![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Jun. 22nd, 2009 10:08 pm
This is what we call a "bad idea"
Ohio Governor Proposes Halving State Support; Many Libraries Could Close :
Library aid would be cut by $227 million over two yearsIn the meantime,
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
lifecollage was just relating how the librarians at the main branch of the BPL (Copley) spent their day off last week on Bunker Hill Day: quoth she: "30 people (eta: SENIOR MANAGEMENT) shelved 70 carts in 8 hours" because apparently having shelvers is not so critical. This was before the cuts started being implemented and they went from 1/2 to 3/4 gone. Did I mention how much I'm keen on my job? Yeah. It's really good. Even if I have to deal with moldy books right now.
So- Ohio people- spare 5 min. and ping the ones trying to hamstring you? ... 'k. Thanks.
Sep. 30th, 2008 03:27 pm
Post Its: Resolution?
Late last week, I had a small flurry of folks sending me the link to the Wired article about Jay Walker's library. Everyone's first reaction is to say "ooooooh." After the oooh wears off, some folks started to notice that the picture on page 5 was somehow reversed and was showing the mirror image. Not me. Nope. I was losing my mind over the Post-It notes on the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle. My compulsion after regaining a semblance of cool was to find Mr. Walker so I could tell him. He had to know.
Emails to the article's author and to the info addy for Walker Digital are sent with the request to talk to Mr. Walker in reference to the article. When a reply comes back from the president of WD, I am pleasantly surprised. My email will be passed up. I leave for the weekend trying not to plot too much about how to wrangle a visit to see the library.
My Monday, as previously noted was busy. I finally checked my email about three hours after I get in and holy smokes, The Man Himself has written to me saying "reach me here." The entire afternoon is lost to a carefully crafted reply.
What I said---
( my letter )
And his reply from earlier today--
( his letter )
My final word was in essence- thanks- feel free to stop by if you're in Boston. As Robin said when I related this to her: "saving the books, one at a time."
I'm still thinking about the sociological aspect of this. Here's a guy who is a big deal in his field- he made it big, has done innovative things and reaped the rewards. This is not someone I'd ever have a chance or reason to connect with, and yet! He crossed into my world a bit with that library and the dreaded Post-Its. His authority doesn't negate my authority in my own field, so... suddenly it seems perfectly appropriate and even encouraged. This doesn't mean it reduces the weird/woah of it all. I also wonder if there'll be other book guardians who follow my path and try to contact him once they see it, too.
Emails to the article's author and to the info addy for Walker Digital are sent with the request to talk to Mr. Walker in reference to the article. When a reply comes back from the president of WD, I am pleasantly surprised. My email will be passed up. I leave for the weekend trying not to plot too much about how to wrangle a visit to see the library.
My Monday, as previously noted was busy. I finally checked my email about three hours after I get in and holy smokes, The Man Himself has written to me saying "reach me here." The entire afternoon is lost to a carefully crafted reply.
What I said---
( my letter )
And his reply from earlier today--
( his letter )
My final word was in essence- thanks- feel free to stop by if you're in Boston. As Robin said when I related this to her: "saving the books, one at a time."
I'm still thinking about the sociological aspect of this. Here's a guy who is a big deal in his field- he made it big, has done innovative things and reaped the rewards. This is not someone I'd ever have a chance or reason to connect with, and yet! He crossed into my world a bit with that library and the dreaded Post-Its. His authority doesn't negate my authority in my own field, so... suddenly it seems perfectly appropriate and even encouraged. This doesn't mean it reduces the weird/woah of it all. I also wonder if there'll be other book guardians who follow my path and try to contact him once they see it, too.
I'm having another very full brain day.
Despite almost missing it altogether thanks to losing track of time, I attended the BPL-hosted Eclectic Library-created seminar on RSS feeds/taming info clutter.
I have to admit something. Until today, I never bothered to figure out RSS feeds/aggragators... anything. I understand what it does on a basic level, but I had never connected why I should care. I felt, in some way, a failure or bad librarian/tech-savvy person for this lack, but not enough to correct the problem until now. So, now I know and as soon as I'm done here, I'll be compiling material and setting up the Googly-moogly reader.
I don't know why, but I seem to be willing to take small risks I don't normally want to take. For example, the five other people in the seminar knew each other. On another day, I'd have not bothered to point out this dynamic. I'd have just waited for the talk to begin. A good an appropriate choice.
