A couple teasers:
"I don't want to understand it, I just want to know how it's going to be done."
"You're too enthusiastic and eager to please. Every time I see you smile, it ruins my whole day."
Thursday, May 26, 2011
McSweeney's 2/2
A couple teasers:
"I don't want to understand it, I just want to know how it's going to be done."
"You're too enthusiastic and eager to please. Every time I see you smile, it ruins my whole day."
From McSweeneys 1/2
Alcoholism has a sadly romantic quality that conventional attitudes overlook. Society = afraid to say this!
Link here.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Breathing Books
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." ~ Harper Lee.
"I nearly always write, just as I nearly always breathe." ~
John Steinbeck.
Link here.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
LACONI: eReaders in Libraries
Library eReader Presentations
You can see the slides from the great presentations here. But it seems like it might be a temporary link, so feel free read on for my notes and observations.
40 eReaders circulate, varying brands. No internal loss, cameras everywhere. Best to circulate pre-loaded, add new ones yearly. Each device has a list of books in its record.
Kindles
Takes a while to get approval. Call corporate, 3 months later using them.
19 regular + 1 DX (for large type only) + 1 reference (for staff to play with). Do not work with Overdrive.
This is what patrons ask about. Answer demand by circulating pre-loaded Kindles.
"Singles" -- for short-format works, novellas, ebook-only releases
"Romance" -- Many come out only in eBook format, esp. paranormal.
"Special Collections" -- local authors.
--they must be cleared each time. The home page can seem "lost," patrons will panic. Kindles can be de-re-registered. Ordering is too easy. Costs the patron, not the library. They break, but Amazon replaces them with no questions asked. When batteries run out, they're dead and must be returned. 6 kindles per account.
Nooks
10 regular + 1 reference. Work with Overdrive. Extremely good/improved customer service.
Ordering is time consuming, can drain batteries.
Adobe Digital Editions can't be activated more than 6 times before they need to be reactivated. Takes very little time to clear up and can be deregistered.
Sony
10 regular + 1 reference. Work with Overdrive.
Sony Reader Library Program -- training, handouts, pocket edition readers. Ordering is time-consuming. Must synch to computer. Managing patron use is easy, can easily clean scrub each time.
General Rules
Residents 12 years old and up. Reservable/renewable, though with consistent holds, not an issue. 2 week checkout period, $1/day fines. Same problems with any checked out item, they come back dirty, etc.
How They're Handled In-house
Exactly like any other item, except everyone works together. Collection Management selects. Tech svces. acquires, processes readers & cases, catalogs. Every part is barcoded. Circ checks out/in. They only new wrinkle was managing the quick turnaround and a department clerk does this. Empty cases that have all instructions (e-reader focused) printed on themlive on "just returned" cart until someone checks them out. Check # of items, send along to review.
Many Options -- which way to go vs 50 reasons not to change.
Pilot Project -- staff first, then unleash on the world. Notified Amazon of intent in writing. Worst case cease & desist letter, which didn't happen.
Create Policies -- create positive, sensible, avoid "no poop int he sink"
Scrub -- Nooks can be wiped on check-in, "return to factory settings." Perfect for Overdrive checkouts.
Title List -- Doesn't need to be cataloged. Can group by genre classification, print list.
Help Staff Embrace Change --eBooks ahve eclipsed books in sales for Amazon (1/2011) and Barnes & Noble (2/2011). Staff is 80% of our cost, train them well. Be people-oriented.
Cost -- Minimal. $150 for a Kindle. Add free books.
Training patrons/staff to use eReaders & downloadable media.
Raise Awareness with staff
Webinars -- great, very passive.
Classes -- Lectures, hands-on.
Informal -- Peer to peer.
Follow up -- Ex: "Apple products now accept Overdrive!" Keep training and handouts current and relevant.
Patron Education
Lecture Style -- Don't shoot for too much: 1 type of reader/format per session.
Hands-on -- A better option. One session for eReaders, 1 for audiobooks, etc.
One-on-one -- Book a librarian is a very popular service.
Demos int he Library & Elsewhere -- Train station, farmers market.
Videos & .pdf's -- Guides live on website
Vendor Supplied -- Apple, B&N, etc. will visit. These also happen at stores, Barnes & Noble has a "Nook Night." We can visit these to promote the library's downloadable services.
Screencasts -- can include interactive web tutorials. These exist in Columbus, Denver, University of Washington, Orange County, and countless other places. Rip them off.
