Out Of This World Science Fiction Exhibition at BL

I was reading Gary Green's blog recently, and his going to the British Library to see the Out of this world exhibition. For those who can go I'd really recommend it. There's books there by Margaret Attwood, Mary Shelley, Phillip K Dick, Alan Moore and Neal Stephenson. The exhition looked at Dystopia novels, utopian novels, time shifting novels and Virtual reality novels amongst others. If that doesn't interest you, Dr.Who's Tardis is there.

23 Things for Professional Development part 3. Consider your brand

As mentioned previously I have started on the 23 Things for Professional Development. The third part is entitled Thing 3: Consider your personal brand by Jo Alcock.
Anyway, its something I'll look into later.

The best of times, the worst of Times

Since working for over three years at Senate House Library, I've had the good fortune to work with someone called Jim Callaghan. Jim opened the library, sorted the tills out, moved the books to there area and other jobs. Not the most glamorous job, but one he'd done well for 27 years. In that time he'd seen the library change from having a tea urn and bar, to a streamlined machine. He'd seen people come and people go.
In July he was to retire, with a new gran daughter to take care of and time with the family. We'd already organised his last birthday present (a London Irish rugby shirt, a bottle of whisky and a book). When we gave it to him, he had tears in his eyes. He was going to miss this place on retirement.
We were organising a leaving do for him in July. To hear his stories and to see him smile. Unfortunately, Jim passed away on Saturday in his sleep. It's amazingly sad, but I'm so glad he had that birthday and to see him smile. Sometimes when I blog I forget works not all about gadgets and talk. Its often about the people you interact with. You'll be sadly missed Jim.

The beginning of the end for books?

There's a good article In the Guardian entitled Want to know print's future? It will cost you… looking at the impact of Ebooks on paper books? Robert McGrum,the author of the article says:-

The history of technology teaches that the printing press did not make the manuscript redundant, nor did the typewriter eliminate the fountain pen. Despite dire predictions, television did not kill radio. Technological change is discontinuous.

Work, Work, Work

I have mentioned previously I have a new role at Senate House. This means I'm working as part of the collection management. This means I'm helping move collections. A lot of lifting. A lot of moving. But its a change......

The British Library and Google in conjunction to release 250,000 books

A colleague pointed this article The British Library and Google to make 250,000 books available to all out to me. Wonder how long it'll take to complete the digitising for that?

Supercharge your CPD: 23 Things for Professional Development starts today

I've just joined Supercharge your CPD: 23 Things for Professional Development (which I found via here). Described as:-

23 Things for Professional Development, also known as cpd23, is a self-directed, self-paced, inclusive, practical and free online programme open to librarians and information professionals at all stages of their career, in any type of role, any sector, and from any part of the world. It encourages information professionals to explore and discover social media 'Things', including Twitter, RSS feeds and file-sharing, as well as other 'traditional' CPD routes, such as gaining qualifications, presenting skills and getting published. Participants will be asked to assess how each Thing can assist them in their professional development, and then to blog about each Thing and share their thoughts, views and expertise. The programme is completely informal and no prior knowledge or experience is expected or assumed.

The first part was to set up a blog. The second part was to investigate and comment on others. I am hoping to do the course even though my new job means i'm constantly busy.

British Library still to release out of date copyright books for Kindle

I was reading with some in A Kindle World blog and the article British Library Books Follow-up: Enhanced Versions on iPad with Option to Buy Printed Copies at Amazon
What happened on the British Library books?. I had heard the British Library was to release these in February.
TUAW has reported though that Ipad has stolen a march on the kindle, by getting these books first. It also seems the Ipad App is only available in the USA. Thats so clever BL!

CILIP London: Voices for the Library: a new model for library advocacy at The Sekforde Arms Hashtag

As mentioned previously in this blog, Tom Roper will be talking at the Sekforde Arms. I mentioned in the post, that at the time there was no hashtag. Tom quickly responded by saying it might be worth using #vftlciliplond as the hashtag. Thanks Tom. I'm hoping to be there, but workuing until 6.00pm.

Bow down before the Kindle

As mentioned previously I have a Kindle. I have bought a load of books which are:-
*The Man
*Lair of the White Worm
*Alan Moore: The Essential Guide to the Creator of watchmen, From Hell and V for Vendetta (Pocket Essential series)
*Lord Jim
*Nostromo, a Tale of the Seaboard
*The Works of H. Rider Haggard

I love my Kindle. Its actually making me read more. Its so simple to use to.

