Make Your Own Snowflake

Click on the Need a Snow Day? gadget on the left side and create your own snowflake. Great fun!

Library without books

Sadly I post this item as the first of the new school year. I suppose a library without books was bound to happen. I just didn't think it would be this drastic or soon, and I'm speechless.

ChaCha

Being a reference librarian at heart, this service/application/.... makes me want to buy a new cell phone and start texting. ChaCha is basically your local public library reference librarian at the other end of your cell phone. They say it "is like having a smart friend" who has the answers to almost any question you can ask. Thousands of "guides" answer the questions (though I do wonder who these people are and their backgrounds). The system supposedly works with most providers and cell phones (but not land lines). One calls or texts a question and in a few minutes the answer is sent to the cell phone in a text message. The service is free except for the cost of the text message. (The website is loaded with ads.)

Questions can be who, what, where, when, why and how -- fantastic! The questions and answers are also available on the website. Examples: What is the minimum wage in the U.S. What area code is 469? When were the Salem which (sp.) hunts?

Has anyone used ChaCha?

Bilbiotopia

What a great little book. BIBLIOTOPIA or, Mr. Gilbar's Book of Books & Catch-all of Literary Facts & Curiosities compiled by Steven Gilbar is wonderful collection of all book and literary trivia. From "Origin of the 'book'" to "Some Memorable Closing Lines" and "Famous Last Words," BIBLIOTOPIA has list after list of nothing but trivia. If you don't like lists, then this book is not for you. The book has no real arrangement -- I think the lists are entered as created by the author.

Origin of the 'book' = "The word comes from beech because the ancient Saxons and Germans usually wrote runes on pieces of beechen board.

Closing line = "That might be the subject of a new story, but our present story is ended." Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment"

Last words = "Blaise Pascal: My God, forsake me not."

Book Jewelry

I am always looking for items to give to librarians or book lovers. The bookmarks available through Book Jewelry fill the need. The ribbon, beads and charm make a great bookmark (approx. cost $10). I haven't tried beading. I wonder if I could make these?

Stupid questions....

Yes, I've been there and have/had all those same thoughts as The Vampire Librarian . In March The Vampire Librarian wrote "whoever said there are no stupid questions has never worked a public service desk." Amen! It's not that the questions are stupid so much as the ding-battiness of the questioner. You know, two slices short of a loaf of bread.... Which reminds me of that Mercedes Benz commercial with the blonde girl in the library ordering a burger. Brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.

Odds and Ends

Well, I joined two challenges in the last few weeks and have not started one book on the list for either challenge. I've been distracted by two other books. Last week I found Patterson's Mary, Mary in the guest room and realized I hadn't read it yet. Immediately sat down with the book in hand. Then Monday I received a copy of Afraid in the mail -- a great surprise. So I started to read that book, too. Guess I could add them to the Suspense and Thriller Reading Challenge list. As the saying goes, Too Many Books, Too Little Time.

Wicked Prey

Aaahhh! Wicked Prey by John Sandford will be released on May 12! I wish I lived in Minneapolis so I could go to a signing.

Cool Librarian and Teens

Cool Librarian has written about today's teenager and research in her recent blog. She discovered the students she met with were not interested in a class to prepare them for college research. Sadly, this behavior is normal for almost anyone especially teenagers. Why bother learning something now when the information won't be needed for a year or two. This reminds me of students questioning why they should take a geometry class -- "I'm never going to use that in real life."

Library Stuff

Came across Library Stuff today by accident today. As they say, " The library weblog dedicated to resources for keeping current and professional development." Library Stuff has short summaries of current information and links to further information. I like it. When I see something I like, I just click on the link. One of the news items that caught my attention was about a fountain of books. Sounded interesting. Here's the link to Fountain of Books.

