tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36056638913699278602024-02-20T04:14:14.670+11:00Read, watch, play, participate...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger619125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-85535867181780414532023-03-20T07:54:00.006+11:002023-03-20T07:54:51.625+11:00A few thoughts on the book The Australian history industry<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75563138-the-australian-history-industry" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Australian History Industry" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672805925l/75563138._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75563138-the-australian-history-industry">The Australian History Industry</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/750096.Paul_Ashton">Paul Ashton</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5386426883">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is an amazing book which would be great to re-read (even though I have just finished reading it). It is a pacy and entertaining exploration of researching history in Australia. It is a remarkable contemporary book with issues of the pandemic and other recent events part of the discussion of the work of history. The varied perspectives help to describe the complexity of historical research. This would be a helpful book for local studies library staff to read.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-19349774141562647722022-01-09T17:08:00.001+11:002022-01-09T17:08:00.178+11:00A few thoughts on the book A modest living: memoirs of a Cockney Sikh<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43410678-a-modest-living" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Modest Living: Memoirs of a Cockney Sikh" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546211562l/43410678._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43410678-a-modest-living">A Modest Living: Memoirs of a Cockney Sikh</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15384400.Suresh_Singh">Suresh Singh</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4245668349">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a really interesting local studies publication which I found out about from <a href="https://spitalfieldslife.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Spitalfields Life</a>. It is written about growing up in London, and spending time in India with very specific locations being described. The author provides a very strong picture of his father. It is also a very interesting account of being punk, and being the first in the family to obtain a university degree. It shows the importance of having information about culturally and linguistically diverse people included in local studies collections. This really is a charming book, and includes some family recipes as well.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-41895303804082631572021-11-07T18:39:00.000+11:002021-11-07T18:39:05.281+11:00A few thoughts on the book: The troubles and beyond: curating conflict<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59559039-the-troubles-and-beyond" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The troubles and beyond: curating conflict" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/111x148-bcc042a9c91a29c1d680899eff700a03.png" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59559039-the-troubles-and-beyond">The troubles and beyond: curating conflict</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/306431.Karen_Logan">Karen Logan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4325616058">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book is about how the National Museums in Northern Ireland changed their approach to collecting information about The troubles, and also changed their approach to how exhibitions about this time are shown. They aim to present a 'view of broader social, cultural and economic history as well as exploring the impact of conflict on everyday life, people and communities' p 18. They are seeking a critical discussion with the community who are coming to exhibitions, especially of recent history. They are looking at recent history including for 'accuracy, inclusiveness and balance' p24, and are also seeking to build stronger community connections to advise the museum.<br /><br />The book explores past approaches to describing The troubles, and the new approach of greater diversity and inclusion as well as community projects which are bringing together people who have similarly tough experiences. There are comments from people who provided personal testimony to the museum because they were shot, they had a family member killed, they were present at a bombing, or they were a nurse who treated people from all sides.<br /><br />I was interested in this book because of local studies, and reading it highlights that difficult and divisive topics can be dealt with well by museums (and presumably libraries) and that it is important to not sidestep the tension.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-69158958297013857832021-08-22T12:31:00.005+10:002021-08-22T12:31:00.190+10:00A few thoughts on How to turn a place around: a handbook for creating successful public spaces - relevant to libraries<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58012496-how-to-turn-a-place-around" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="How to Turn a Place Around: A Handbook for Creating Successful Public Spaces" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624224066l/58012496._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58012496-how-to-turn-a-place-around">How to Turn a Place Around: A Handbook for Creating Successful Public Spaces</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/530687.Project_for_Public_Spaces">Project for Public Spaces</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4149074277">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a pacy and engaging read. This, unsurprisingly, is a book about public spaces, and generally outdoor space, however there are many elements which are applicable for public (and other) libraries as well. In a description of Discovery Park in Houston, TX, it says that it is 'not enough to have just one great destination on a great park - you need at least 10 of them to create a truly lively place' (p91). This is relevant for libraries as you need different kinds of spaces within the one building. It is also not a new idea that libraries need different kinds of spaces, for example see <a href="https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/people-places" rel="nofollow noopener">this</a> produced by my work place. <br /><br />I have been following <a href="https://www.pps.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Project For Public Spaces</a> for a while, but it was watching a recent Victorian public library conference about library buildings which encouraged me to read this. There are place making principles including creating a place not a design, and the importance of community consultation, and evaluation. Place making is also continuous as communities change over time.<br /><br />I found it was helpful reading this book, because of the different locations explored as I could then think about the implications for libraries. I will need to read it again, but that will be enjoyable.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-89702147165483597662021-07-13T14:38:00.001+10:002021-07-13T14:38:00.194+10:00A few thoughts on Pivoting During the Pandemic: Ideas for Serving Your Community Anytime, Anywhere<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56446272-pivoting-during-the-pandemic" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Pivoting During the Pandemic: Ideas for Serving Your Community Anytime, Anywhere" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609231825l/56446272._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56446272-pivoting-during-the-pandemic">Pivoting During the Pandemic: Ideas for Serving Your Community Anytime, Anywhere</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5533736.Kathleen_M_Hughes">Kathleen M. Hughes</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4109225316">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is an interesting publication for many reasons including the short, snappy chapters and the speed of the production. The range of topics covered include online story times, readers's advisory at a distance, and how to help connect people with a range of (mostly) online services. It is timely that I am writing this during the lockdown which includes Sydney (where I am) as well as coastal local government areas to the north and south. It highlights that the relevance is not just for pandemic experiences overseas. Important ideas are covered early on, including be patient, be flexible, use a growth mindset as well as the importance of assessment and reflection. <br /><br />The chapters are written by public library staff, and show the need for continued learning, being willing to change, and the importance of thinking through organisational policies for example: do they make things easier for staff but harder for the community? It highlights the importance of continuing professional development, and that includes moving some training online (as we have also done in NSW). I would suggest reading this book - and keep in mind, if you don't like one chapter, you can quickly flick ahead to the next one. This ideas in this book while relevant for the pandemic are also relevant to how you think about your general library services.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-10140825551556035642021-06-01T16:30:00.002+10:002021-06-01T16:30:00.202+10:00#BlogJune, maybe<p> I saw the post this morning by <a href="https://twitter.com/Infoventurer">@Infoventurer</a> and was reminded of #BlogJune.</p><p>I had a look at the posts from 2011 the first year I participated in #BlogJune and it was (mostly) about <a href="https://readplayparticipate.blogspot.com/2011/06/">libraries I would like to visit</a>. I would rethink the list now, and also take more account of other factors. </p><p>I won't be posting every day, but will try and play along for some of the time.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-36351745998296847122021-01-31T21:00:00.001+11:002021-01-31T21:00:02.984+11:00online reading groups and neighbours - combining a few ideas for #GlamBlogClub<p> It was only recently that I realised it was ten years since #ReadIt2011 and it was because I was wearing a t-shirt with this hashtag on it. #ReadIt2011 was the start of of a collaborative twitter reading group which lasted until the end of 2018.</p><p>#ReadIt2011 was a theme based reading group so you read around a theme and not just one title (this was to help libraries be able to participate with the collections they had rather than purchasing lots of one title). You can <a href="https://readit2011.wordpress.com/">see the (dated) blog here</a>. It even had a <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/readit2011-the-complete-tag-list-2-by-nswRISG/6748844.16N4J">couple of t-shirts</a> (thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/CatyJ">@CatyJ</a>). This twitter reading group was about public libraries in NSW working together (hence the neighbour aspect). The themes were decided on by a group (including me). What this meant was that it could be collectively promoted, and each library did not have to do a lot. Some libraries tweeted the themes and the times of the online discussions, other libraries participated in these discussions - this continued through the various versions of the group. It was my year of making tea cosies to tie with the themes (as I was trying to make the point that the themes can be used in a variety of ways.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellf/5938394638/in/album-72157625715726734/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="whodoneit tea cosy"><img alt="whodoneit tea cosy" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/6130/5938394638_7020168d6f_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The #CrimeRead tea cosy for #ReadIt2011 (it has been given away)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>2012 was the national year of reading, and the team which had done #ReadIt2011 offered to run a twitter reading group for this nationally (so there was yet another hashtag change). There were some active participants from other states as well. #Love2Read twitter discussion used the <a href="https://love2read2012.wordpress.com/">themes suggested in the logo</a>. After 2012 people were still keen, but had learned more about hashtags (although not about #NotAllLowerCase) so that read <a href="https://readwatchplay.wordpress.com/">became part of each hashtag</a>, and the reading group was called Read Watch Play, using #RWPChat so that a <a href="https://readwatchplay.wordpress.com/">wider group of library activities</a> were included. It meant that people could read different themes each month or work out how to bring their favourite reading, watching or playing to every theme (and ambiguity was encouraged so that #ReelRead included film, sewing and fishing). The planning included suggestions on a wiki so that many people could contribute ideas, with the themes decided at a meeting (based on who was there).</p><p>There is a lot I could say about this, but to tie it to neighbours I will focus on one aspect. At this time it became an international twitter reading group. There were some fairly quiet partners, but Nelson Public Libraries in New Zealand, Public Libraries Singapore and Surrey Libraries in England were all active partners, suggesting themes, writing blog posts and participating in the twitter discussions. This highlights that neighbours can be a bit further away, through the use of online connections, and <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/IFLA_InfolitRef/kang-et-al-global-tweets-a-reading-group-in-denmark-new-south-wales-new-zealand-and-singapore">you can see a bit more about it here</a> and <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ycLhuXmiHvMlKTwSfNgQu_jNyS7VQQADdJX3pIWR6L8/edit?usp=sharing">here</a>. There is a <a href="https://hawksey.info/tagsexplorer/?key=17y0oy6lvrMmoeD9AKQAqHphc8cVdd3f44NmLLUXEn_k&gid=400689247">data-visualisation of the tweets</a> (it takes a while to load).The international partners also highlight that neighbours can be anywhere. On the neighbours aspect it can matter who is digitally near us but online connections internationally are valuable. </p><p>It also matters who is geographically near us as Yarra Libraries shows, and as can be seen here in <a href="https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/covid-19-research">research from my work place</a>.</p><p><br /></p>
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height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFRY5LuDrvY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Yarra Libraries (@yarralibraries)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-55753176142476918522020-12-01T13:42:00.001+11:002020-12-01T13:42:00.324+11:00A few thoughts on the book Archives and special collections as sites of contestation<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55346059-archives-and-special-collections-as-sites-of-contestation" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Archives and Special Collections as Sites of Contestation" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603915587l/55346059._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55346059-archives-and-special-collections-as-sites-of-contestation">Archives and Special Collections as Sites of Contestation</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/331293.Mary_Kandiuk">Mary Kandiuk</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3665053660">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book focuses on the need to disrupt some archival and library practices, for example the need to have items catalogued in the language they are written in (for example Spanish or Japanese) and not only in English. It also has helpful examples of how to describe and provide access to archives with racist content in a way which provides a better understanding of their creator/s. This is not to change the past, but to improve the understanding of it. <br /><br />This book shows the importance of building new collections which address the importance of social justice, to include those who have historically been excluded from collections, while being visible in the communities. Building new audiences for archives (both old and new) is shown as crucial, for sustainability and for understanding the historical context (recent or further in the past). Elizabeth Hobart reminds us that <br /><i>Cataloguing is an ethical act, ensuring the discoverability of library resources regardless of content...Without a detailed, accurate record, items literally remain hidden </i>. This applies to many collections in libraries.<br /><br />There are many ideas of relevance to local studies collections in the different chapters in this book.<br /><br />This is yet another excellent publication from Library Juice Press. My copy has lots of annotated post it notes sticking out, with notes on them for follow up.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-57608122088425704022020-11-06T07:33:00.001+11:002020-11-06T07:33:02.656+11:00A few thoughts on How to create a relevant public space by Aat Vos<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34418877-how-to-create-a-relevant-public-space" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="How to Create a Relevant Public Space" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496191396l/34418877._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34418877-how-to-create-a-relevant-public-space">How to Create a Relevant Public Space</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16504852.Aat_Vos">Aat Vos</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3627519724">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book reads like it is written as a provocation. It has many interesting ideas, and I don't agree with them all, but it is still interesting reading. Ideas to consider include, who are you excluding from your library. It may not be deliberate (or it may), but it could be in how the library is designed, and services are provided that some people feel unwelcome. The chapter by Diane Ghirardo is of particular interest for this. <br /><br />One of the libraries discussed (in Gouda) was a chocolate factory before it was a library. The chapter by Jan David Hanrath and Rob Bruijnzeels highlights the importance of telling the stories of the buildings in a context like local studies. They also stress the importance of collections, and of connecting communities to these collections.<br /><i>It is important that you remain true to yourself. The library's existence begins and ends with the collection. I mean a modern collection with, in addition to books, other forms of content such as music, art, tools, videos, course and activities, either physically or online. But that the collection is the core...the collection is what you inspire people with stories and information that is relevant to them...The library is going to ask questions, questions that are important for both individuals and community'</i> (pp162-163, 165).<br /><br />There are many lovely photographs of libraries in this book, but for some of these libraries access seems limited to those who are able bodied with stairs seeming sometimes as barriers not for access. When reading this book, think about whose voices are not included.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-49818638971738882712020-11-04T07:12:00.002+11:002020-11-04T07:12:25.936+11:00A few thoughts on Cultivating civility: practical ways to improve a dysfunctional library by Jo Henry, Joe Eshleman, Richard Moniz<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50575275-cultivating-civility" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Cultivating Civility: Practical Ways to Improve a Dysfunctional Library" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579530588l/50575275._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50575275-cultivating-civility">Cultivating Civility: Practical Ways to Improve a Dysfunctional Library</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7256834.Jo_Henry">Jo Henry</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3588284743">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a helpful follow up to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42770731.The_Dysfunctional_Library_Challenges_and_Solutions_to_Workplace_Relationships" title="The Dysfunctional Library Challenges and Solutions to Workplace Relationships by Jo Henry" rel="nofollow noopener">The Dysfunctional Library: Challenges and Solutions to Workplace Relationships</a>. The chapters in this book each have a different focus and include work place examples. At the end of most chapters are questions for discussion which could be helpful prompts for a reading group. This could be an