November 6th, 2007 Brian Herzog
This is interesting: a flickr set of photographs of drawings and writings found in books in jails in Wisconsin.
I've never found such artwork in my library's books, but I have been keeping all the scraps of paper and other miscellaneous debris I find around the library. I've wanted to display them all somehow, because they are interesting, but I just haven't figured out how to do it. A flickr set might be the best way - look for that in an upcoming (but not immediate future) post.
This was found via BoingBoing.
altered books, art, artwork, book, books, flickr, graffiti, jail, jails, libraries, library, prison, prisons, vandalism
Tags: altered books, art, artwork, book, Books, flickr, graffiti, jail, jails, libraries, Library, prison, prisons, Random, vandalism
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August 21st, 2007 Brian Herzog
I flew to Ohio this weekend to spend time with my family. I brought a book to read on the plane, but my mom asked if I could leave it with her so she could read it.
This leaves me with no book for the return back, which got me thinking. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a library for airports? I could go into the CLE branch and check out a book, read it on the plane, and then return it to the MHT branch when I landed.
I know the logistics would be difficult, and this is certainly an idea that could not sustain itself today, but I still think it would be nice.
Of course, I could always just buy a book - or better yet, find a BookCrossing in the terminal.
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August 14th, 2007 Brian Herzog
Readers Advisory has been quite the topic for me lately, and the fun continues.
There's a current thread on ME-LIBS about what libraries do to connect books with readers, and I thought I'd pull together some of the examples provided (please excuse any editorializing on my part - I was trying to just pull out the highlights, so any mistakes below are mine):
Molly Larson, Rockport Public Library
- We have a "Rockport Readers Recommend" display that is ongoing and we encourage patrons to recommend titles...[and] write a comment in the notebook. We also post this list on our website including patron comments
- We also have "BookLovers Cafe"...an informal gathering on Saturdays once a month when patrons can just come in and talk about what they're reading. [Staff] compiles the list of recommended books and we also provide the list at the book display
- [Staff] created a handy series book that is right at the Circ desk. Patrons like this because they don't have to look it up in the OPAC or somewhere else to find the next title in a series (popular adult fiction)
- We have various themed displays that change regularly. Patrons love the different displays
- In our monthly newsletter...staff members will contribute "good reads" suggestions. I've seen patrons bring in the list of recommended reading and look for the books
- We have done "if you like" lists on occasion as bookmarks
- Ongoing display of new children's books and Maine Student Book award books
- I use NoveList almost on a daily basis and offer to print article from that for patrons
Kathy Foss, Camden-Rockport Middle School Library
- A series "notebook" which we used to have in hard copy but now have at our website
- A set of shelves just for what I call "Foss Favorites" in the school library which kids can browse as they know I've read each title and recommend it
- A variety of reading lists on our website so that if a student wants another book, for example, with animal main characters, they can browse these and print out the lists that interest them most by clicking on Foss Favorites on that page
- We also use Novelist all the time
- This fall we plan to start encouraging our students to podcast their own book reviews so that other kids can hear them
Barbara L. Keef, Windham Public Library
- Our patrons love eye-catching displays, especially if they are in a bit of a hurry to grab a couple of books for their vacation time (the popularity of a display is easily judged by the amount of time you spend in re-stocking those titles)
- Some successful display ideas from our library include:
- "Most checked-out book lists" from Library Journal to showcase the popular fiction and non-fiction titles
- A display of "what we read last summer" (the NY Times Best-sellers from the summer of 2006)
- A "Read, White, and Blue" display of -guess what- books with red, white and blue covers
- A "Get a Life" display for biographies
- Read-alike display (right now it's Jodi Picoult)
- Other Popular Author display (at the moment, it's Clive Cussler)
- We also have created read-alike bookmarks as well as a list of what our Book Group has been reading/discussing
- There are also displays in our Teen Area for new titles and other popular subjects (pirates, for example)
- Novelist is a valuable tool along with all those other lists found on public library websites. It is fun to hear what other libraries are doing for Reader's Advisory and it helps to browse websites and visit bookstores to get ideas
I don't know why, but it was kind of funny to see that everyone mentioned NoveList (I use it myself, and patrons seem to enjoy NoveList after I demonstrate it). I also liked that these libraries dedicate displays to younger readers; I know that depends on staff and space availability, but it's a group that shouldn't be ignored.
