of-libraries/start-ups-take-library-jobs-reinventing-libraries/

RH Children's To Public Seuss Classics as E-Books
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/58983-rh-children-s-to-publish-seuss-classics-as-e-books.html











Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/04/2013



The Cup of Tea, Andre Derain, 1935

Daily Thoughts 09/04/2013

This morning, I read some more of Night Film on the way to work.  As the book progresses, the story gets darker, and starts delving into black magic, evil, and the machinations of the depraved.  It goes from being a story of the supernatural with touches of madness to being a story of depravity and black magic to the end.  There is a progression to the story which is a bit disturbing.  You might not call the novel a horror novel at the beginning, but towards the end it definitely is.

I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library.  I also checked the displays and the gift books.  I placed an order for books today as well.  I have several copies of Publishers Weekly and a copy of the New York Times Book Review to read.

I spent some time putting together sign up sheets for the computer classes.  September is National Library Card Sign Up Month.

The New York State Library has a curriculum example list for basic computer classes.
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/nybbexpress/curriculum/

Web Bits

Cory Doctorow: Libraries and Ebooks
http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2013/09/cory-doctorow-libraries-and-e-books/

When You Love Your Library, You Never Stop Learning
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/hilary-farr/best-libraries_b_3858186.html

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Daily Thoughts 09/03/2013


Philosopher Reading, Rembrandt, 1631

Daily Thoughts 09/03/2013

I have been on vacation for a while.  I took a break from blogging and did some extra house cleaning, spent some time home, and watched the landlord put in part of a new electric heating system.  I did not get a lot of reading done.  I read some of Night Film by Marisha Pessl.  It touches on the edges of reason, with a bit of horror, irrationality, and madness throughout the book.  Rather than a detective story, the story is one of a rather gonzo investigative journalist looking into the suicide of the daughter of a reclusively strange horror film producer.  The story is bizarre, sits on the edge of the reason, and includes things which are almost supernatural in their oddness.  I am finding the design of the book intriguing because it includes lots of photographs of make believe people.  It stretches the imagination without truly being fantasy.

This morning, I checked the displays, the gift books, and did a bit of updating for the social media for the library.  I added a few books on photography in the book cases in front of the rotunda gallery.  I also printed up some flyers for the new computer classes that are coming out in September and October.  They should be interesting.  One of my colleagues is doing computer classes for seniors and another is doing computer classes in Spanish.

I have a few things to catch up on.  I have to do some ordering.  I also did a little bit of weeding today.  I try and be consistent and do a little bit each day.

We had the computer lab open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.  There were also two computer classes, a Microsoft Word class and a Fundamentals of Computers class.

Web Bits

With Modern Makeovers Americas Libraries Are Branching Out
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/01/217211315/with-modern-makeovers-americas-libraries-are-branching-out
http://bookcalendar.blogspot.com/2013/09/
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