Readers' Advisory: The Librarian is IN

Time for a little fun, while making a point.  Librarians tend to shy away from self-promotion, but recommending books is a core part of the job. Get your library a large wall poster and supporting items. Get some attention for what you love to do -- read and recommend books and online resources.

Wall Decal by Reference Desk

Mug on Reference Desk

See the simple image for "Readers' Advisory: The Librarian is IN" - add your own image or keep this reader who can't stop reading -- it must be a good book. Wall decal is fun to place behind or next to the reference desk. Design is by Jackie Siminitus, library advocate.

See cafepress.com/designclass and zazzle.com/JackieDesigns

Page Turner Video

This fun YouTube Video was shared on Facebook by California teacher librarian Tom Kahn.  Here is information from YouTube about the production.


Music by The Jews Brothers Band - http://jewsbrothers.com
The track "Tchavolo Swing" is on iTunes: http://bit.ly/xqHW39

Joseph Herscher takes a sip of his coffee, pulling string thereby tipping paintings. Balls roll down paintings, lighting burner to boil water causing books to tip. Vase and computer get knocked off the table, releasing tape to open front page of newspaper.

Library Rap - 2007 music video

How did we miss this 2007 rap video?  Library Rap -- Don't mess with the tigers in the learning lair.

The Most Interesting Librarian in the World (Video Spoof)

Library students at Syracuse University created this take-off (2:41) of the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” ads for an Introduction to the Library and Information Profession course. Traffic cops stop her to ask directions, she writes reference books on demand, and she can light fires with a Kindle!...
YouTube, Oct. 12

Reading, PA -- Librarian Destination :)

How fun.
Destination: Reading, PA....
Read or listen to Prairie Home Companion special about a reference librarian's retreat.

Room-to-Read Supported by Twitter

Charity events that include fun and wine are off to a good start.

On October 15, 2009 Twitter picked a charity for its Fledgling Initiative. They will promote donating to Room-to-Read, a San Francisco-based non-profit that establishes schools and libraries in underdeveloped countries. According to the press release, Twitter staff is planning a "fun experiment to create wine with the San Francisco-based custom winery, Crushpad. Five dollars from every bottle sold will go directly to Room to Read to support our global education programs. The wine’s own micro-site will feature news and updates documenting the wine’s development each step of the way."

Room-to-Read's theme is World Change Starts with Educated Children. Co-founder John Wood speaks about the organization he started.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

On Saturday, October 24, 2009, participants in Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon read books, posted to their blogs about what they were reading, and visited other readers’ blogs. They also participate in mini-challenges throughout the day. Mark your calendar and get ready for the next one! It happens twice a year, in April and in October. The first one was held in October 2007.

San Marcos High School Teacher Librarian Helen Murdock shared her Read-a-thon day with fellow librarians.

Check out the dozen or so Read-a-thon buttons for your blog or website.
Read the list of tips for surviving a full day of reading. I like the one about not sitting in the same chair the full time -- get up and move around. My tip would be to listen to a book while walking to the YMCA, then spend an hour or two with a fast-paced mystery book while walking/climbing at 3.1 mph on an incline machine or treadmill set at various levels of incline, from 3-24. That is how I keep in shape and have a daily excuse for reading mysteries. :)

Book-A-Librarian

Fayetteville NC librarian Sana asked a question on the PUBLIB listserv about evaluating one-on-one computer training sessions in the library. At her library, the sessions are called "Book-a-Librarian" -- how clever and appropriate.

I love "Book-A-Librarian" -- I'll have to think about how I could use that at work. It is shorter and more fun than "engage an Education/Library Advocate."

READ Mini-Posters - NEW from ALA

Seen first on the Ms Mac, Library Lady blog, who learned about it on the Librarian in Black blog, is the American Library Association's cool fill-in-a-face-or-photo READ mini-poster. In just 3-4 easy steps, you can:

1. Choose a photo on your computer (Browse...)
2. Select one of four styles: Americana, Newspaper, Techno, or Rocket
3. Add TEXT (optional)
4. CREATE.

The first few photos I experimented with didn't work well -- too blury or simply rejected. Here is one with my summer avatar wearing a "READ" T-shirt. there are 4 poster options. This one is the Techno style, which allowed my avatar's head to be visible.

Library Take-Out

A California librarian asked colleagues across the nation if any other library had "Fair/Festival Kits" for staff to take to street fairs or festivals.

My favorite response was an invitation to check out Georgia-based DeKalb County Library's kiosk, "Library Take Out", a portable display. It is so cool PLUS it has a logo and webpage devoted to it. Kudos to DeKalb.

ALA Exhibits 2008 - Anaheim, CA

DEMCO is one of my favorite sources of Library, Literacy, and Reading items like book marks and t-shirts. So, I visited their exhibit at the annual American Library Association conference. There was no line, so I hopped in the beach buggy for a quick photo opportunity.

Every library should have at least one photo opportunity -- what would they look like? Giant book covers with special titles under a "window" opening for special characters on the cover? Or cut out scenes and characters from books -- like Harry Potter and friends, Eragon the dragon -- let your imaginations soar. What a great new business or DEMCO product line. You heard it first on Advocate4Libraries!

These days, many of us carry cell phones with cameras and can easily take a fun photo and send it to a friend or bunch of friends -- along with a message to meet at the library. Sounds fun.

Mr. Bean in the Library

Mr. Bean in the Library.
Never let this man near any library!

Virtual "READ" T-shirts for Librarian and Literacy-Loving Avatars

This is a big week for members of the California School Library Association and their friends who are participating or planning to participate in the free, online course, School Library Learning 2.0. This is a big week because today (drum roll…) there is a new, special T-shirt for Yahoo! Avatars that promotes literacy and reading. Get ready to check out and change into a stylish "READ" T-Shirt. Here is where to find the T-Shirts:
Go to http://avatars.yahoo.com/ ; Select the tab marked "extras" ; Click on "issues and causes."

Today (Tuesday, June 26, 2007), the first choice is a "READ" T-shirt for male and female avatars. How fun! It took an e-mail inquiry to Yahoo! to request the READ shirt, followed by a response asking for a national non-profit organization (I contacted Rachel Johnson of the American Library Association Graphics Department.) Here's a hearty "thank you" to Amanda at Yahoo! Avatars and Rachel at ALA Graphics for making magic T-shirts happen!

The interest in summertime learning is impressive. So far, there have been 17,000+ visits to the course from around the world! It is easy to participate in School Library Learning 2.0 by reading the introduction and ABOUT sections. Registration takes place in WEEK #2, THING #4, just after you create a librarian avatar and add it to your blog. Now, thanks to the new "READ" T-shirts for Yahoo! avatars, you will know just what to wear!

ansaTHAT.com - Daily "Research" Show

Are you a fan of British comedy? Check out the hilarious daily "research" program with James Black at ansaTHAT.com , a show billed as "The place where YOU ask the questions and WE find the answers."

The colorful bookshelf backdrop behind James Black caught my attention when looking at web 2.0 award winners. Two ansaTHAT videos were showing as top favorites on DailyMotion.com, which won first place in video in the web 2.0 awards. DailyMotion is something like YouTube, which won second place. See the January 30th or February 1st programs to capture the craziness of this British bloke -- is he a librarian? Good question to ask him.