After J- and I finished a tasty Thai lunch and we parted ways, I chose not to take the T back to work. I walked through the Garden and Commons instead. It doesn't get much prettier than this afternoon, after all. While I was walking through, I noted that there's yet another movie filming in the Garden. I walked up to an obvious local eating lunch if she knew what was shooting. She didn't but was amused by the query and my outgoingness. She did look like someone I should already know. So that's another example.
Once on the Common side, I noted some tourists taking picutres of a squirrel. This phenomina always amuses and baffles. I've always lived in a place with a plethora of fuzzy tailed rodents. These folks- from France- not so much. I equated it with me taking pictures and marveling at the cactii in Arizona. Usually, I don't talk to tourists.
And you're all saying: "But.... you are extremely outgoing and talk to random people all the time." Well... only sort of. In the city, I really prefer to stay in city mode and not talk to randoms. In group settings, I often feel, even if I don't show, a dislike to talking to strangers. The absence of the dislike must be the big change in today's interactions.
Despite almost missing it altogether thanks to losing track of time, I attended the BPL-hosted Eclectic Library-created seminar on RSS feeds/taming info clutter.
I have to admit something. Until today, I never bothered to figure out RSS feeds/aggragators... anything. I understand what it does on a basic level, but I had never connected why I should care. I felt, in some way, a failure or bad librarian/tech-savvy person for this lack, but not enough to correct the problem until now. So, now I know and as soon as I'm done here, I'll be compiling material and setting up the Googly-moogly reader.
I don't know why, but I seem to be willing to take small risks I don't normally want to take. For example, the five other people in the seminar knew each other. On another day, I'd have not bothered to point out this dynamic. I'd have just waited for the talk to begin. A good an appropriate choice.
After J- and I finished a tasty Thai lunch and we parted ways, I chose not to take the T back to work. I walked through the Garden and Commons instead. It doesn't get much prettier than this afternoon, after all. While I was walking through, I noted that there's yet another movie filming in the Garden. I walked up to an obvious local eating lunch if she knew what was shooting. She didn't but was amused by the query and my outgoingness. She did look like someone I should already know. So that's another example.
Once on the Common side, I noted some tourists taking picutres of a squirrel. This phenomina always amuses and baffles. I've always lived in a place with a plethora of fuzzy tailed rodents. These folks- from France- not so much. I equated it with me taking pictures and marveling at the cactii in Arizona. Usually, I don't talk to tourists.
And you're all saying: "But.... you are extremely outgoing and talk to random people all the time." Well... only sort of. In the city, I really prefer to stay in city mode and not talk to randoms. In group settings, I often feel, even if I don't show, a dislike to talking to strangers. The absence of the dislike must be the big change in today's interactions.
Tags:
Apr. 21st, 2004 08:08 pm
Warning: Humans should cover their ears
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The new Lexington Public Library is bloody awesome. Beeeeeauuuuuteeeeeeful! I went out to get K. some milk, was meandering towards the grocery store, and remembered allofasudden that- holy crap- the library was open! So, milk purchasing postponed, I scuttled in. The interior design and flow of the main floor entirely works. I was caught unawares, so had to make do without library card or book list. Tsk. Naughty librarian. Lots of nooks to read in, of course. Comfy, new furniture. The historical rooms hadn't had their doors installed yet, so I could sneak a peak at the titles. I was impressed/horrified that they spent money on rebinding and the bindings were typical library- grade hideous.
When Caulay and I were shuffling around Harvard Sq. last night, we happened (yeah, right. It was on purpose) into the Harvard Bookstore. One of the titles we saw there Fortress of Solitude was in the new books section, so for lack of a better idea, borrowed that and requested the latest Laurie R. King The Game, which probably won't be in for weeks, given they only have the 3 copies and LRK is a god-dess of mystery novels.
I realize that the minimal library was about equidistant from my house as the original, big library is, but it wasn't spatious or comfortable to spend time in. Now I have a real library to walk to like I did when I was a kid. I guarantee I'll be spending a fair bit of time there.
The new Lexington Public Library is bloody awesome. Beeeeeauuuuuteeeeeeful! I went out to get K. some milk, was meandering towards the grocery store, and remembered allofasudden that- holy crap- the library was open! So, milk purchasing postponed, I scuttled in. The interior design and flow of the main floor entirely works. I was caught unawares, so had to make do without library card or book list. Tsk. Naughty librarian. Lots of nooks to read in, of course. Comfy, new furniture. The historical rooms hadn't had their doors installed yet, so I could sneak a peak at the titles. I was impressed/horrified that they spent money on rebinding and the bindings were typical library- grade hideous.
