the shrinking librarian

ianbrooks: Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas...

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:00:22 -0500

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman / posted by ianbrooks.me

ianbrooks:

Derailing My Train of Thought by Thomas Wightman

Says Thomas about this project: “The final book sculpture of my major project series. Like the previous two sculptures it uses a visual metaphor to convey the emotions of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and embodies my research by visualising an expression used by a sufferer of OCD. The expression was ‘derailing my train of thought’, because the person felt that the rituals they had to perform were disrupting their day. Where the compulsions and worry would side track them from doing everyday activities.

To convey this metaphor the sculpture shows a train travelling on a journey that has become disrupted, leading it to derail from its set path. Typography was used on the tracks for the title of the piece, also type was used for the coal. In the scene it shows the coal cart tipping over where the type has become mixed up to symbolise the mixed emotions during anxiety and panic”.

Artist: Behance / Website / Previously!

Photo

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:19 -0500

1bohemian: Painter Gustave Caillebotte and his dog in front of...

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:00:28 -0500

1bohemian:

Painter Gustave Caillebotte and his dog in front of the Louvre, 1876

"…And so this post will serve to say that we’re okay with all of it, really! The Library would just..."

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:29 -0500

“…And so this post will serve to say that we’re okay with all of it, really! The Library would just be a big empty building without you! We’re glad you are here.”

- No Need to Apologize to Your Librarian | Eleventh Stack

Some things you don’t need to apologize for are:

I don’t have time to read

I don’t like to read

I haven’t been to the library in a long time

I’m sorry to bother you…*

I have fines.

I can’t find…

*Especially this one. Do not feel sorry for talking to a library staff member! You are the reason we are here! We are glad to hear from you!

(via text-block)

alwaysalwaysalwaysthesea: iowa has the nicest rest stops. This...

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:29 -0500

alwaysalwaysalwaysthesea:

iowa has the nicest rest stops.

This is actually true. The rest areas on I-80 just east of of Iowa City (at Tiffin) are themed to reflect education and literature. One direction includes architectural details featuring books, and the other includes calligraphic and typographic details, as well as pen and pencil sculpture.

Photo

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:26 -0500

Pull a handmade book of strings (by Kate Callan)

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:22 -0500

Pull a handmade book of strings (by Kate Callan)

Bookstore, The Library as a

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:16 -0500

iworkatapubliclibrary:

A man and his two daughters approached the desk.

Man [handing me his library card]: “I may owe you some money.”

Me: “It looks like you have one overdue book with a current fine of 70 cents.”

Man: “Which book is it?”

Me: “Pop Princess. It’s a teen book.”

Man: [turning to his tween daughter]: “Pop Princess! Is that the one you wanted to keep?”

[she nods]

Man: “I’d like to pay for it.”

Me: “Well, you can’t pay for it until it’s either returned or renewed, because the fine will keep accumulating every day it’s overdue. You’ll have to wait to pay the fine until you return it.”

Man: “No, I mean I want to buy it.”

Me: “Oh! Well, we don’t sell books, we just lend them. I’m sure you can find a copy of it on Amazon or in a bookstore?”

Man: “I can’t just pay for it?”

Me: “No.”

Poor kid, but it’s true, that’s not the business we’re in. Actually I once had a teen try to “trade” a very overdue videogame for one of his own that he didn’t want anymore.

Great graphic novels for seniors

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:21 -0500

bookavore:

This week Erin and I led a open book discussion about Stitches by David Small, the first time a graphic novel was chosen for one of these public discussions, and we weren’t sure who to expect. To our surprise, it was primarily attended by some of our regular seniors, who LOVED the book. We had a fantastic discussion and I was really struck by their passion for the book, and how they talked about it, and also how they talked about how they were recommending it to other people.

And now converting seniors into graphic novel readers is one of my professional goals, so I have started working on a list of recommendations specifically for their interests, based on my extrapolations from our book group discussion. The standard best graphic novels for new readers list is not going to work here. Some of my takeaways from that discussion:

They loved that it was a memoir and had no idea that comics like this existed. (See, we all mock the “comix aren’t for kidz anymore” trend pieces, but they exist for a reason.) So I’m looking for GNs that are non-fiction, memoir, or more serious fiction. Mature content is something to be aware of, but seniors are generally tougher readers than people give them credit for. (They’ve seen it all.)