Store eReader Presentations
All to be taken with a grain of salt. Every one of these people, whether from Barnes and Noble, Borders, Apple, or Best Buy spoke with a 100% interest in moving their product. That's all. however, the sales pitch included valuable information that can help us work with people who already have some of these devices. Even though Best Buy's info was off. But Best Buy did seem like the best place for a "petting zoo," since they carry everything.
iPad -- iBooks app turns it into an eReader. Can increase font size. Lock orientation. Can "disctionary" any word you read. Also, highlight, change color. Can leave a note regarding highlighted text, date indicated; These bookmarks show by table of contents. Can email these notes to self w/button in top-right. 10 hour charge, 9.7 in screen. Also: display picture books in full. Pull off bookshelf. iStore has "Top Charts" access to NY Times bestsellers as well as free books. Tap "get" button, enter password.
Apps
Kindle App -- allows you to access old Kindle/Nook titles you've obtained.
Special Apps -- certain books have their own. Green Eggs and Ham "reads" to you, names words & objects you touch. Varies camera angles, distance of framing.
OverDrive App -- Makes it usable by library users.
Nook -- wifi 3G color. 3 devices. 22 million titles. Can sample before you buy. Android operating system which is an open system, updatable, free per customer demand, cna load any type of file. Replacable battery. Dictionary. Games. Text/background changeable. Battery lasts 4 days (8 hours for color/wifi). 2 GB = 1500 books. Additional through micro SD card.
Demy -- cookbook w/sealed touchscreen, 2500 recipes ($199!). keyingredients . com can save preference and allergy information. Has 3 timers and can convert Oz to jigger, milliliters to tsps, etc.
Kobo Original -- Basic, any pdf/epub file. 1gb, expandable up to 5gb. 2 week battery with eInk which is easier to read. 2 fonts. Cheapest!
Kobo Wireless -- 3 day battery life.
Sony Pocket -- 5 in screen, 2gb expandable. 10 day batetry. Sleep mode saves page. Highlight, take notes. Translation dictionaries.
Sony Daily -- 7 in screen, free 3g, 2gb expandable up to 64(!) 10 day battery w/Internet capabilities. Open format. $300!
Sony Touch -- 6 in touchscreen. All of these can be locked.
Kindle -- 7 day battery ($139). 3G ($189). Keyboard. Limited to Amazon. 2000 books. No touchscreen capabilities. He said there was no limit on the number of devices that can download a book, but it's actually 6. Also, he hinted that the Kindle DX and 3 may do Overdrive. In light of the misinformation on the amount of downloads, I wonder if this is true.
Best Buy for Business -- offers bulk discounts for libraries.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Role of Libraries in the eBook Revolution
Some suggest we lease content from the publisher, kind of like our databases. And I think this is probably the future. Which is unfortunate.
But Eli Neiberger of Ann Arbor District Library has a different idea: "The goal of the library is to obtain the ability to distribute content to its public. And if we can do that easier and more cheaply with the rights holder or the artist themselves and they make more money on it, then it may be heretical — but the future usually is."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Universal Online Library
From the editorial in today's New York Times: "[Congress] almost passed a bill that would allow anybody to digitize orphan works without fear of being sued for copyright infringement as long as they proved that they had tried to find the rights’ holder. This would give all comers similar legal protection to that which Google got in its agreement.
Congress should approve this legislation. While it’s at it, it should consider promoting a nonprofit digital library, perhaps seeded with public dollars. The idea of a universal library available to all is too good to let go."
Sunday, March 20, 2011
C2E2 2011 DAY THREE
Methods and Mayhem: Designing an Action Figure
This panel, led by Mattel (unsurprising that they described the manufacture of a He-Man character) described what goes into the planning and creation of an action figure. Works a bit like advertising. Research and Development (the creative guys) float an idea. They plan the articulation. Then they manufacture it. Everything is done by a human being wit a brush. Must train everyone to consistent quality level.
Early Works of Jim Henson
Tale of Sand -- is an unmade film. Is being adapted to a graphic novel.
Wants to honor Jim, inroduce Jim to this side of Jim. Archaia comics has also done Return of the Dapper Men and Mouse Guard. Working on prequels to Dark Crystal and Fraggle Rock.
Alexander the Grape -- Cute, unfinished cartoon.
Time Piece -- 1964, (now quaint) rhythmic meditation on modern life with animated live action starring Henson himself. Has been used in film schools. Very clever, only spoken word: "help."
Time Piece -- 1964, (now quaint) rhythmic meditation on modern life with animated live action starring Henson himself. Has been used in film schools. Very clever, only spoken word: "help."
The Cube -- From NBC Experiment in Television.
This site has a nice examination of his experimental films.
Drawing Fire: Editorial Cartooning in a Partisan Age
Bruce Plante, Dick Locher, Rob Rogers, Scott Stantis discuss how editorial cartoonists fit in. Phenomenal panel.
Point One:
Instant news and variety of platforms makes us seem maybe more partisan than we really are.
