View from the Hill

Books or no Books?

The Changing Landscape of the Information Profession was the topic of an SLA Europe panel discussion session I was asked to facilitate last week.  It has been ably reviewed in different blogs and discussion lists.

One question asked the panel whether they thought there will be any future for print books.  I chose to split this into two questions and ask for a show of hands from the audience.  The first was to ask if there was a future for business books.   The majority in the audience felt not.  Then we explored thoughts on the future for leisure reading.  This time over 50% of the audience felt there was a future.  The panel was split 50/50 and to quote Sara Batts 'I suspect that at some point in the future I will own an e-book reader; but unless one is invented that survives being dropped in the bath, I will be hanging on to my paper books too.'  I concurred with her which meant the majority panel view was positive for the future of books, at least for leisure.

Today I spotted an excellent animated film for the New Zealand Book Council - of Going West by Maurice Gee - a Film for NZ Book Council, Produced by Colenso BBDO, Animated by Andersen M Studio.  I had to watch it two or three times, each time seeing more depth and something new and it just reminded me of why I love to read.  I challenge you not to be drawn in.

Off now to borrow the book at our wonderfully refurbished John Harvard Library in Borough High Street, and probably one or two more to boot. 

... it's for you

I came across this story last night and was struck by the sentiment, as a community revives its book lending, while at the same time observing the mantra Renew-Reuse-Recycle.

Maybe there is a lesson here for all of use to think about what resources we have at our disposal, even those right under our noses.

Enjoy!

- Jeremy Clarke

Beg, borrow and steal

Calling all researchers and info pros, here is a Friday challenge for you all.

As this is the week of the Public Library Authorities Conference I have a topical question for you and the first person to post a comment to this blog post with the correct answer (and quoting your source) wins the prize at stake, in this case, a limited edition Sue Hill Recruitment mug.

Question:
On the topic of public library lending in the year 2007/2008, put the following loan categories into order of most issues (most to least):

Language, Literature and Biography

Humanities

Sport, Travel and Leisure Interests

Is anyone up for the challenge?

- Jeremy Clarke

Slightly overdue...

When is the latest you've ever handed in a Library book? Days? Months?

Well, a lady took 70 years to take her book back after it going through WW2 with her on her piano stool! From taking out the book of piano music in 1939 till 2009 it would have cost her £2500 in fines but down to her conscience it was returned and the penalty fine was wiped out!

It's never too late to return your books, but 70 years?!

 - Tina McGarvey

Sssssshhhhhhhh I'm trying to hum

Good morning all, I have just come across an article published last week in The Times by Sathnam Sanghera which made me chuckle.

However it does make me worry that Bloomsbury may now be besieged by hoards of leering lusting library-goers looking for a quick thrill, only to be met by a band of boom-box wielding background music enthusiasts plugging elevator music into the reading room.

Happy reading.

- Jeremy Clarke

Nonagenarian feeds her reading habit

I'm sure any librarians reading today would be very interested to hear what I found today on the BBC website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine in their Daily Mini Quiz: Louise Brown, 91 years old and living in Scotland, has borrowed nearly 25,000 books from her local public library. She borrowed her first book in 1946 and reads 12 books a week.

That's a fantastic effort! Interestingly, given that she borrowed her first book in 1946, it appears that she only started using the library in her late 20's. Since she started using the library it appears that she has borrowed an average of 8 books per week! It makes me wonder how she has found time to do anything else! It's great that she makes use of the local library, and is able to inexpensively indulge her "book" habit. If only there was a free shoe library so I could inexpensively indulge my shoe habit! I did a wee bit of research into this and found this gem http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/slaves-to-fashion/2009/07/get-a-glimpse-at-the-louboutin.html. Think I will have to pay this library a visit! How many can I borrow at once?

Lizzie Russell

Alphabetical, colour or Dewey - how do you sort yours?

