Print is Not Dead

I go through phases with my Kindle.  Sometimes it's all I want to have: clicking from page to page, having free range to dip and dive into several different books, and having so many tomes at my fingertips can be exhilarating.   More often than not, though, I just want to hold a book.

I want to hold a book.  I want to smell it.  I want to be able to turn its pages, write in it, flip through it and hear the pages rustling. 

I do fear, though, that many are not of my opinion.  I fear that many growing up today would rather have an eReader than a book.  But then the internet gives me something like this:

Readers on the NY Subway

Reiner Gerritsen spent over three years collecting these images of readers reading on the NYC Subway.  This was beautiful, marvelous, everything I needed.  I would have loved to be the artist clicking photos of others reading.  I love looking at these photos, and studying the intensity on the readers' faces: the joy, wonder, bewilderment.  I love trying to imagine why they need that book at that very moment.  I'm not trying to be weird or nosy, but I will think about the book I see you holding...just a warning...and this will be the look I get when someone catches me wondering:

WHAT CHU LOOKIN AT, WILLIS???

An eReader might give you and your book choices some privacy, but I also love to shout out to the world what I'm reading.  I like it when a stranger will strike up a conversation with me about the book I'm reading.  That's always lovely, because one of the things I enjoy most is talking about what I'm reading.  (Just ask the students here at Uni: I GUSH about books...I think I overwhelm the students sometimes.  I know cause they look at me funny when I stop for a breath.)

My Kindle is fun, no doubt.  It's good for travel, since I can take a lot of books with me without being weighed down, but it will never win.  Stephen Fry agrees with me, too:

QB is Ready for Uni!

Nope.  No.  That is not quarterback, if you were wondering.  QB is short for Question Board.

Here at Uni, Supervisor Amy is taking a little bit of inspiration from our friends at the UIUC Undergrad Library and starting our very own Question Board.  This will replace our Suggestions Board, and we are hoping for two outcomes: 1) students still feel comfortable to request books for the library, and 2) students AND staff will feel free and excited to fill up the envelope with questions for QB to answer.

QB has been a long-standing tradition at the Undergrad since 1972.  During my brief stint at the UGL as a grad assistant in the Fall of 2013, I got to answer some questions for QB.  Questions there run the gamut from the mundane (Why do public toilets have a U-shape?) to the fantastical (Is Santa Claus real?) to the just downright silly (Who would win: Dumbledore or Gandalf?).  We are hoping the Uni students will have some fun questions, too, and we hope they will look forward to the responses QB will give them.  QB can't guarantee to answer ALL questions, but QB sure will try!  (QB does not believe in gender status, so QB just goes by QB!)

QB does believe in research and citing sources.  With each answer QB will tell what sources were consulted and give any necessary citations.  So, for the Santa example above, QB couldn't just answer, "YES!"  QB would have to provide the research done and some background on how the information was found as well.

The UGL QB started as part of their reference services over 40 years ago, and it's a favorite of UGL staff and patrons.  Our QB is an homage to the original, the biggest, THE BADDEST reference & info board on campus.  We hope we do the original QB justice!

Yay! Social Media!

Oh, social media.  You are now a part of a librarian's world.  You must be embraced.  I'm working on it, social media...except for Twitter.  I still can't stand you, Twitter.

I've found a couple of cool New Year lists on various social media sites that I'd like to note.

Reading Challenge 2015
I am HORRIBLE at setting goals for myself, because I don't think I've ever actually accomplished anything I've set out to do (except graduate from college, marry a guy with an accent, and have super cute kids).  So, for me the idea of taking on a Reading Challenge is daunting.  I think this one, from Popsugar, needs to be my first attempt, though.  It comes with a handy dandy printable checklist, and even though the site's name is terrible, it's still a fine list.  The hardest one for most to accomplish will be "A book that takes place in your hometown."  Most will probably just have to settle on a book that takes place in the nearest big city (which for me means Chicago, St. Louis, or Indianapolis...oh, the options!).

27 of the Most Exciting New Books of 2015
Oh, Buzzfeed.  Usually you're just the perfect time waster, full of lists nobody needs to pay attention to, but every once in awhile you have a gem worth noting (and not just secretly reading while hoping no one else looks over your shoulder).  This list really does have some exciting and intriguing books coming out.   There are too many potential good reads from the list to go on about now, but seriously, if you love smart, biting, cutting edge contemporary fiction, check out this list.