A terrific sense of humor and perspective (mostly lefty) from this panel of extremely talented characters in their own right.
Scott Santis: Squashed poodle = cartooning excellence.
Scott Santis: Squashed poodle = cartooning excellence.
Comics, Censorship & the Law
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund & The Freedom to Read Foundation. Deborah Caldwell-Stone talks about how comics and places that provide them are under fire.
Ulysses and Headquarters Detective were the first challenged. In the 40's, it was determined to be a case of free speech. I blogged a bit about this and the big comic burning in my hometown, Binghamton NY last year. 1954, Comics Code Authority was voluntary self-censorship vs. government regulation or commercial boycotts. The Supreme Court has defined 3 categories of speech not protected, obscenity (sex, not violence), harmful to minors, and child pornography (doesn't include virtual). AKA the "Miller Test"
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund -- Initially never meant for kids (really more for GI's), after the code, comics were infantalized. For the first time in 70's artsits attempt to adopt content for social relevance. 1970's, Marvel did a book on drug abuse & horror books made a comeback. 1966/7 underground comix Jack Jackson's (aka Jaxon) "God Nose" the opening salvo. Crumb pushing a baby carriage of Zap #1 down Haight St. Dennis Kitchen. Kim Deitch,. Art Speigelman. A lot of individuals who had grown up on EC, which disappeared and they didn't know why. Frankly addresed sex, violence, issues of the time in a full range of expression.
Zap #4 included Spain Rodriguez, S Clay Wilson, Crumb, many others. Joe Blow was a satire of 50's society -- incestuous family. Gross out sick humor. Addressed that nuclear family may be a myth. A bust in 1971 led to the first modern conviction for obscenity for comics. This is the first time the Government actually steps in. Makes underground comix collapse. Conventions spring up. With newsstands dying, mainstream comics need a place also. Cerebus and Elfquest self-published...majors pick up. 1978-1986 brought along Alan Moore and Frank Miller. 1978 A Contract with God sets the tone for the Graphic Novel and more sophisticated contact. Raw is started with Maus serialized here. Adult comics fully come back. Watchmen, Maus, and Love & Rockets, Omaha, Dark Knight Returns all in 1986. Friendly Franks comic bookstore was busted and CBLDF was established to protect him. They won.
Librarians and staff bring most challenges, surprisingly -- parents (60%) + community members + organized pressure groups as well. Circ clerk will bring it to the director off the YA shelves, etc.
Challenges:
Central Linn, Oregon Bunny Suicides committee stuck down
Central Linn, Oregon Bunny Suicides committee stuck down
Brooklyn, NY Tintin au Congo committee vaulted it for special permission. Should they also have gotten rid of Huckleberry Finn? Views of past illuminated.
Marshall, Missouri Blankets and Fun Home had a student complaint -- returned book to the shelf.
Nicholasville, KY League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Black Dossier library worker tried to check this out and keep it. Library retained the book, but put it in new graphic novels section. Director received death threats, told to leave office, etc, etc.
Kids' Costume Contest
Thanks to my c2e2 pal for being there with her daughter. Made it possible for me to sit there and absorb the cuteness without feeling like a creepazoid. Dozens of adorable costumes on parade; some, like the Flashes who tended to run in a huge circle, a karate demonstrating Superboy, and an endlessly somersaulting Iron Man, were a blur of action. Others shyly waved, half-chicken dancing to that song that happened to be playing. One toddler Wonder Woman was asleep on her daddy's shoulder. The Savage Dragon, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, many Flashes (some female), Spiderman & Spidergirls, Green Lantern, Princess Peach & Mario, Captain America and The American Dream, a few totally fabricated from the imagination like "the Beating Light Girl," and on and on. Just amazing.
Popped into a couple screenings...
Dungeon Crawl (pictured right) is a film that anyone can watch for free here. It's about just what it sounds like it would be...
Evangelion 2.22 -- Mecha anime. A lot more people in this screening.
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Meet Jim Martin
Legend in the field described puppeteers as "immediate animators" who watched their creations on the monitor while working them, instantaneous. He told his life's story. Did a bunch of local stuff in Pittsburgh before landing at Mr. Rogers, which used jazz uniquely as a kids' show. Then met some Sesame Street people. George Pal, others (stop-action Hansel & Gretel is amazing). Hearing him doing his Gary Gnu voice was a real thrill, Mark Hammill was the president of the GG fan club. Then moved onto Captain Kangaroo for its last couple of years and did Mr. Spaghettio. Did the pigs, chickens, and cows for Sesame Street and then a director on the show, for which he won an Emmy.Bonus: Martin said Jim Henson's big puppeteering innovation was that he made the hand go out as the mouth was opening and closing; try jutting that thumb out and you can almost imagine the ping-pong eyeballs on top of your fingers.
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