interesting book for a work reading group, and would suggest that the focus is on chapters and not the whole book as there is much to explore chapter by chapter. While much of this information is not new, it is brought together in a helpful way, to help people improve communication and relationships at work. There are many references to explore for further reading including <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35926668.The_Desegregation_of_Public_Libraries_in_the_Jim_Crow_South_Civil_Rights_and_Local_Activism" title="The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South Civil Rights and Local Activism by Wayne A. Wiegand" rel="nofollow noopener">The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism</a> (which I am yet to read), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34762552.Algorithms_of_Oppression_How_Search_Engines_Reinforce_Racism" title="Algorithms of Oppression How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Safiya Umoja Noble" rel="nofollow noopener">Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism</a> (which I probably should re-read) and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45899532.Masked_by_Trust_Bias_in_Library_Discovery" title="Masked by Trust Bias in Library Discovery by Matthew Reidsma" rel="nofollow noopener">Masked by Trust: Bias in Library Discovery</a> (which I am currently reading). This is a book which encourages creative thinking to solve problems, but also encourages taking action against bullies (including passive aggressive ones). The references at the end of each chapter provide much additional reading to explore specific topics.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-85032013754083439242020-10-31T09:47:00.002+11:002020-10-31T09:47:00.134+11:00Writing about failure for #GLAMBlogClub<p>Failure can be a way of learning. It can also be uncomfortable, disconcerting, at times distressing or even very traumatic. It can depend on the scale of the failure. I think there are different kinds of failure, including failure you can learn from, and failure which has catastrophic consequences (and these are not the only kinds of failure, there are more including failure which is out of your control). You can learn from the second kind of failure but there are usually really bad things happening along the way (for example think of how the COVID-19 pandemic is happening differently in each country, state and territory, how <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/">the climate crisis</a> is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-change">not being dealt with</a> and in relation to systemic racism and injustice towards <a href="https://indigenousx.com.au/">Indigenous people</a>, as well as the experience of other <a href="https://blacklivesmatter.com/">systemic racism</a> - and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/01/28/read-chadwick-bosemans-powerful-sag-awards-speech-after-black-panther-won-top-prize/">comments about this</a>). There are many more examples I could provide for failure with catastrophic outcomes and these broader failures have an impact. In our work places (galleries, libraries, archives, museums and records repositories) it is mostly the failure you can learn from, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbKbIs2feQ">the fire in the National Museum of Brazil</a> is of the catastrophic kind (see also <a href="https://blueshieldaustralia.org.au/about-us/">Blue Shield</a> for their work or disaster prevention). </p><p><a href="https://readplayparticipate.blogspot.com/2013/06/enjoy-failure-kind-of.html">Have a look at this earlier post I wrote about failure </a>(and yes I know that at least one of the people I quote is contentious).</p><p>I also think we can shy from talking about failure, and I find this unhelpful. I think it is better to go 'that could have worked better' (which can be a way of describing failure without resorting to a 'woe is me' approach), and see what can be done better next time, rather than pretending every thing is fine. We can do better with our collections (<a href="http://www.wordforwordfestival.com.au/speaker/marsha-uppill/">this looks a helpful session to participate in</a>) and services (<a href="https://readingspark.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/picture-this-reflecting-diversity-in-childrens-book-publishing/">think about who is invisible in your library</a>, and <a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/183948-how-diverse-is-childrens-literature-this-infographic-tells-the-disturbing-truth">this US information from 2015 may be helpful</a>). We can make these changes because otherwise we continue to fail at least some parts of our communities.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-46247859475034758712020-10-27T07:52:00.001+11:002020-10-27T07:52:27.141+11:00A few thoughts on Incubating creativity at your library: a sourcebook for connecting with communities by Erinn Batykefer and Laura C Damon-Moore <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52703770-incubating-creativity-at-your-library" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Incubating Creativity at Your Library: A Sourcebook for Connecting with Communities" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569957638l/52703770._SX98_SY160_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52703770-incubating-creativity-at-your-library">Incubating Creativity at Your Library: A Sourcebook for Connecting with Communities</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2749491.Erinn_Batykefer">Erinn Batykefer</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3614333688">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a pacy read with examples of these ideas being described from actual library experience. If you have read the <a href="https://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/" rel="nofollow noopener">Library as incubator project blog</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18528077.The_Artist_s_Library_A_Field_Guide" rel="nofollow noopener" title="The Artist's Library A Field Guide by Laura Damon-Moore">The Artist's Library: A Field Guide</a> you will have already seen much of the content in this book, however, this book is still well worth reading. While the premise of the book is how to incorporate more creativity in your library, the ideas would also be applicable for thinking about how to better connect with many groups and individuals in your community (and the authors suggest this). The chapter on evaluation has some useful ideas to consider to help people think more effectively about how to evaluate programs. The book looks at resources, partnerships, staff, evaluation, community and more. Sustainability is important as is looking at long running programs to see if they should continue, be changed or stopped.