Oh, this will never happen

(Found via here). Seems the Telegraph is not that enamoured with Margaret Hodge's Library Modernisation Review. In there delightful article
Cappuccinos in your local library? It's all just froth. In the article Michael Deacon calls for books and silence in his ideal library - and nothing else. I agree to some extent. Though some of the comments are......well, lets says homophobic (see Literary Stealing comment). Anyway, I do think Deacon is correct to some degree. Sections of the library do need to be silent for people to study. But there also needs to be area's for kids and people who may need to talk.

Happy anniversary to me

I have now been at my current position for two years. Therefore I made whisky cake, but run out of whisky and put amarillo in instead. No photo i'm afraid.

Audio book via Librivox

(Found via here). I was just reading about Librivox which is described thus:-

LibriVox volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain and release the audio files back onto the net. Our goal is to make all public domain books available as free audio books.

Seems a great idea and worth volunteering for.

Liver and Mash.....another library mash up

The fourth UK library mash up is happening in Liverpool. The ning site says :-

The next (unless someone else sneaks in first) Mashed Libraries event will take place at the University of Liverpool on the 14th May 2010. Bookings will open on 6th April 2010.

The twitter hash tag is #mashliv.

For those that go, have a good one.

Forbes feels young learners needs libraries too

A recent articles in Forbes entitled Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google has indicated many some of us have said before. Oh well.

Nesta event screened

After the What's App? - The App Economy Event I went to last night, they've put a video up of it here.

The changing face of public libraries

Seems there is a change a foot with public libraries in the uk (haven't we heard that before?) With Free internet access and e-books could help reverse a decline in the number of people using libraries in England or so Culture Minister Margaret Hodge says. But I thought we were already doing that? And E-books? Please, the price of entry is still prohibitive for many users (aka that thing called 'the working classes'?)
Department for Culture Media and Sport also released the report here on this idea.
Seems its been canned already to.

Nesta event tonight

As mentioned previously, I am off to a Nesta event entitled What's App? - The App Economy Event. Hopefully I'll be twittering it tonight.

The demise of the profession?

(Found via here). Here is an interesting item via The Economist entitled Data, data everywhere. An interesting article that looks at the ever increasing world of data.

A day out doing Flash

Today I went for a Flash course in Finsbury Park. Its only two saturdays, but very enjoyable. Role on next week.

Marilyn Johnsons NYT book review

(Found via here). Marilyn Johnsons excellent book has her reviewed in the New York Times here.

Meeting other bloggers......and not work related

A little know fact about me is I am an Avid Arsenal FC fan. I have been a fan for nearly thirty years, when I watched my first game (and defeat) on television. I am an avid reader of Arsenal soccer blogs, and often read an American blogger on the subject. He is presently here (in London) for a couple of ghames and therefore i'm meeting him for a pre-match drink. But do we talk blogging or football.......choices,choices

Mash-up is an old term.....151 years to be exact

(Found via here) Disruptive Library Technology Jester pointed out that the term mash-up is 151 years old. He/she writes:-

Ron Murray, a colleague at the Library of Congress (and no known relation to me), sent me a note about the history of the term “mash-up” in the Oxford English DictionaryL1 (subscription required). The definition of the first sense is “A mixture or fusion of disparate elements” with the notation that usage is rare before the late 20th century, and the OED includes this quotation:


1859D. BOUCICAULT Octoroon I. 13 He don’t understand; he speaks a mash up of Indian, French, and Mexican.

The reference to “Octoroon” appears to be for a playL2 called The OctoroonL3 that was first performed in 1859, making the mashup term about 151 years old.

Wow. I always thought it was only about 60 years old and came from reggae mash up.

£40 book token or your library?

With the economic downturn and likelihood of the 25,000 job losses due to council tax reductions. Seems Radio 5 discussed what councils should be saved and let go.

Here's the best idea though:-

Northamptonshire County Council, for instance, says that so few people use its libraries (17%), that it would be cheaper to give everyone a £40 book voucher.

Oh, can I have them as Amazon tokens please?

The Hollywood Librarian discussion

After the talks we discussed the role of libraries and librarians. Tell you what, it was depressing. Many of us felt that we are less valued. Our opinions are under-rated and that our job is now about numerics. One academic librarian at Art school pointed out art students don't take items as the books are usually heavy. Hell, I think i'll reach for a drink.

Three talks at HollyWood Librarian part 2

Presentations by Mike Allport from Southwark libraries and noisy library day. Then Rosella Black from Westminster libraries discussing how the lbrary has been used as a performance library because its an arts library. Finally Sara Wingate Gray, the Itinerant Poetry Library. Was interesting, but the Q & A was way to short as they talked too much.

Patriot act extended

(Found via here). Seems the Patriot Act is being extended until 2011. Great.

Ning Library 2.0 saved

Ning Library 2.0 saved, so I have been informed. Gary, thanks for the heads up, i'll hopefully use it a bit more often now.

Hollywood Librarian 2 at Stuart Hall, Part II

The day started in Hoxton at the Stuart Hall library. Assistant librarian Holly Callaghan introduced the event and discussed the vent and how it was the second in the series of events held here. She discussed Maura Seale's treatise on the portrayal of librarians entitled 'Old maids, and social rejects : Mass media representations and public perceptions of Librarians'. This describes how 5 types of librarians are identified within modern culture. These being:

1.The Old Maid Librarian.
2.The Policeman Librarian.
3.The Policeman Librarian.
4.The Inept Librarian.
5.The Hero/ine Librarian.

Then we watched Desk Set. Then a break for lunch.

Hollywood Librarian 2 at Stuart Hall

The Hollywood Librarian 2 is actually not Hollywood Librarian, but the presentations of us. Therefore we will be watching Desk Set and The Gun of Betty Lou's handbag and a discussion.

Hollywood librarian at Hoxton

As mentioned previously, I've come for a screening and discussion on The Hollywood Librarian. Just read through Iniva programme on the subject, i'll have to pdf the stuff. Will be twittering and updating the blog.