New job, new start

As mentioned previously, I've started a new job at Senate House Library. Tomorrow I offically move to that team, which means lots of moving books, collection movement etc. There was another job here, in which two colleagues went up for the job. One I'd worked with since I started and another who has been here for 18 months. I'd hope the girl I started with got it, but the other guy got it (who is a nice guy and very good). Anyhow, office tittle, tattle is VERY dull.

Women’s Institute to campaign for libraries via Cilip

The Women’s Institute to campaign for libraries. Anyhow, thats a pretty big organisation to be supporting CILIP campaign against public library closures.

CILIP London: Voices for the Library: a new model for library advocacy at The Sekforde Arms

Tom Roper will be talking at Sekforde Inn in London entitled CILIP London: Voices for the Library: a new model for library advocacy. I might got along. Also unsure what the hashtag is for the event

A permanent role, a less permanent blog

Having not written on here for six or seven weeks, as I just didn't want to. I've also been busy getting a permanent role as Senate House library working within the collection management team. As a reward to myself I have now also bought a kindle. Therefore, I maybe cutting back on my blog entries. If you had not noticed already.

You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation. A book review

I've just finished You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation. Now, i'm a huge fan of John Hughes. I mean, name me an iconic film in the 1980's that used the library as its central place of events occuring in the film? It has to be the breakfast club? I had already had a cup of reminiscence reading Pretty in Pink and watched the excellent Don't You Forget About Me, which had a group of film-makers trying to meet the reclusive John Hughes to look at there documentary on him and the interviews they had with his former stars.
Anyhow, the book is by a real fan of the Hughes genre Susannah Gora. In the midst of writting this book she looks at Hughes early life, his body of work (Sixteen Candles, Breakfast club, Ferris Buellers Day Off, Some Kind of Wonderful and Home Alone. Gora also discusses the impact of David Blum's Brat packstory, and the impact it had upon there career. Gora, also looked at the two other directors that shared the same space whilst working in the 1980's together. These are Joel Schumacher and Cameron Crowe. Joel directed St. Elmo's Fire, whilst Cameron Crowe created Say Anything.
Well, Gora is VERY knowledgeable (the library in Breakfast club is actually in made in the gym in the school). She got to interview all the major stars in the films (but not John Hughes obviously). Its quite sad as well, because if anyone's watched Hughes films, its really sad that he'd stop talking to his muses such as Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall.
I love Hughes for many reasons, one being I took my brother to see Home Alone and I can still here him laughing.
What I did find problematic with the book was that there was little mention of Weird Science, Uncle Buck and Planes, trains and Automobiles. Also, the book Pretty in Pink discussed Breakfast Club, and why that dance sequence? Its just wrong.
Overall, its just a book you have to read. Because 'When you grow up, your heart dies."

Library Advocacy event at Cilip

23 May Library Advocacy: Sharing and Learning from National and International Experiences. The event is on my birthday and £96.00 (so too expensive a present for myself, but for those interested, it might be worth a shot.

Tim Wu at the RSA

I had the good fortune to here Tim Wu talk about his new book Master Switch at the RSA on wednesday. I did write about it on twitter under the following hashtag. The chair of the even was Tom Chatfield, author of Fun Inc. The Anyhow, after discussing the book and its main principles, the chair asked a few questions. The main preponderance of the discussion is whether information networks become monopolies (AT&T), closed systems (Apple) or need government to stop them stopping entrepeneurs opening up new markets because they are crushed by large ones.
The RSA is soon to release an MP3 of the event (check here for updates). I'd recommend the book to. Very interesting read.
Finally, thanks to Shane Dillion, who I had a nice chat with at the event. For a more in depth look at the event see the post here.

Nerdy Day Trips

(Found via here). Ben Goldacre has a blog post (and map) entitled nerdy daytrips. For those with a bit of geek in them it might be worth a look.

My 1st computer.....thirty years old

The BBC website has an article entitled ZX81 : Small blacl box of computing desire. Back in 1982 I got this as a Christmas present. The keyboard unresponsive, you had to move the memory back on the back, but my god I did love that computer.

Book to come......books to get

Having written previously of the book Googlization of everything, I've pre-ordered my copy which is due out on monday 07.03.11. Its been reviewed and looks a pretty good read.
Another book out soon is James Gleick's The Information : A history, a theory, a flood is due out 31.03.11 and reviewed here. Information overload, don't you just love it?