<br /><br />I also enjoyed the shout out to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18405497.BiblioCraft_The_Modern_Crafter_s_Guide_to_Using_Library_Resources_to_Jumpstart_Creative_Projects" rel="nofollow noopener" title="BiblioCraft The Modern Crafter's Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects by Jessica Pigza">BiblioCraft: The Modern Crafter's Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects</a> as I am a fan of this work and they way it shows different ways to think about collections.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-79343339702306313822020-10-14T09:17:00.001+11:002020-10-14T09:17:01.103+11:00A few thoughts on The dysfunctional library: challenges and solutions to workplace relationships <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36759129-the-dysfunctional-library" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Dysfunctional Library: Challenges and Solutions to Workplace Relationships" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520280294l/36759129._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36759129-the-dysfunctional-library">The Dysfunctional Library: Challenges and Solutions to Workplace Relationships</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7256834.Jo_Henry">Jo Henry</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3588244477">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a useful book to help you describe how dysfunctional the library you work in is (if your library is dysfunctional). The authors provide ways of exploring this, and of working to decrease dysfunction. They start with the individual library worker providing advice about how to explore one's own level of disfunction. They encourage an outward looking focus, and highlight the importance of professional development. <br /><br />They make effective use of research and highlight work being done in a range of libraries (and provide these references to follow up). This book is about encouraging library staff, and then libraries to be the best we can be, working well with each other, and for our communities. Being proactive and planning is important as is professional development for staff. Good leadership is important, but it must be the right style of leadership.<br /><br />This may not be a book to read cover to cover, however, it has some very useful information as well as reference to follow up for further reading.<br /><br />I am trying to increase my professional reading, which I usually do as commute reading, but have been working from home since late March.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-20887616103023270442020-08-31T07:05:00.015+10:002020-08-31T07:05:00.482+10:00thinking about time - a post for #glamBlogClub<p><span style="font-family: times;">Strangely I thought I was out of time to write this post. Yes, I should be doing something else with my time at present but am choosing to use my time this way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I suggest you spend five minutes look at <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbW03PLPdt6nNWV_URiEqQ" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; text-decoration: var(--yt-endpoint-text-decoration, none);">367 Collins St Falcons</a> (there are two eggs) or you could watch <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZss13TJZLtZ0ones3HpYMQ" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; text-decoration: var(--yt-endpoint-text-decoration, none);">Sea-EagleCAM4</a> (there are two youngsters) or enjoy penguins in the evening (and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-29/phillip-island-little-penguins-get-up-keep-going-uncertain-times/12605190">make sure you read Virginia Trioli's post which includes information about the Peregrin Falcons and penguins</a>). There is information in all these links. Please also choose to use some time enjoying Peacock Spiders đź•· (there are lots more videos of them).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HPh_Gi7PCqs" width="320" youtube-src-id="HPh_Gi7PCqs"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I have been encouraged by the way many libraries have been spending this pandemic time serving their communities in different ways, and while only <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/aug/13/when-covid-closed-the-library-staff-call-every-member-of-victorian-library-to-say-hello?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other" target="_blank">some libraries are mentioned here</a> it is great to see that part of the wider story is being told. You may make time to read this research </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/covid-19-survey" target="_blank">NSW public libraries - the COVID-19 response</a> </i>(put out by my work place).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Take time to explore the <a href="https://blogs.bl.uk/sound-and-vision/2020/08/walking-in-the-archive.html" target="_blank">British Library sound archive</a> and think about how you are (or aren't) <a href="http://www.kitchensisters.org/2020/08/20/covid-19-sound-map-keeperoftheday/" target="_blank">recording sounds in your community</a>. Are you <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/art-project-captures-sound-of-cities-during-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">recording the sounds of your community</a>?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Take time to be excited by the coming <i>Horror Writer's Association's Librarians Day</i> as you can participate as it will all be online (<a href="http://raforall.blogspot.com/2020/08/4th-annual-hwa-librarians-day.html" target="_blank">information and link to register is here</a>). You also have time to anticipate this as it is on in November. I am genuinely looking forward to this. There may still be time to register for one of the <span style="color: #222222; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 1px; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://oralhistory.columbia.edu/blog-posts/summer-workshop-series-on-anti-oppression-and-oral-history" style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: 1px; text-decoration-line: none;">Summer Workshop Series on <i>Anti-Oppression and Oral History</i></a> from Columbia University (<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/o/columbia-oral-history-ma-program-3604748837" target="_blank">information and link to register is here</a>).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 1px; text-decoration-line: none;">I am out of time to write this post, and if I had taken more time to write it, it would have flowed better.