Mad Skills

23Apr09

It happens to every librarian: you brag to a patron about being a human index and then get stumped on a simple call number question.  Admit it, it’s happened.  Thankfully, I found a couple refresher quizzes to keep your skills sharpened and ready to slice through any moment of doubt.
Dewey and another Dewey– for kids, [...]

Filed under: By: The Librarienne, Fun Finds, tools of the trade   |  3 Comments
Tags: classification, Dewey, LC, levity, quizzes

Librarian= Bartender

20Apr09

I recently started working my first reference position at a public library.  It’s a small library, only about 30 staffers total, and everyone who works there has been there for years– some since the building opened.  It’s a pretty standard public library situation in a smallish town, but I’ve run into a situation that I [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: The Librarienne   |  6 Comments
Tags: advice, customer service

MLA 2.0

17Apr09

The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers put out a seventh edition style guide last month and I missed it! I have been using the old style format for a full month, and am gravely disappointed in myself. The new guide has many exciting changes that are outlined in Inside Higher Ed News:    
1. [...]

Filed under: By: Miss Information, change or die, tools of the trade   |  Leave a Comment

Me and Gmail Sitting in a Tree . . .

16Apr09

Oh Gmail, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love that no matter where I move or what school I go to I can still keep the same e-mail address. I love your large quota and the way you organize threads, not to mention your speed, reliability, and [...]

Filed under: By: Madame Lawbrarian, Fun Finds, change or die, tools of the trade   |  3 Comments
Tags: gmail, google, organization, technology

Who says books aren’t sexy?

14Apr09

I’ve been a bit obsessed with fore-edge painting even since I was working at the fancy membership library and saw the double fore-edge painting on The Life of Horatio Nelson.  For anyone who doesn’t know what these little treats are (and I had never heard of them before either), a fore-edge painting is when an [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: The Librarienne, Fun Finds   |  2 Comments
Tags: Fore-edge paintings, naughty books

Have we trained them too well?

13Apr09

I was talking to a co-worker yesterday about library issues.  The second-largest library system in the state just announced a massive cut in services and hours following a huge reduction in funding:
The Cranston Public Library Board of Trustees announced major cuts in service due to Mayor Fung’s proposed cut of $202,406.80 from this year’s City [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life, By: The Librarienne, change or die, tools of the trade   |  3 Comments
Tags: online databases, reference services, statistics

LC on YouTube

10Apr09

Earlier this week, the Library of Congress publicly launched its YouTube Channel.  Currently the channel features videos from the 2008 National Book Festival, author book talks, discussions by LC curators, films of Westinghouse Works factory in 1904, early films made by Thomas Edison and some talks by scholars. The LC’s Blog promises that the library [...]

Filed under: By: Madame Lawbrarian, Copyright, Fun Finds, News, change or die, libraries, pop culture   |  2 Comments
Tags: Flickr, libraries, library of congress, newspapers, reference, Thomas, Web 2.0, YouTube

Taking on the Kindle

07Apr09

The digital reader is going big screen.  Plastic Logic is a start up that recently got funding to go ahead with a digital reader they hope will entice readers who are interested in digital readers, but uninterested in the Kindle.

Plastic Logic announced their plans before the Kindle 2 debuted, so  I don’t know if any plans have changed– [...]

Filed under: A Day in the Life   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: kindle, Kindle 2, Plastic Logic

Friday fun

03Apr09

I’m getting tired of people saying the “spring is just around the corner!” but it is, it’s better had be cause I’m tired of being cold.
The Guardian has a fun springtime quiz up today.  Perfect way to while away a lazy Friday.

Filed under: By: The Librarienne, Fun Finds   |  1 Comment
Tags: guardian, Literature, spring

For Your Viewing Pleasure

01Apr09

Ruth Harrison, Reference Librarian live from Lake Wobegon

Just reminding everyone WGBH Boston is having a membership drive, if you have got the dough, please contribute – they certainly send love to libraries when they can.

Filed under: By: Miss Information, Fun Finds, News, libraries, pop culture   |  Leave a Comment