When Caulay and I were shuffling around Harvard Sq. last night, we happened (yeah, right. It was on purpose) into the Harvard Bookstore. One of the titles we saw there Fortress of Solitude was in the new books section, so for lack of a better idea, borrowed that and requested the latest Laurie R. King The Game, which probably won't be in for weeks, given they only have the 3 copies and LRK is a god-dess of mystery novels.
I realize that the minimal library was about equidistant from my house as the original, big library is, but it wasn't spatious or comfortable to spend time in. Now I have a real library to walk to like I did when I was a kid. I guarantee I'll be spending a fair bit of time there.
Mar. 21st, 2003 09:07 am
Stuff- a bit rambly
So, I leave for Our Nation's Capitol this afternoon to visit Jenn, a friend I've known since high school. I'm nervous about the travel part, especially given the destination, but I'll suck it up and go. Stupid to cancel a trip because something bad might happen. Hell, even staying in bed has its dangers. Comets, killer tree branches, earthquakes... you get the idea.
So- I'm all packed. I managed to get everything into my everyday backpack - it's fucking heavy, but at least I'll not be taking the bottle of wine back with me. I'm against the idea of checking luggage if it can be avoided, so one bag and my purse. . . a new purse for the trip. I think that fashion designers are on worse crack than usual this year- almost no purse has straps long enough so one can do a bandallero style. I did find a denim one that did have a long enough strap, wasn't over 30 dollars, and will fit my hardback book, which was the critical point. It's not great, but it has potential once I get those goddamn rhinestones off and add some paint/design.
The book in question, by the way, is a Laurie R. King- A Darker Place. It's amazing. Completely engrossing and therefore perfect for travel. (Thanks,aroraborealis, for prodding me into looking into LRK's other work!!)
This morning I get one of the periodic emails from Classmates.com to make sure I'm still alive. This prods me into looking over who's signed up, but I still flatly refuse to give them money in order to have access to email addresses. Our high school has an alum page that lets you have the addys for free, but naturally there's not a perfect match between the sites.
And here we come to the bit that made me want to write.
One of the people who is on Classmates but not the high school site is someone whom I have a serious grudge against, which is saying something. I have a hard time staying mad at someone for years on end. I considered then rejected signing up for classmates just so I could find out more about said wanker, get his email and yell at him for fucking me over.
Not worth it at this point.
( The reason why I'm angry with him )
So, there you have it. In 5 hours I'll head to the airport, try not to get to freaked about traveling to an even less safe place in the world, imo, and hopefully see some cool stuff, like the Library of Congress, while I'm there.
So- I'm all packed. I managed to get everything into my everyday backpack - it's fucking heavy, but at least I'll not be taking the bottle of wine back with me. I'm against the idea of checking luggage if it can be avoided, so one bag and my purse. . . a new purse for the trip. I think that fashion designers are on worse crack than usual this year- almost no purse has straps long enough so one can do a bandallero style. I did find a denim one that did have a long enough strap, wasn't over 30 dollars, and will fit my hardback book, which was the critical point. It's not great, but it has potential once I get those goddamn rhinestones off and add some paint/design.
The book in question, by the way, is a Laurie R. King- A Darker Place. It's amazing. Completely engrossing and therefore perfect for travel. (Thanks,
aroraborealis, for prodding me into looking into LRK's other work!!)This morning I get one of the periodic emails from Classmates.com to make sure I'm still alive. This prods me into looking over who's signed up, but I still flatly refuse to give them money in order to have access to email addresses. Our high school has an alum page that lets you have the addys for free, but naturally there's not a perfect match between the sites.
And here we come to the bit that made me want to write.
One of the people who is on Classmates but not the high school site is someone whom I have a serious grudge against, which is saying something. I have a hard time staying mad at someone for years on end. I considered then rejected signing up for classmates just so I could find out more about said wanker, get his email and yell at him for fucking me over.
Not worth it at this point.
( The reason why I'm angry with him )
So, there you have it. In 5 hours I'll head to the airport, try not to get to freaked about traveling to an even less safe place in the world, imo, and hopefully see some cool stuff, like the Library of Congress, while I'm there.