Suspense and Thriller Reading Challenge Accepted

I have decided to participate in another reading challenge. Who knew there were soooo many? Since I read mostly mystery and thriller novels, this challenge should be fun: 2009 Suspense and Thriller Reading Challenge on J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Titles I hope to start with are:

Long Lost by Harlen Coben
Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross
Torn to Pieces by Margot McDonnell
Triple Cross by Mark Sullivan
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

J. Kaye's Book Blog

J. Kaye's Book Blog is one of many I have discovered this week. I am simply amazed at the number of blogs and wikis about books and reading that exist. The reviews, contests, challenges and comments are so interesting and varied. I love it! J. Kaye's Book Blog; where reading takes priority.

Linworth and Libraries Unlimited

Another publisher merging was announced today: Linworth Publishing acquired Libraries Unlimited on March 18. I don't know what to think of this.

Lisa Jackson Read-A- Fest

This will be my first challenge (sort of) -- the Lisa Jackson Read-A- Fest on J. Kaye's Blog. The idea is to read as many Lisa Jackson books in the months of April, May, and June. It could be as little as one book or as many as you’d like. (I tried to add a gadget for this, but had lots of trouble. So click on the above link to get the information.)

The books I plan to start this journey with are:

A Twist of Fate
Snowbound
Double Exposure
Dark Ruby
If Only She Knew

Booking Through Thursday

A weekly meme about (mostly) books and reading. A meme??? Booking Through Thursday states:
Memememe n (mëm): A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. From the Greek mimëma, something imitated, from mimeisthai, to imitate.

Great questions -- What is "the best book you've never read?" How do you arrange your books? Electronic vs Paper? Love that one!

Kate's Mystery Books

Kate's Mystery Books is an actual store in Cambridge, MA. I've never been there, but I like to look at the new books posted on the site. There are no reviews, just book covers. The online store doesn't appear to be working, but you can order via email. Different. Since I like mysteries, I often check Kate's Mystery Books for the latest offerings.

Radical Militant Librarian

Love this shirt of Karen the Librarian - Radical Militant Librarian

BookWormz

I came acrooss BookWormz by accident the other day. If you are in need of a gift for a bookworm/reader/librarian or friend, this just might fill the bill.

Having never ordered from BookWormz, I can't vouch for the quality or purchasing experience, but the bookmarks sure look interesting!

BookBrowse

BookBrowse offers a free twice-monthly e-newsletter full of book reviews. I like the twice a month frequency and the variety of books covered by the reviewers. And there is more than one review. In addition to the BookBrowse reviewer, comments from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, or other authors are given.

Take the Reading Personality quiz. I have three reading personalities: Exacting, Serial and Eclectic. Interesting....

BookBrowse also has a premium membership for an annual fee.

BookSpot

Here's an interesting site: BookSpot.com. Lots of lists (bestsellers, mystery, online books, bookstores, authors, discussion groups and more).

According to BookSpot.com, the site "is a free resource center that simplifies the search for the best book-related content on the Web. Featured sites are hand-selected by BookSpot.com editors and organized into intuitive categories...."

Author Author

Author Author is a WETA (Washington, D.C. public tv and radio station) blog featuring video author interviews (vlogs) and book reviews by Bethanne Patrick. Many categories of book reviews from Adventure to Young Adult. I like the author interviews as I usually miss televised interviews and can watch these at my convenience.

Goodreads

Goodreads is another fascinating site. Here's the official description:

Goodreads is the largest social network for readers in the world. We have over 1,800,000 members who have added over 41,000,000 books to their shelves. A place for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads members recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, form book clubs and much more. Goodreads was launched in December 2006.

I've started entering my books -- this may take some time. Plus, I need to work on my friends list and explore the trivia, video, writing, quotes and more fun things on Goodreads.

LibraryThing

The first blog item has to be LibraryThing . LibraryThing is a fantastic site -- a librarian's dream -- catalog your books using Amazon, Library of Congress, and other libraries; get suggestions for new books to read; find other people with similar reading tastes; read book reviews and more.

LibraryThing boasts that it is the "world's largest book club."

Create your library catalog -- the first 200 books are free, unlimited entries for one year ($10) or lifetime ($25).