A library is many things. It's a place to go, to get in out of the rain. It's a place to go if you want to sit and think. But particularly it is a place where books live, and where you can get in touch with other people, and other thoughts, through books. If you want to find out about something, the information is in the reference books---the dictionaries, the encyclopedias, the atlases. If you like to be told a story, the library is the place to go. Books hold most of the secrets of the world, most of the thoughts that men and women have had. And when you are reading a book, you and the author are alone together---just the two of you. A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people---people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.
Taken from http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/05/library-is-many-things.html
Monday, 20 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Citation Obsession
This article presents an interesting view on referencing - and perhaps makes a good point in some regard - that teachers who are pedantic about correct citations (and we're talking about the mechanics of full stops, italics etc) can force their students to spend more time worrying about that, and less time reading widely and developing great ideas. In effect, crippling free thinking.
What do you think?
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
LIBRARY LOVERS DAY AT ALEXANDRA HILLS
We have yummy lollies (I haven't eaten that many!):
And check out the display - so romantic!
And check out the display - so romantic!
Our mascot:
We love our library lovers day - hope you enjoy yours!
The Educator’s Guide to Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeblogs/3020966582/ |
The Educator’s Guide to Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons
If copyright and fair use rules make you head spin, or you have trouble explaining the concepts to library users, Click on the link above - this article spells things out beautifully in simple language.
Monday, 6 February 2012
I Can't Believe You're Throwing Out the Books!
Weeding the collection was a contentious issue when I worked in a private school library - the 400 items we removed from circulation were placed in several black garbage bags and each library staff member and a few sympathetic teachers took one or two each to dispose of at home. This action was taken as the previous time the school weeded, books were found in a dumpster at the school and there was quite a hoo-ha about school fees and throwing out perfectly good books.
I thought the attached blog articulated the reasons for weeding in an easy-to-understand fashion. I don't know that we have the same issues here at MSIT, but the points are well-made.
http://perfectwhole.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/i-cant-believe-youre-throwing-out-books/
Friday, 3 February 2012
eBooks Corroding Values??
In this article, author Jonathan Franzen claims that ebooks corrode values because it is easy to delete or alter electronic works. He claims that print books have a permanence which ebooks lack.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/30/jonathan-franzen-ebooks-values
What do you think????????
For more information on Franzen: http://us.macmillan.com/author/jonathanfranzen
Friday, 6 January 2012
The Food Librarian
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40726522@N02/5324726043/ by powerplantop
I'm not sure whether to be amused or worried about my youngest child. Our family always has a chuckle about the way he separates his food - this takes ages if we have a one pot meal like a stir fry or stew!
Last night he took it to a new level, not only separating the food, but arranging it in alphabetical order - broccoli, capsicum, carrots, cashews, chicken, peas, rice.
My husband noted last night that this child is a kind of "food librarian" and blamed me for the trait!
Has anyone else noted some odd librarian-like traits away from work?
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