Blogging Librarian » libraries

Video and Some Quick Links - 17 July 2010

Isaak Kwok — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:42:49 +0000

A funny yet effective, IMHO, promotional video done for the Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library along the lines of the current viral video all over the web of the new Old Spice advertisements running on US televisions.

Libraries focus on convenience with mall locations
Singapore has had libraries in malls for quite a number of years already with the first one opened back in 1999. I personally worked in 2 mall libraries during my 8 years working in the public libraries in Singapore. And I do think mall libraries allow for mall shoppers to just stroll through the library after they are done with their shopping.
Libraries embrace new technology
What a wonderful way to make use of technology in the form of Skype to get an author to ‘sit in’ on your book club even though they might be in a different country. Besides Skype, the article also talks about other technologies that are used in libraries such as gaming such as the Microsoft XBox, Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 as well as e-readers such as the Kindle and iPad.
Kids find summertime haven in libraries, parents find day care
I guess this is a normal occurrence in all public libraries all over the world, particularly during school holidays. I guess it is only a summertime haven if the libraries not that busy and the librarians and library staff can help look out for the kids. However, in busier libraries, I think it will pose security problems as the library staff will not be able to keep tabs on all the children all the time. How do your libraries help in this area?
Using Library Experts Wisely
I wish all teachers work with library staff this way to enhance the learning of their students. Enuff said!
Library supporters question Pacers deal
Sad to read about a city’s decision to not support funding for libraries and yet spend nearly 5 times more to prop up a NBA team.

Video: Staffing the Library of the Future in Plain English

Isaak Kwok — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:39:22 +0000

The video is done by the library at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and it is follows the style developed by the Common Craft.

Cartoon of ‘Nancy’

Isaak Kwok — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:39:27 +0000

Quite apt for the current economic situation. And I think public libraries around the world have an increased visitorship and maybe even loans.

Personally, I’ve experience the busy-ness of the Adelaide City Council libraries as well as the South Australia State Library.

Managers and Complaints

Isaak Kwok — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:44:41 +0000

(via Unshelved)

Today’s (yesterday’s if you are in Asia or Australia) Unshelved comic strips talks about the manager trying to avoid meeting a patron because the patron was trying to make a complaint to her.

I’ve got similar ‘adventures’ when I was a librarian. It was definitely not fun, particularly when the patron is fuming about something and just want someone to vent their anger at. But I guess I used something similar as in the comic strip to help defuse the situation. Of course, this doesn’t work all the time and things do get ugly when the patron just starts shouting in the library.

Have you encountered any ‘nasty’ customers in the course of your work in the library? If you have, please feel free to share them in the comments.

Quick Links - Video Promotion of New York Public Library and Others - 04 January 2009

Isaak Kwok — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:48:59 +0000

Some quick links:

A fantastic video promotion of the New York Public Library.

{via The ‘M’ World - Marketing Libraries}
Brilliantly Bookish: 15 Dazzling Library Designs
A wonderful list of 15 wonderful looking designs of library buildings around the world. Some are still in the design stage while others are already operating. Unfortunately, the NLB Building is not featured in the list. I particularly like the designs for Ballard Library, Philadelphia’s Parkway Central Library, and London’s Peckham Library. Go have a look and see which are your favourites.
{via LISNews}
Luckenwalde Public Library, Germany
The library is housed in a former train station and looks really beautiful. And the interior looks even nicer with the specially designed furniture.
{via walking paper}
Eat a scorpion? Anything to motivate teens to read
This is a really bizarre news article where the teen services librarian ate a scorpion pop as a challenge for the teens to post a certain number of comments about the books they have read. So, any other teen librarians interested?
{via LISNews}

Christmas Party Performance by the National Library of Australia

Isaak Kwok — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:41:09 +0000

Merry Christmas to all the readers of Blogging Librarian!

Sorry that the blog hasn’t been updated for quite some time … nearly 2 whole months. Have been a little busy with moving the whole family to Adelaide, Australia. Have settled in a little and will definitely continue blogging about libraries, librarians and the wonderful stuff happening in libraries all around the world.

And before I resume my blogging, here’s a video of a wonderful performance by the staff at the National Library of Australia during their Christmas Party of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Enjoy!