There were multiple comments about how the book wouldn’t have worked as a text-only work. This feeling was pretty important to them. It’s hard to define this in a GN, but you know when you see it. For practical purposes, I’ve started by looking at works with the same writer and artist, because those tend to have a more holistic feel.

They loved the sequences without words. It was fascinating to hear that reading experience described by someone new to graphic novels.

The size of the lettering is important. When I recommended readalikes and suggested Persepolis, one woman commented that she had tried it, but the lettering was too hard for her to read. She had glasses on and used a magnifier, but magnifiers aren’t designed for comics, so it just ended up being annoying.

Using those thoughts, here’s a preliminary list of recommendations:

The Name of the Game by Will Eisner. Really, anything by Eisner would work, but I think the family sagas in this one make it particularly apt.

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli. A great favorite of mine and as interesting for its art as its story, which adds to the appeal for new readers. Also, I’ve been thinking of it as a readalike to The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes, which is a hit with seniors.

Maus by Art Spiegelman. Well, it wouldn’t be a list of graphic novels if I didn’t include Maus, right? But I include here because one of the attendees recommended it to the group, and when she described it, everyone seemed intrigued. So I add it despite the tiny lettering.

Radioactive by Lauren Redniss. In addition to being a great biography, this book has an unusual layout that could be a good intro for readers still getting used to the form. Small lettering, but because it is in blocks similar to a text-only book page, it would be much easier to enlarge.

Gemma Bovary by Posy Simmonds. The plot of this book is very similar to many British novels that are popular with seniors, but Simmonds uses visual details to flesh it out in a way that couldn’t be done in a text-only book. Plus it has the literary cred of Madame Bovary backing it up.

So that is what I have for now. I want to keep building it. What would you add?

"They used to say of Oscar Wilde that when you got down from the dinner table you felt funnier and..."

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:20 -0500

““They used to say of Oscar Wilde that when you got down from the dinner table you felt funnier and wittier and cleverer.
Now a lot of brilliant people make you feel less funny, less clever, less witty, because they’re so clever, witty and funny.
But he had the opposite effect. A bit like what Shakespeare said about Falstaff, ‘not just a wit, but a cause of wit in others’.””

- Stephen Fry (via completeinconsistency)

halfbre3ds: Pit stop on the way back from college #iastate...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:21 -0500

halfbre3ds:

Pit stop on the way back from college #iastate #iowa #americanpickers

"Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person..."

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:30 -0500

““Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae.” – Kurt Vonnegut,”

- http://qwiklit.com/2013/04/16/25-rare-photos-of-famous-authors/ (via neil-gaiman)

centuriespast: John Tenniel (1820–1914)Sir John Tenniel’s...

Sat, 11 May 2013 13:00:27 -0500

centuriespast:

John Tenniel (1820–1914)
Sir John Tenniel’s hand-colored proof of Cheshire Cat in the Tree Above Alice for The Nursery “Alice”, ca. 1889,
by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll)

The Morgan Library

polworld: John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa on May 26,...

Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:25 -0500

polworld:

John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa on May 26, 1907 in this house.

uispeccoll: New Acquisition: 1878 La divina commedia di Dante...

Sat, 11 May 2013 11:00:28 -0500

uispeccoll:

New Acquisition: 1878 La divina commedia di Dante with the smallest movable type ever cast, a 2pt font called “flies’ eyes.” Tiny is the only word to describe this 58mm volume. In fact, Anne Bromer’s book claims the compositor and the corrector injured their eyesight! Test your own eyesight by stopping by to see it.

Meep!

Photo

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:00:32 -0500

libraryjournal: arjache: Powell’s presents a compelling...

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:28 -0500

libraryjournal:

arjache:

Powell’s presents a compelling argument.

Yes. Yes.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LABELS.

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:00:35 -0500

It’s not full-time and I don’t get benefits but I really love my second little library job. Right now I finally get to realize one of my silly dreams from library school and help rebuild a neglected circulating music collection!

The assistant director wants to change our CD processing, too, because right now we kinda cover most of front with barcodes and fine warnings and property stickers. WHOOPS.

I have experience from my other job, but I’m curious what folks do with music CDs in other libraries. Anybody out there proud of their processing?

Lighting Books (by Bryce Wolkowitz)

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:00:31 -0500

Lighting Books (by Bryce Wolkowitz)

oldbookillustrations: In the Wieliczka salt mines. From The...

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:23 -0500

oldbookillustrations:

In the Wieliczka salt mines.

From The underground world, by Thomas Wallace Knox, Hartford, 1877.

(Source: archive.org)