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-38889882559888887242020-07-28T08:35:00.000+10:002020-07-28T08:35:01.229+10:00A few thoughts on The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires<h1 style="color: #382110; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 2px;"><br /></h1>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44074800-the-southern-book-club-s-guide-to-slaying-vampires" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584222716l/44074800._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44074800-the-southern-book-club-s-guide-to-slaying-vampires">The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4826394.Grady_Hendrix">Grady Hendrix</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3460197095">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a reading group you do not want to be a member of. While their true crime discussions are interesting (this is not the reason to avoid this group) the members face sexism at home, and do not think about their behaviour as potentially racist. A new man come to town and proves a disruptive force for families as the husbands befriend him. It is interesting seeing how the reading group changes over time - but keep in mind this is a tale of horror and is, at times, very disturbing reading. It is also a tale of readers bonding over books with implications for what is regarded as acceptable reading. I have also read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13129925.Horrorst_r" title="Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix" rel="nofollow">Horrorstör</a> which provides other interesting angles for horror.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-23666516113669502402020-06-22T16:24:00.001+10:002020-06-22T16:24:12.021+10:00A few thoughts on Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey (and there are mobile libraries)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45320365-upright-women-wanted" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Upright Women Wanted" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556718522l/45320365._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45320365-upright-women-wanted">Upright Women Wanted</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15045277.Sarah_Gailey">Sarah Gailey</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3398197399">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This near future Western is pacy and punchy. There are Librarians, and the capital matters, but don’t make assumptions about them. Not making assumptions is key to much in this piece.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-73951703182308568182020-05-31T08:23:00.001+10:002020-05-31T08:23:00.959+10:00How are you documenting the pandemic? a post for #GLAMBlogClub about foreverHow are you documenting the pandemic? If you have been working on site at a library have you photographed it? Did you photograph moving the furniture to fit other staff in? Did you photograph what the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-c1KOZBRUp/" target="_blank">click and collect looks like</a>? Did you photograph the new spray screens,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAwZkHxJwck/" target="_blank"> the supplies cupboard</a>? There are records which can can be kept forever (with decent digital preservation).<div><br /></div><div>Plus while you weren't going out much, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/covid-19_australia/pool/" target="_blank">did you photograph the occasional times you did</a>? </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that you are staying safe, and that the opening up of your libraries has gone/will go well.<br /><div><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellf/49914692451/in/datetaken-public/" title="Blood bank - Hunter Street"><img alt="Blood bank - Hunter Street" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49914692451_84ceb52e26_3k.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-76802812000062198972020-04-27T09:32:00.000+10:002020-04-27T09:32:19.448+10:00looking at partnerships for #GLAMblogClubAs we continue in lock down, with people working from home or from closed libraries, or various other combinations of work, means this sign serves as a prompt to us, to change, and to think about different ways to do things.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellf/49694993458/in/datetaken-public/" title="No touch traffic signs"><img alt="No touch traffic signs" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49694993458_47a2962268.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
We are experiencing service changes, and we need to continue to plan for service changes as we are likely to continue at a distance from one another for a while, even when more of us may lose our jobs during this time. The example shown below is a recent partnership.<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Recently, Monash CEO Dr Andi Diamond had the idea that Libraries could supply reading material to Meals on Wheels clients in Monash while Stage 3 restrictions were in place in Victoria.<br />
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Thread... <a href="https://t.co/Amag6Yu9br">pic.twitter.com/Amag6Yu9br</a></div>
— Monash Libraries (@MonashLibraries) <a href="https://twitter.com/MonashLibraries/status/1253137975312912391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Thanks to an alert from Rachel for this. <br />
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What new partnerships is your library involved in or is considering?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-5779588305245510592020-03-23T09:05:00.000+11:002020-03-23T09:05:05.191+11:00A few thoughts on The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-By-Shelf Guide<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26571153-the-weeding-handbook" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-By-Shelf Guide" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1444623413l/26571153._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26571153-the-weeding-handbook">The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-By-Shelf Guide</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2924609.Rebecca_Vnuk">Rebecca Vnuk</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3240502160">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is a pacy and helpful book to read. When I worked in public libraries I always enjoyed weeding, and I think it has a key role in developing and maintaining library collections. Too often people are at extremes either weeding little or taking a slash and burn (or throw) approach with little regard to the actual statistics on use (or consideration of poor cataloguing or inadequate displays or even poorly managed selection). Vnuk also highlights the importance of informing the community so they are seeing you manage rather than pillage the collection.<br />
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This is a detailed booked looking at the different number classifications, however the most helpful sections are looking at the over all strategy of weeding, and references to other resources such as <a href="https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/crew/index.html" rel="nofollow">Crew</a> and the examples from specific libraries mentioned within the book. While some of the material is slightly dated, the big picture information is still crucial. It also includes the need to manage your econtent selections.<br />