(via librarian.net)

[UPDATE: Found on Librarians Matter that there are many more “Thriller” mashups by libraries and librarians.]

Library’s Eco-Roof Unveiled

Isaak Kwok — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:23:26 +0000

Given the strong emphasis on climate change and being green, the library system in Multnomah County in the US has installed a US$180,000 eco-roof. The eco-roof is a structure that uses the plants to help clean the air and absorb rainwater.

Maybe MPOW can consider doing something similar for our library buildings.

(via LISNews)

Quick Links - Reference Books and Other Stories - 25 September 2008

Isaak Kwok — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:54:33 +0000

- Reference Books
This Wall Street Journal article suggests some reference books that are essential for a home library. Do you think they are essential for your library as well? And in our increasingly online-oriented world, do you think printed references are still essential when anyone with Internet access can just search for it through Google or Wikipedia?
(via LISNews)

- Is the use of book covers legal?
A wonderful blog post, written by lawyer and librarian Mary Minow, on the legality of the use of book covers by libraries on their Web sites and blogs. Do read the comments in the post for more discussion. What are your views?
(via LibrarianInBlack)

- The Back Nine Stacks
Ever thought of converting part of your stack into a mini golf course! Well, there’s now a non-profit organisation, the Library Mini Golf non-profit group, in the United States doing just that. The mini golf course is meant to be a one-off event for fundraising purposes as well as a way to get people to have a fun day at the library. The founder, Rick Bolton, estimates that a library can raise about US$10,000 in just one day. Maybe we can just do something similar at V.A.T. at Jurong Regional Library for the teens. I think they’ll enjoy it.

Quick Links - Why Public Libraries Close and Other Stories - 23 September 2008

Isaak Kwok — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:32:42 +0000

- Why Public Libraries Close?
A report on a nationwide study done in the United States on the impact of public library closures. What was interesting in the study was the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map out the impacts on library users. We don’t see GIS used much in Singapore in analysing any kind of information.
(via LISNews)

- China national library is the world’s third most spacious library
With the opening a new building, China’s national library is now the third biggest national library in terms of floor space in the world, behind France and the United States. With this new building, the total floor space has reached 250,000 square metres. As a comparison, the National Library building at Victoria Street is about 58,783 square metres.
(via LISNews)

- Discounts with Your Library Card (pdf)
A cluster of public libraries in Northern Kentucky in the United States have collaborated with businesses in its community to bring discounts for members of the library. The discounts cover a good range of products and services.
(via LISNews)

Quick Links - World’s Modern Libraries and Others Stories - 10 September 2008

Isaak Kwok — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:12:20 +0000

- The 25 Modern Libraries in the World
A listing of libraries that shows libraries are no longer like the libraries of old. Libraries are now at the cutting edge of information management as well as design and web technology. Unfortunately, MPOW is not listed as one of them.
(via kottke.org)

- Future-Proof Your Library
Some wonderful ideas from Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers on how to ensure a library’s relevance in future.

- John Prescott and Kama Sutra abandoned in hotel rooms
No, they were not intimately related. They were related in that they were books that were abandoned in budget hotels in the United Kingdom this past summer. The list was compiled by Travelodge, a chain of budget hotels in the UK and Ireland, and is done annually. In all, 7,000 books were left behind in Travelodge hotels throughout the year.
(via LISNews)

- 2008 Booker Prize announced
The shortlist for this year’s Booker Prize was announced this past Monday. The following novels are on the list: Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger, Sebastian Barry’s The Secret Scripture, Amitav Ghosh’s Sea of Poppies, Linda Grant’s The Clothes on Their Backs, Philip Hensher’s The Northern Clemency, and Steve Toltz’s A Fraction of the Whole. Surprisingly, some of the hot favourites from the longlist such as Salman Rushdie’s The Enchantress of Florence, Michelle de Kretser’s The Lost Dog, and Joseph O’Neill’s Netherland did not make it. I was quite surprised that Salman Rushdie did not even make the shortlist considering that he is a double Booker of Booker winner as well as Best of the Booker winner. The winner of this year’s Booker Prize would be announced on 14 October 2008.