I've created a blog and have enjoyed reading the Web2 articles. They were a real eye-opener for me. I also enjoyed viewing librarian links on Flickr. My son and I had a conversation about the library's use of blogs and Flickr. Since he is young (22) and hip I wanted his input. He said that Flickr isn't used by young people. He said that anyone his age wouldn't be caught dead on it. That Flickr is for "old people" - like his mother. I guess kids use Myspace. In terms of blogs his take corresponded with our present best use of blogs, i.e., for internal communication between branches for programming and collection issues. From that stand point I would anticipate the growth of blogs.
I have very much enjoyed using LibraryThing. It helps me with readers advisory. I really enjoyed the link to "orangeful's" blog and her link to her LibraryThing. I actually requested one of her books on her site to read. I can also use her blog link to do readers advisory in science fiction - which is an area where my skills are weak. So... I guess that I am saying that we could emphasize LibraryThing to our patrons. I don't know how many I've personally told about Librarything when they say that they wished that our library could keep track of what they have read.
It might also be useful to have genre blogs maintained by staff that are accessible to the public. It is possible that with advertising the library could even make a bit of money. So many of us are avid readers that these blogs could serve useful purposes to both patrons and other members of the staff.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Library Thing
Finished The New Policeman and it was wonderful. Each chapter is headed by a piece of traditional Irish music. The name of the piece is the chapter title. The song title is woven into the plot. JJ crawls into the land of the faeries and must save the world -both his and the world of the faeries. The book could be considered controversial because it features a Catholic priest whose aim is to end Irish music and the world of the faeries. So I supposed someone would describe the book as anti-religous in our politically correct world. You will have to read the book to find out who the New Policeman really was.
In another matter, I've been trying to link my Librarything with my blog without success. I'm going to give it another try today.
I also received an email of an article my son sent to me from Japan that has been published in a major magazine there. I'll provide the link here if anyone wants to read it.
http://fitnessjp.com/025_78_save+the+world+by+bike!+the+2008+bee+ride
In another matter, I've been trying to link my Librarything with my blog without success. I'm going to give it another try today.
I also received an email of an article my son sent to me from Japan that has been published in a major magazine there. I'll provide the link here if anyone wants to read it.
http://fitnessjp.com/025_78_save+the+world+by+bike!+the+2008+bee+ride
Thursday, May 15, 2008
My Latest Books
I'm reading two books. Both were reviewed in the May issue of The Horn Book magazine.
The first one is by Mary Downing Hahn called All the Lovely Bad Ones. This is catalogued as a Y but could easily be given a J designation. The two main characters are in their early teens - perhaps that is why it is given the "Y". It is a good recommend for 6th graders - even a 5th grader who reads alot. Nice haunted house book to recommend to those summer readers. It is written in the gothic style but very updated - taking pokes at people who chase spooks -modern ghost-busters. The ghosts themselves were once a bunch of naughty children caught in a terrible situation. Our two teen protaganists figure out ways to help them find peace.
The second book is one I've just begun reading. It is written by Kate Thompson and is the first in a series. The second book is the one reviewed in The Horn Book. I'm reading the first in order to catch up. This one is called The New Policeman. So far the story begins with a farming family in modern-day Ireland. It is a family of poets and musicians. The lead character is a teenager named JJ. There is no indication in the first 50 pages or so that this book will have a fantasy element. JJ uses his mother's maiden name of Liddy. It is her family's farm and she wants her son to carry on the name. Every Saturday the family hosts an Irish music event. JJ is beginning to feel like a nerd at school because his friends don't stay at home on Saturday nights and they don't play traditional Irish music. From the review in Horn Book I know that JJ will be involved somehow with the Irish fairy world. The New Policeman is catalogued as a J title. It could easily be catalogued as a Y. I would definitely recommend this book to teens. It is quite thick with over 300 pages. More later when I've finished it....
The first one is by Mary Downing Hahn called All the Lovely Bad Ones. This is catalogued as a Y but could easily be given a J designation. The two main characters are in their early teens - perhaps that is why it is given the "Y". It is a good recommend for 6th graders - even a 5th grader who reads alot. Nice haunted house book to recommend to those summer readers. It is written in the gothic style but very updated - taking pokes at people who chase spooks -modern ghost-busters. The ghosts themselves were once a bunch of naughty children caught in a terrible situation. Our two teen protaganists figure out ways to help them find peace.
The second book is one I've just begun reading. It is written by Kate Thompson and is the first in a series. The second book is the one reviewed in The Horn Book. I'm reading the first in order to catch up. This one is called The New Policeman. So far the story begins with a farming family in modern-day Ireland. It is a family of poets and musicians. The lead character is a teenager named JJ. There is no indication in the first 50 pages or so that this book will have a fantasy element. JJ uses his mother's maiden name of Liddy. It is her family's farm and she wants her son to carry on the name. Every Saturday the family hosts an Irish music event. JJ is beginning to feel like a nerd at school because his friends don't stay at home on Saturday nights and they don't play traditional Irish music. From the review in Horn Book I know that JJ will be involved somehow with the Irish fairy world. The New Policeman is catalogued as a J title. It could easily be catalogued as a Y. I would definitely recommend this book to teens. It is quite thick with over 300 pages. More later when I've finished it....
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