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Written on: April 3rd, 2009 in News
This slideshow, from the online bookmark reference and collection site miragebookmark.ch, features some of the most spectacular and beautiful libraries and reading rooms in the world. You’ll feel more well-informed just looking at the pictures.
Written on: April 2nd, 2009 in News
We’ve been seeing a lot of mentions about this service recently- you can have a local library location sent to your phone by text message, anywhere in the country. All you need to do is text the word library along with the local ZIP code to 41411, and you will get a text in response with the address and phone number of the nearest public library.
Written on: April 1st, 2009 in Reviews
James Patterson and Stephenie Meyer still rule the fiction world- although the edge goes to Meyer, who has less than half a dozen books to Patterson’s seeingly hundreds of titles.
You have to respect the James Patterson writing machine, however- and it is a machine, as this article from a 2002 Publishers Weekly shows. Even though a new Patterson could come out with every Sunday paper, they are tightly plotted, well written, and consumed hungrily by his fans young and old.
Written on: April 1st, 2009 in News
The preceding visualization was for everything entered as a search term in the Delaware Library Catalog- this one specifies subject term searches only.
Written on: April 1st, 2009 in News
This is a neat visual representation (using Wordle.net) of all of the search terms entered into the Delaware Library Catalog during the month of March.
Written on: April 1st, 2009 in News
This is an interesting data snapshot from the Delaware Library Catalog’s administrators’ blog:
Some selected 3rd Quarter Statistics
Libraries all across the country are doing more with less- against considerable odds, in some cases.
Hopefully as more and more people remember the services available at their libraries, and think about the money that they can save by getting entertainment and education for free, we’ll continue to see these numbers climb!
Written on: March 31st, 2009 in News
One of the favorite authors at my house is Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She’s predominantly an author of books for children, with a nice line in whimsy and enchantment- her latest book, “Duck! Rabbit!” is a literary take on an optical illusion. Her book for adults, “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life” was one of my favorite books of the last 5 years, however- a sort of a “list” book, detailing the seemingly mundane details of daily existence and making them magical.
Making life magical seems to be Rosenthal’s mission- her ongoing multimedia project, beckoning of lovely, is heartbreakingly naive, funny, and wonderful- you’re guaranteed to leave the experience less cynical than when you came in.
A couple of weeks ago, Rosenthal sent out a message to fans offering to call and sing them a lullaby. My wife signed up, and indeed, at 9.30 p.m., Rosenthal called, chatted for a while, and sang. She didn’t know my wife’s favorite lullaby, “God Speed” by the Dixie Chicks, but I heard that the song she chose was lovely, and that she has a nice voice.
Written on: March 30th, 2009 in Learning Journeys
Laura here: Before I left on a business trip in February my local
library let me know a book I had requested was available. This
non fiction story was about a grown daughter’s journey with her father after he
was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Not the light reading I was looking for—I’d read it later. I decided it
was too close to home right now as I have been caring more and more for my mom
as her dementia takes more and more of her independence.
At the airport the next day still wanting a good read for
the flight I picked up the first novel that ‘spoke’ to me from the shelf. Still
Alice by Lisa Genova, the title was intriguing— there was so much said and
unsaid in those two simple words. What would make her no longer Alice? I am also attracted
to fonts and the design of the books and particularly liked the ‘play on words’
of the title printed in caps except for the small ‘i’ in each word:
STiLL ALiCE. All these
‘green lights’ led me to read the inside flap to discover it was a story of a
woman with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Yes, I got the message and bought
it!
The author took a risk with this book as the main character
tells her own story told from her faulty and undependable point of view instead
of from her loved one’s points of view. This makes for a realistic, heart
rending, wholly believable character and storyline. Fiction usually serves to
entertain but a well written successful story can enlighten a reader in
unexpected ways as happened to me as I read Alice’s journey. I was able to empathize with
my mom’s struggles from the inside
instead of as an observer. I experienced the fear and doubt that she does and
was reminded that inside the elderly body I see is a young woman filled with dreams and passions.
Reading this book was a powerful awakening for me to be
empathetic, more patient; I also listen closely now with my wise self instead
of the ears of a dutiful daughter. I’m learning to be my mom’s friend and
memory keeper—and feel honored to be entrusted with her treasures. Together we
are finding the gift inside the tragedy; bless you Lisa for sharing Alice’s story.
Written on: March 26th, 2009 in News
We do receive feedback from library patrons requesting that we look into ways in which accessing the library catalog could be made more direct, or if we can provide a direct login option from any of the library websites who connect to it.
While we continue to look at the technical feasibility of offering the various libraries in the Delaware Library Catalog a direct account login option from their homepages, we’re also keen to promote the use of our “portal” page at lib.de.us. However, we do recognize the importance of the “three click rule” and clearly, we’re breaking it in some cases (although it is an informal rule…)
To get to your list of checkouts and holds, for instance, requires the following navigation from the original library website
I think that’s five clicks, but I lost count…
We are currently testing a reconfiguration of the login process, and would like feedback from catalog users and library patrons. We can set up the system to provide a shortcut directly to the review my account info screen (which lists checkouts, holds, usage fees, and library messages) as soon as a patron enters their ID and PIN. You can see an example of how that would look here.
Let us know what you think. Does this configuration work better for you?
Written on: March 25th, 2009 in News, Reviews
The 2009 James Beard Foundation awards for excellence in the food and beverage industry highlight chefs, restaurants, TV shows, and of course, books. Not too many ‘celebrity chefs’ here, although I ate at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in London last year, and it was wonderful!
This year, the Foundation has selected a number of great books, including ethnic and regional cookbooks, books on wine, and the ethics of consumption. Here are some selected titles available from the Delaware Library Catalog:
Jewish Home Cooking, by Arthur Schwartz
Screen Doors and Sweet Tea, by Martha Hall Foose
Art and Soul of Baking, by Cindy Fuchet
WineWise, by Steven Kolpan
In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
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