Epic Reads Instagram
This is my favorite Instagram feed...and I follow Robbie Williams, Jordan Knight, AND Jamie Oliver.  It's total book porn.  The photos inspire me to make my displays bigger, better, and brighter.  It has made me view book photography as an art, and one that I want to do well.  It's a gorgeous feed, and if you have IG, you should totally think about following it.  (NOTE: They seem to have a mad crush on YA author Tahereh Mafi...like MAD CRUSH.  They feature her books ALL THE TIME.  Not complaining; just saying.)

Here is one of my faves before I go:

New Year, New Displays

After a sluggish start to the New Year I finally got up two new displays this week.

Our January Author Spotlight is on Isaac Asimov...& Friends!  I found out a few interesting facts about Asimov in my research:

• His date of birth could be anywhere from October 4, 1919-January 2, 1920.  He chose to celebrate his birthday on January 2, hence the Author Spotlight status for this month.
• He died from complications from AIDS.  He contracted HIV from a blood transfusion, but his doctors advised his family not to publicize this at the time of his passing in 1992, since there was still extreme prejudice about AIDS at the time.
• Amy suggested making the display "& Friends," which is perfect, since Asimov is considered one of the "Big Three" of hard science fiction (sci-fi that is steeped in scientific accuracy).  The others of the Big Three are Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein.

I finally took down our trilogies display.  I was sad to see it go.  I replaced it with a display called By the Numbers.  When I was weeding the fiction collection way back in August, I noticed how many books we had with numbers in the title.  It's been in the back of my mind to do a numbers display since then, and I thought now was as good a time as any.  In addition to YA fiction titles, I also pulled a couple of graphic novels and Shakespeare plays (only three of them, even though there could be more).  Most genres are represented as well: realistic fiction, sci-fi, classics, historical, mystery.  I think this display is very well rounded.

Finally, I updated our Let's Go to the Movies display sign.  This month I re-introduced some titles from November and January that are still in theaters.  In lieu of the recently aired Golden Globes, I also indicated which titles were nominated or won. 

This is just practice for the BIG SHOW at the end of February...the Oscars!  I don't know quite yet what that display will be, but I'm excited to start thinking about it!

I can't wait to see what other displays come to my mind in 2015.  If you're interested in them as well, keep checking back! 

Welcome to 2015!

WHOA!  I totally stopped posting over Holiday Break, but that's what breaks are for...to pause, relax, and rejuvenate.

To be honest, it's been kind of hard to get back in the swing of things.  I think I might have had too much fun over break.  I didn't do much: had lots of Christmas fun, played with the three beautifullest babies in the world, hung out with my awesome husband, spent time with great friends, wore lots of Christmas sweaters...Yes, an outstanding, yet SIMPLE, time to be sure.

However, I was having too much fun and didn't get to do all the reading I envisioned doing.  In fact, I barely started a new book.  My imaginings of having lots of time off from class to read ended up being the reality of spending lots of time with my babes during the day, watching lots of Avengers-related stuff with my husband at night, and then being too sleepy to read.  What a bad librarian!!!

 I did start Stephen King's latest book, Revival.  My son wanted to get me a book for Christmas, and he wanted it to be shiny.  While wandering around the bookstore, my husband saw Revival, showed it to  my son, and he approved.

 You can't tell here, but the physical copy has a shimmering sheen that met with my son's "shiny" approval.

It's off to a great start, with the main character facing moral dilemmas, drug addiction, and losing his mother and only sister in tragic ways...and that's all in the first 160 pages!  My goal was to have it finished by this week, but alas, that hasn't happened.  I hope to finish it soon, even though I have to read two novels by the start of class next Thursday.  I better get to readin'!!!

Here's to a great 2nd semester in the Uni High Library, a strong finish to my time in the GSLIS program, and hopefully I'll get some sleep along the way. 

Relaxation Station

It's Finals time round these here parts, and Amy and I feel that it is our responsibility to not only offer a space for students to prepare and study for the finals, but also offer them a place where they can come, relax, and take a moment to breathe.

We've brainstormed a couple of ideas for the Library's Relaxation Station.  We have a puzzle out and ready for the students to work on.  By the end of the second break period (there are two each day during Finals Week), the frame had already been completed!  We also have come coloring sheets out.  Coloring is so therapeutic, so never be ashamed of coloring, even as a teen or adult.

At the end of the week we'll also be offering a Very Merry Morning.  We'll be listening to David Sedaris' recording of his story "SantaLand Diaries" from his collection Holidays on Ice.  We'll also be having our monthly games offering and treats.  

Yes, we definitely want the students to do well on their Finals, but we also want them to have a bit of fun to relieve their stress.  We just hope it doesn't get too loud.



*OOPS!  I forgot to post this before I left for Holiday Break!  I still thought it was cool for everyone to see the puzzle that was completed by the Uni students.  :)