FISt Impressions: The Eleventh Hour

FISt Impressions: The Eleventh Hour

If any of you ever has a moment of time to spare, or feels that there is a need to destress, then I encourage you to check out the book The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base.

Although it at first seems like nothing more than a rhyming picture book, there is more to the book than first meets the eye. The large and elaborate illustration require in-depth investigation, especially once the main story (an elephant's birthday party) becomes a mystery (the readers must discover the thief of the party food). The pictures become especially important: the readers must use both the evidence from the coloured illustrations and encrypted messages to solve the mystery.

It is a delightful book for readers of all ages!

Halloween Happenings!

I would like to take this opportunity to let all who read this blog know of a Halloween reading event taking place at Hart House on the evening of October 30th. University of Toronto English professors will be reading from a selection of spooky tales! It will take place on the third floor of Hart House, in the library, and will start at 7 p.m.

Feel free to drop in!

Talis

This is the final version of my conclusion (basically only rewording the conclusions posted before this) to my submitted assignment criquing the Talis white paper entitled Do Libraries Matter?: The Rise of Library 2.0.

Does Library 2.0 matter? Although the answer to this question is “Yes,” it is far less technologically-oriented than the answer provided by Chad and Miller. To paraphrase Chad and Miller (and Newton!) a library is worth far more than the sum of all its information sources; it is a community source of information. To be truly successful in meeting the needs of library patrons, Library 2.0 technologies must be a financially viable forum for the development of the library’s staff and must serve (and protect the privacy of) library patrons in both real and virtual library environments – both of which lack the “musty book” atmosphere which Talis has wrongly associated with libraries.

Preschoolers and the Internet

As I was getting ready to head out the door, I turned on AM 680 news, expecting to hear the weather and traffic reports. What I heard first was this interesting (to me) piece of information: that preschoolers are among the fastest growing sector of the population to use the Internet. As a preschool programming instructor, this worries me, since due in part to the amount of advertising, this infringes on cognitive development, and the development of critical thinking skills (not to mention the issue of childhood obesity as well)! Might these children be considered real examples of catered-to Digital Natives??

Check this out for the full story!

www.680news.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20071015_114042_4948

Talis Conclusions II

In addition to my other conclusions blog, I also think that it would be difficult for a local library to maintain control over the organization and flow of information if all library catalogues were to be joined into one.

Additionally, and this will not be mentioned within my critical article review -- might I be right in asserting a view point that focusing on Library 2.0 might only include the "digital natives" and exclude other groups who are either unable to access the technology or to use it, including seniors and children (keeping this post in alignment with one of my original hopes for this blog -- to discuss children's services and technology)?

Talis conclusions

In reading the Talis paper on Library 2.0 entitled "Do Libraries Matter?", I feel that it is a good introduction to the technological possibilities that are left open to libraries, and that it is a reminder that librarians should be aware of technological developments used by patrons. Having said that, I think that the article skirts around the important issue of patron information privacy, and that it could do a much better job of explaining the measures which would be taken to prevent online vendors from tracking the patrons. Many public libraries in North America are subject to different privacy policies; in Ontario, libraries must ensure that they follow the policies of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This paper also does a disservice to its argument by failing to quote any statistical sources to prove that drastic technological changes are considered necessary either by current patrons or for current patrons.

Finally, I do believe that Library 2.0 can only be successful (and indeed should only be used) to draw patrons into the library for services, maintaining themselves as communal sources of information. In some cases, this may mean maintaining a blog or wiki, but it could even be something as simple as posting an electronic notice on a communal resource, advertising a relevant workshop, clinic, or library acquisition.

Shakespearephile

Thanks to my reference project on evaluating reference sources, I have really been learning a lot about Shakespeare in popular and mass culture, and find it fascinating how often he is quoted in popular media, from comic books, to television shows, to film and even in popular music!

I have just finished evaluating a source entitled Shakespeares After Shakespeare: an encyclopedia of the Bard in mass media and popular culture. It is an interesting, clearly structured, and often delightfully distracting read. I really enjoyed its focus on comics, as well as on popular films that either refer to Shakespeare or are adaptations of Shakespearean plays (one of my favourite adaptations mentioned in this work is Kenneth Branagh's musical Love's Labor's Lost, which, even though it did not succeed at the box office, is a truly enjoyable film).

If time ever allows, this encyclopedia is definitely worth a browse!

Bibliophile Bonanza!

Calling all bibliophiles of FIS 1311!

I would like to let everyone know of all the book sales which are happening at the University of Toronto as part of Bibliomania.

Most urgently, the Victoria College Book Sale is having its closing tomorrow morning (October 2nd) at 91 Charles St. West. From 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., you can buy an entire box of books for $10. I actually just bought two books there myself: about Eleanor Roosevelt and Anglo-Saxon cooking! Such related topics!!

Upcoming are the highly recommended (on my part) University and Trinity College book sales. These are held at 15 King's College Circle from October 12th to the 16th (UC), and October 19th to the 23rd at 6 Hoskin Avenue (Trinity). Finishing off the book sales round, the St. Mike's book sale takes place October 23rd - 27th at 113 St. Joseph St.

I encourage you to go and take a look! My last year's purchases included an autographed copy of Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace!