Review: This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All

This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was one that kept getting mentioned in all the library literature, so of course I had to pick it up. It deals with serious subject matter, such as budget issues, the history of libraries, and the future of libraries – but in a very straightforward way. I like that this book was written by a non-librarian – I think when librarians write books about their own field, it’s easy to get preachy (of course, this can happen in ANY field). This gives a more objective viewpoint from someone who isn’t invested in the field, but at the same time who admires and respects librarians and the services they provide. One thing that was interesting was how there are so many stereotypes of librarians: Johnson found herself going to places (Second Life, anyone) where she never thought she would be looking for librarians.

“We are all living history, and it’s hard to say now what will be important in the future.”

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The Truth on a Brick

077.365 – 2010.03.18
Originally uploaded by marleah

When our library was renovated, people had a chance to contribute funding by purchasing a brick to be used for the rebuilding. This person, rather than choosing to have their name put on the brick, instead gave us all a little something to think about. I just liked the simplicity of the message.

Caught My Eye: New Nonfiction

Here’s another installment of some books that have caught my eye at the library.  Again, some of these may not be new, per se, but they are in the new section of the library and I haven’t read them yet, so they are new in some form or another.

Zeitoun - Dave Eggers

I actually haven’t read any of Eggers’ books yet, although I’ve seen both movies that he has written/co-written and thoroughly enjoyed them.  This book is based on one New Orleans man’s experience during Hurricane Katrina.  As if his struggle to protect his property and rescue people was not trying enough, he is accused of being a terrorist.

Age of Wonder:  How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science – Richard Holmes

Focused on the 18th and 19th centuries, this book outlines scientific discoveries that changed the world and the people who made them, as well as their effect on the society of the time.  This one has been touted as one of the best nonfiction books of 2009.

Inside of a Dog – Alexandra Horowitz

I’ve always been interested in how and what animals think, and as a dog owner, dogs are no exception to this curiosity.  Dogs are keen observers of human behavior, and I’d love to know what mine thinks of me.

When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present – Gail Collins

If you know me, you know I proudly call myself a feminist.  I’m very interested in women’s history, and while some people feel that the feminist’s battle ended in the ’60s, I disagree.  Lots has happened since then, and lots more needs to happen before the battle is won.

Jack the Ripper:  His Life and Crimes in Popular Entertainment – Gary Coville

Jack the Ripper is probably the most famous unknown murderer in history, even though his list of victims was relatively short.  The most fascinating thing about him, for me, is the fact that there are so many theories but so little known.  This fascination is apparently shared by many, otherwise our friend Jack wouldn’t be showing up in television, literature, and radio for much of history.

Which do you prefer, fiction or nonfiction?  And are there any others that I should look for on the shelf?

Caught My Eye: New Fiction

At the library we have a section of new books–not necessarily new in the chronological sense, but new to our collection–and I can always find something interesting there (and if I’m not careful, bring home way too many books).  Here’s my quick list of some fiction books that have caught my eye over the past couple of weeks.

The Day the Falls Stood Still – Cathy Marie Buchanan

This book was mentioned in the Flickr group The 25 Book Challenge and is set during World War I and incorporates the development of hydroelectric power at Niagara Falls.  I do love a story set within little-known time periods.

Yellow Blue Tibia – Adam Roberts

“Russia, 1946. With the Nazis recently defeated, Stalin gathers half a dozen of the top Soviet science fiction authors in a dacha in the countryside. Convinced that the defeat of America is only a few years away—and equally convinced that the Soviet Union needs a massive external threat to hold it together—Stalin orders the writers to compose a massively detailed and highly believable story about an alien race poised to invade the earth. The little group of writers gets down to the task and spends months working until new orders come from Moscow to immediately halt the project. The scientists obey and live their lives until, in the aftermath of Chernobyl, the survivors gather again, because something strange has happened: the story they invented in 1946 is starting to come true.” – from Amazon.

I nabbed this description from Amazon because I didn’t really feel like I could describe it as well.  The cover interested me, and then reading about the plot intrigued me.  It sounds a bit like a Twilight Zone episode.

Boneshaker - Cherie Priest

Another science fiction entry, this time a steampunk tale set in an alternate universe 1880s America.  I’ve been interested in the whole steampunk/alternate history thing since The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came out (and no, I haven’t read the graphic novel), but have never really pursued it — this might be the book that will lead me to do just that.  Plus there are zombies, so that’s cool.

Cave Man – Xiaoda Xiao

I actually checked this one out a while back but didn’t get to it before my classes started, so I haven’t read it yet.  In this book, the main character spends years in Chinese labor camps and solitary confinement under Mao’s rule.  Upon his release, he tries to connect with his former wife, as well as the daughter he’s never met.

Elementary Particles – Michel Houellebecq

Besides the fact that looking at the author’s name makes me want to break into “Hollaback Girl”, I was interested in this one because it’s the story of two half-brothers who are totally different from each other.  One is way too interested in sex, the other not at all — and also discovers a way to clone humans so that sex is unnecessary.  This one was first published in 2000, so one of the new-to-me-but-maybe-not-to-you.

Have you seen any books lately that have caught your eye?

Technical Difficulties!

I worked at the library the other evening, and we ran into all kinds of computer problems.  K (the only remaining K at the library! Sad!) was using one of the computers and suddenly a virus warning popped up.  Luckily this was before 5, so our computer guy was still in the building — but only for the next 15 minutes or so.  He started a virus scan, during which we could not use that computer, and left his cell phone number so we could call him when it was done.  The scan proceeded to run for about an hour and a half, so we were down to just two computers (one front one and the back one) to use for checking out, discharging books, and modifying ISBN numbers.

Two computers is manageable, but then — probably about 10 minutes after our computer guy left — the other front computer stopped reading the scanner.  Anytime we would try to scan something — a book’s ID, a patron’s card — it would just bring up a little menu and wouldn’t read the bar codes.  Of course, we were able to get around this by TYPING EVERYTHING IN BY HAND.  Thank goodness my numberpad skills are still there.  We could still check things out and discharge them on the back computer, but it’s very inconvenient and when five people come to the desk at once, what can you do?  People were very understanding and patient with us, so that helped a lot.

Once the virus scan finished on the first computer, we called our computer guy back and he was able to get both computers back up and running.  The scanner issue was resolved simply by unplugging the scanner and plugging it back in.  I was a little upset that I hadn’t thought of that — I had tried restarting both our system and the computer, but not doing anything with the scanner itself.  So for the last hour and a half of the night, we had all three computers again.