My friend Louise is always good for a news story about our profession and she's come up trumps again today. The Guardian has an interesting article which offers some advice on how to fill your time in a redundancy-style situation. Ok ok, not quite - it's about James Purnell, the ex-Work & Pensions Secretary, and how he has arranged his bookshelves. The article in itself is interesting but what amused me so much more are all the comments. I can't see a comment from Louise (yet!) but I know that she has immaculately arranged bookshelves by author and DVDs/CDs by genre then artist. She also utilises the "pile" theory for new books. Oh dear. Have I revealed too much? Let me share my thoughts. I go for genre then alphabetical with my books. Well. If you've been round to my place you'll know all that means is my Dave Gormans sit together, likewise Bill Bryson, Tony Hawks and Harry Potters. And there's always a massive pile of Louise's books next to my bed, waiting to be read!

Rise up librarians and offer your suggestions! If there are any psychologists reading this...

- Suzanne Wheatley

Pop up Restaurants, Pop up Museums - why not Pop up Libraries?

Why do I never have the good ideas first?

Last week I went to a pop-up bar, and have been hearing wonderful tales of pop-up restaurants.  I even contemplated having one in my house to raise funds for charity.

I belong to the Guerrilla Gardening Group who brighten up those dull bare plots on road sides, roundabouts and in Council estates with glorious flowers.  This is a cause I support with all of my heart.

Today I see that at the Musuem Association's event for emerging museum professionals(now there is another great idea) a Dragons' Den type event was won by a team whose one minute pitch entailed setting up Museums in the many vacantshops that blight our town centres.  Bringing exhibits that otherwise languish in basements straight to the eye of the public can only be a good thing. More can be read at the Museum Association website.  A brilliant idea and well done the winning team.

Now - come on Libraryland.  Let's get out there and have pop-up libraries in the vacant shop next door to our museum colleagues.  Perhaps even put the mobile library in the car park (I know some of you do already).  Sell off your excess books - raise funds.  

Friday to day so off to the pop-up cafe bar on the top the multi-story car-park in Peckham again tonight to admire the sunset while sipping a welcome Campari. Plenty of room there for some books. - Sue Hill

Get It Loud in Libraries

Is it me? Don't get me wrong, I love reading about creative uses of libraries, encouraging and enticing new folk through the doors. But I do wish journalists could move away from the tired old stereotype of librarians telling everyone to be quiet. Yes, I remember being told to be quiet - but I was 14, at school, sniggering over a slightly naughty passage my friends and I had found in a book. It was right and proper that we were disciplined!

In this article on the BBC website about Morecambe Library hosting a rock gig featuring Juliette Lewis, the journo writes:

"Morecambe librarian Wendy Pollard describes the show as "wonderful" and was not tempted to tell anyone to "shhhh""

Really? Did she actually say that? I suspect not. But I bet the writer got a giggle out of it. Let's be proud of the innovative ways our libraries are being used. Surely the journos should match that innovation? Maybe it's something The Borough Market Twelve could add to their agenda?

- Suzanne Wheatley (aka Disgruntled of SE1)

Sitting in our libraries

Morning all on this lovely sunny day.

Last night I was reading a volume of collected essays by Geoff Dyer (my favourite writer by a stretch) called Anglo-English Attitudes and I came across an essay called 'Unpacking my Library' (title borrowed from Walter Benjamin's essay of the same name).

Here is an extract which I just wanted to share.  I am not necessarily arguing the truth of the sentiment but it did make me smile.

"I can't go for more than a few moments without sliding back my chair and gazing with massive self-love at my library.  Needless to say, I have no impulse to read.  Books are to be arranged and classified, shuffled around.  At the very most I want to take a volume from the shelves, consult it, perhaps smell it, and replace it, carefully.  Sometime in the future I may want to add a few incremental volumes but, for the moment, I just want to sit here, gazing at my life.  For that's what it is, this library; it's not just the story of my life, it is my life"

- Jeremy Clarke