Tuesday, March 25, 2008
National Library Week: Reference Desk | AL Focus
National Library Week: Reference Desk | AL Focus
I heard about this video from the Shifted Librarian and it's really sparked a lot of thought in my cluttered brain. One problem I have with it is that I can't really determine who the audience is - if it's intended for librarians, then, yes, it's cute and funny - but if it's intended for patrons/publicity purpose (which is what I suspect it is), then it makes me cringe.
As a reference and instruction librarian, I spend a lot of time trying to convince students (I deal mainly with undergraduates, particularly freshmen) that the reference desk is a resource they should use. I'm afraid that the impression given by this video is that reference questions are stupid and annoying. It focuses solely on the questioner and no answers are presented. I just don't see how the take-away message from this is supposed to promote reference services to patrons.
I don't want to sound Pollyanna-ish, humorless, or overly critical, and the librarian side of myself certainly did laugh at some of the questions, but I think this attempt at irreverent humor landed a little too far on the insulting side for my tastes.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
City Council raises fine for loud car stereos- al.com
City Council raises fine for loud car stereos- al.com: "The council also changed a clause in the law that had inadvertently made it illegal to listen to an iPod or a Walkman while on streets, sidewalks or parks. It's now only illegal to listen to music if can be heard from 25 feet away. Flo Kessler, a city attorney, said she noticed the original wording because her husband often listens to music while he walks their dog. 'It was a concern to me because walking the dog is the only useful thing my husband does,' she said at a council pre-meeting Tuesday morning."
Monday, March 17, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: News: Manny finds wisdom with touch of gray
The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: News: Manny finds wisdom with touch of gray: "Ramirez's has a passion for reading, which he never did as a kid. 'That's all I do is read, read, read, read, read,' Ramirez said. 'I love it. I haven't finished [the book yet], but I don't need to. I love it. I already know what it's all about."
Monday, March 10, 2008
Trading Vows in Montana, No Couple Required - New York Times
Trading Vows in Montana, No Couple Required - New York Times: "The three principals get down to the business of solemnizing this marriage. And when they are done, they will have another to solemnize, and another, and another, and another, because this is Montana, the only state to permit that strange and sacred ceremony, the double-proxy wedding, wherein the presence of neither the bride nor the groom is required."
Friday, March 7, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Fallout From a Literary Fraud - Love and Consequences - Margaret Seltzer - Margaret B. Jones - New York Times
Fallout From a Literary Fraud - Love and Consequences - Margaret Seltzer - Margaret B. Jones - New York Times: "Despite editing the book in the aftermath of the scandal surrounding James Frey, author of a best-selling memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," who admitted making up or exaggerating details in his account of drug addiction and recovery, Ms. McGrath said she did not independently check parts of Ms. Seltzer’s story or perform any kind of background check. She said she relied on Ms. Seltzer to tell the truth.
"In the post-James Frey world, we all are more careful," Ms. McGrath said. "I had numerous conversations with her about the need to be honest and the need to stick to the facts.""
Um...