In my library, we rely heavily on displays, read-alike bookmarks, informal staff suggestions, and our Readers Corner webpage. We also use NoveList quite a bit, as well as BookLetters. My concern is trying to present all of these suggestion sources in a coherent and useful way.
Another source for ideas is the Readers Advisory section of the Library Success: Best Practices Wiki. If your library has found something that works well, please share.
books, libraries, library, public libraries, public library, reader advisory, readers advisory, reading, recommendations, suggestions
Tags: Books, libraries, Library, Marketing, public libraries, public library, reader advisory, readers advisory, reading, recommendations, suggestions
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August 9th, 2007 Brian Herzog
book, book review, book review search, book reviews, books, google, google custom search, library, public libraries, public library, reader advisory, readers advisory, review, reviews
Tags: book, book review, book review search, book reviews, Books, google, google custom search, Library, public libraries, public library, reader advisory, readers advisory, review, reviews, Technology
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August 2nd, 2007 Brian Herzog
For those in the Portland, ME area, here's an art display worth checking out:
Aaron T Stephan/The Problem with Ladders
July 25th through September 8, 2007
Artist Reception, Friday, August 3, 5-8 PM
Whitney Art Works
492 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
Usually, altered book art involves somehow changing the appearance of individual books. In this show, the artist used books to build things - most impressively, a huge structure. The photographs are the gallery's website are pretty impressive.
Thanks for passing this along, Kristin.
altered book, altered book art, altered books, art, book, book art, books, used books, what to do with used books
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July 5th, 2007 Brian Herzog
I love it when completely unconnected things converge to create a complimentary coincidence. Conspiracy? Come on...
Today's confluence involves the Unshelved comic from 6/29/07 (click the image to read the entire strip), and the book I'm currently reading, Sewer, Gas & Electric, by Matt Ruff.
The quote below, like previous quotes, concerns libraries, but unlike them, is a bit lengthy (but it's worth it):
...Maxwell had also found a vocation of sorts, unpaid but satisfying, even addicting.
He moved library books.
"You ever notice how you can't find any naked pictures in a library?" Maxwell would sometimes say to strangers on the subway, by way of explanation. "What I mean is, you're a kid, your voice changes, and one day you start and wonder if you could find a book with naked pictures at the public library. Like, could they have bought one by mistake, put it on the shelf where even a kid could get at it. So you look up subjects like 'Erotica' and 'Nude Photography' in the catalog, and it turns out they have some hot-sounding titles, like An Illustrated History of Pornographic Films. But when you check for the call numbers on the shelf, those kinds of books are never in. Hell, you might find one that's all text, in French, but if it's a book with actual naked pictures, it won't be there. Even if the catalog says it's on the shelf, it wont' be there. Even if you come back and check every day for a month - when you voice changes, you do that kind of thing - it'll never be there. Like it's been removed. Surgically.
"Well, you know, I figured out why that is, not just at one library but at any library you go to. ...it just hit me: there's a conspiracy. Guys all over the country, a secret brotherhood. They come into every library first thing in the morning, and they grab all the books with naked pictures before anybody else can get to them. They don't take them out, and they don't steal them or burn then, they just refile them. They put the books with naked pictures in boring parts of the library, stick 'em in between the books that nobody ever reads. Then, later, when the kids whose voices are changing come in, the members of the brotherhood just stand back and laugh up their sleeve. It's a very important job."
That is, of course, unless you happen to be browsing the reference collection in the Muskingham Muskingum College Library.
boo, books, electric, gas, libraries, library, matt ruff, muskingham, muskingum, naked, naked pictures, nude, nudity, public libraries, public library, ruff, sewer, sewer gas & electric, sewer gas and electric, unshelved
Tags: boo, Books, electric, gas, libraries, Library, matt ruff, muskingham, muskingum, naked, naked pictures, nude, nudity, public libraries, public library, Random, ruff, sewer, sewer gas & electric, sewer gas and electric, unshelved
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