NetGalley

Came across a great site the other day -- NetGalley.

Their own description is best: "NetGalley is an innovative and easy-to-use online service and connection point for book publishers, reviewers, media, librarians, booksellers, bloggers and educators.

NetGalley delivers digital galleys and promotional materials to professional readers and helps promote new and upcoming titles. Using NetGalley, publishers can build communities, invite contacts to view galleys and promotional materials, and track who has viewed their titles.

Professional readers--reviewers, media, journalists, bloggers, librarians, booksellers and educators--can join and use NetGalley at no cost."

I've looked at a couple books and wrote a very short review of a cookbook, Perfect One-dish Dinners, which I liked a lot. Good recipes without a lot of fuss with great pictures.

Supposedly some of the galleys can be downloaded to a Kindle. I've requested some fiction books in hopes of trying this download. We'll see.

Librarians do Gaga

Just love this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_uzUh1VT98

Another six months

Another six months have flown by! What have I done? Read a lot of book, purchased a Kindle, bought more Kindle books than I should have, ended one school year, started another, started teaching a reference/bibliography class for 'wannabe' librarians. Not enough time....

Ah. It's been a tough fall and winter. I totally forgot about this blog while confronting budget issues, retirements, family illness, 66" of snow in the D.C. area, and more budget issues. Hopefully, 'things' have settled down.

Twenty years ago I could not have dreamed of where we are today with computers, the Internet, online resources, social networking and Web 2.0.

Now the question is: What is the future of school libraries? More and more school library departments are merging with technology departments. Has this happened to you? How has the role of the librarian changed? What do you envision for the future?

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?