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I read this on <a href="https://indyreads.libraries.nsw.gov.au/opac/#index" rel="nofollow">Indyreads</a>.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-29223967771530519642020-02-20T15:13:00.000+11:002020-02-20T15:13:04.590+11:00A few thoughts on Palaces for the People: How To Build a More Equal and United Society by Eric Klinenberg<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41948820-palaces-for-the-people" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Palaces for the People: How To Build a More Equal and United Society" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537409624l/41948820._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41948820-palaces-for-the-people">Palaces for the People: How To Build a More Equal and United Society</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2611.Eric_Klinenberg">Eric Klinenberg</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2524151435">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is a pacy an engaging read, and it still took a long time for me to read it. It highlights the value of social infrastructure including places like libraries for community health. Places like libraries can help connect people and these connections help lead to stronger communities. The examples are not all about libraries, but they show that the connections people have with others in their communities are crucial for community health (and in a key example in the book led to less deaths during a heatwave). <br />
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Key points in this book include connecting people of difference ages and backgrounds, and this will take work. Anyway, go and read this book, and think about how you can apply these ideas in your communty.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-14555182887956351642020-02-11T15:04:00.000+11:002020-02-11T15:04:04.477+11:00a few thoughts on Conducting the Reference Interview: Third Edition by Catherine Sheldrick Ross, Kirsti Nilsen<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47836606-conducting-the-reference-interview" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Conducting the Reference Interview: Third Edition" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566273422l/47836606._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47836606-conducting-the-reference-interview">Conducting the Reference Interview: Third Edition</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/64281.Catherine_Sheldrick_Ross">Catherine Sheldrick Ross</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3182426033">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is a pacy and engaging read. It is also a very useful reminder of the value of an effective reference interview. The authors bring together research which highlight the importance of a reference interview to finding out exactly what the person is seeking help to find. There are also sections on online or telephone reference interviews. This is a practical book which could also be used for training. <br />
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Some of the research which is described in this books shows how little some staff actually listen to the people seeking help, and this information helps show the value of a well done reference interview.<br />
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I really enjoyed reading this book.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-37682465445246287972020-01-28T08:37:00.000+11:002020-01-28T08:37:11.005+11:00A few thoughts on Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and Creative Bakes to Make You Smile<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44564450-baking-with-kim-joy" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and Creative Bakes to Make You Smile" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556901025l/44564450._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44564450-baking-with-kim-joy">Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and Creative Bakes to Make You Smile</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18990842.Kim_Joy">Kim-Joy</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3041273932">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is joyful. I am yet to make any of the recipes, but I keep borrowing this as an ebook, and reading it again. There is a halloween cake with meringues as ghosts and some spooky pears. I am sure that everyone needs a space turtle cake in their lives with the incredible colours it provides. There are pages of instructions for some cakes but this seems helpful rather than overwhelming. The recipe I want to make first are the Tangzhong Cat Buns (think a tin of bread rolls that look like sleeping cats), but first I need to add some food dye to my kitchen supplies. The Space Turtle Melonpan Buns also look joyful. Macarons are turned into many animals including cats and koalas. The lemon tarts with meringue cats also look lovely as do the Pigfiteroles in Mud (choux pigs in chocolate). <br />
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This would be an interest addition to reading group discussions.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
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I am doing thi<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">s as my <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a;">#GLAMBlogClub post for January, because I am struggling for humour this year, so I thought this joyful book may help. With the struggle for humour I have been exploring data instead. The NSW Department of Primary Industries has excellent data on the </span><a href="https://edis.dpi.nsw.gov.au/" style="color: #3a3a3a;">extent of the drought in NSW</a><span style="color: #3a3a3a;">, and the Bureau of Meteorology has excellent climate data <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/">including for temperature and rainfall.</a> The <a href="https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me">Fires near me site</a> or app also provides useful data. Apologies for not providing drought and fire map links for other states, but I am trying to not spend too long on this blog post. If this is all too grim, have a look at the C<a href="https://customerservicewolf.com/">ustomer service wolf.</a> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a;">Make sure you have a look </span><span style="background-color: white;">at <a href="https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/our-services/mental-health-services/qcpimh/natural-disaster-resources/storybooks/">Children’s Health Queensland <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hospital and Health Service Birdie stories</span></a> which are written to help children through stressful events, and can be helpful for others to read as well. You could also contact an organisation like <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">Beyond Blue </a>for help.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-52997900790873623782019-12-27T10:05:00.000+11:002019-12-27T10:05:09.380+11:00local studies and making <a href="https://www.knitsonik.com/">Knitsonik</a> does amazing work with knitting and sound. <a href="https://www.knitsonik.com/knitsonik-stranded-colourwork-sourcebook/">Her books </a>encourage others to connect their lives to knitting, and there is a lot of potential for interesting local studies knitting (you really need to look at the knitted designs about bricks, fruitcake and roads). Knitsonik also combines knitting, sound and place (<a href="https://www.knitsonik.com/knitsonik-and-place/">have a look at her work on this</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg_XoAwhH87/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">What a beautiful workshop today, all making knitted jewelry from my handspun silk, while exploring the books of Lady Zoe Hart Dyke (aristocratic 1930s sericulturist who established a silk farm in a castle...where our handspun silk was grown...) and listening to my recordings of silkworms from 2015. This intangible heritage project funded by @aceagrams and hosted/supported by @the.merl has provided one of the richest opportunities yet for me to engage knitters in my creative knitting and sound process and practice, I am so grateful for the experience and to all the knitters who have come so far! Last one is next week... Sheep bells. Looking forward to it already.</a></div>
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A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/knitsonik/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Felicity Ford</a> (@knitsonik) on <time datetime="2018-03-31T13:59:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 31, 2018 at 6:59am PDT</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><a href="https://www.instagram.com/withcherriesontoptoo/">Other knitters are also working in this space</a>. Perhaps you have some local knitters, spinners, woodworkers, coders, crocheters and other crafters who can help tell the story of your place.<br />
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This post has been sitting in my draft files for a while. I thought it was time to move it along.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-49722409439387576022019-11-26T08:19:00.000+11:002019-11-26T08:19:11.646+11:00A few thoughts on the book New top technologies every librarian needs to know<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41721096-new-top-technologies-every-librarian-needs-to-know" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="New Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538422759l/41721096._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41721096-new-top-technologies-every-librarian-needs-to-know">New Top Technologies Every Librarian Needs to Know</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5990427.Kenneth_J_Varnum">Kenneth J. Varnum</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3058568248">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book brings together many technologies being used in libraries, some of these have been around for a while, but sometimes with little implementation in libraries. Each chapter provides a solid basic introduction to a technology or a tool for example linked open data, data visualisation or digital publishing. There is usually a description of how the technology is used in a library as well as how it could be used in a library. There are helpful further references at the end of each chapter. This is a book to dip into, and come back to as it is episodic in style.<br />
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I read this as an ebook on the Indyreads platform which is provided by my workplace.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10323448-ellen">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605663891369927860.post-59497964651926159582019-10-30T07:24:00.000+11:002019-10-30T07:24:01.305+11:00Question for #glamblogclubThis post is a few, mostly unconnected thoughts, and some questions. Asking questions is important, but you don't want to sound like you are conducting an interrogation. This is important with colleagues as well as with people who use your library. You also want to make sure you are listening for the answer/s and not thinking about what you will say next. Pauses can be okay.<br />
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When you are helping someone find information, do you help them with formulating their question, or do you answer the question you think they should have asked? I once worked with someone who felt it was much better to answer the questions she thought people should have been researching, rather than the questions they were looking to answer. This is different to helping someone formulate their question, and not nearly so helpful (unless you want people to avoid asking you questions, and it could be very frustrating for students with school projects to do.).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellf/8186737094/in/photolist-dtrmFu-dtr4xA-dtr9n7-dtr24N-dtrkpy-dtrn7E-dtr1kW-dtr2V9-dtrmfQ-dtrjZU-dtr3ks-dtrcBS-dtrnw3-dtrduj-dtre17-dtraHy-dtr5zb-dtreEJ-dtrho5-dtrhSj" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Biblioteka Haburas Moris, NGO Roman Luan, Atauro Island"><img alt="Biblioteka Haburas Moris, NGO Roman Luan, Atauro Island" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/8059/8186737094_e010aeab20.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biblioteka Haburas Moris, NGO Roman Luan, Atauro Island</td></tr>
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The reference interview/conversation or readers' advisory interview/conversation is about finding what the person is looking for, rather than the answer you want to give, and really helping them with their questions, rather than showing off your answers. It is also about listening so you are really providing the assistance/training they are seeking.
This is not a post of inspiration but of a reminder of the basics.
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From earlier posts, there are a few more questions:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://readplayparticipate.blogspot.com/2019/07/how-equitable-is-help-your-library.html">How equitable is the help your library provides?</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://readplayparticipate.blogspot.com/2019/08/who-do-you-make-space-for-in-your.html">Who do you make space for in your library?</a></li>
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In case you are wondering about the photograph, it is from Biblioteka Haburas Moris, NGO Roman Luan, Atauro Island showing a locally produced book in Tetum. There were other books in the library which certain donor organisations had given without asking the right questions. For example on this island there was no postal service and no internet - so a book on how to use ebay was not going to be very useful. The book on ebay use was only one example of the donor organisation not questioning what they were actually trying to do for the community. So if you are giving library materials to other countries think very carefully about it, and make sure you ask the right questions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0