This blog began in 2003 as Mrs. Rabbitt's Bookbag and continued as From the Library Director from 2005-2010. You can read my newspaper columns at FromtheLibraryColumn published Thursdays in the Norwood Transcript and Bulletin.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Watch the city light fade at Earth Hour 2009 around the globe.  Click on the photos to see the lights go out. 

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Earth Hour


It's Earth Hour around the world.  Be sure to turn off your non-essential lights at 8:30 tonight and leave them off for an hour.  Read or eat by candlelight.* Turn off the tv and computer. We might not be able to stare at the stars in New England due to rain but if you are in Boston the dimming of the cityscape will be lovely.

*Here's an article that warns that one candle use releases more carbon than an incandescent bulb. Let's put things in perspective, though. Turn out all the lights and light one candle.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Read, Kiddo, Read!


Author James Patterson has launched a new website for kids.  Readkiddoread is extremely user-friendly and breaks the books down into simple age groups of 0 - 8 years, 6 and up, 8 and up and 10 and up.  Of course, Mr. Patterson writes a series of books and promotes them on the site among his page-turner suggestions but he includes blogger input and more. 

Animal, Mineral ... Kindle?



A Kindle? If you haven’t heard, the Kindle is Amazon.com’s very popular e-reader or electronic book. There are many amazing things about the Kindle – the lightweight design, the easy-to-read text, the text-to-speech capability, and wireless capability to download books in seconds, anytime and anywhere. I was recently at a friend’s mountain ski house where to get cell service we need to stand very close to a window on the second floor leaning over a balcony (you’ve got the “Can you hear me now” picture?). Yet, I downloaded a Kindle book sitting at a kitchen chair using Amazon’s Whispernet wireless. In just seconds. (The Kindle version of most books costs between $8 and $12 and is delivered free from Amazon.com’s Web site.)  From the Daily News Transcript, From the Library, Charlotte Canelli, columnist

Read the entire From the Library column in the Daily News Transcript.  Read or listen to some other opinions about the Kindle:  How the Kindle Changed the World at Salon.com, A Kind Society Can Be Literate at NPR, Kindle e-Reader, A Trojan Horse For Free Thought in the Christian Science Monitor. 

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Freecycle


I've posted the Freecycle website before, of course. It's time to clean out the garage, cellar and attic and time to think about giving away your overflow to those who will use it.
The worldwide Freecycle™ Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is run by a local volunteer moderator (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the right. It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for your local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Or, go directly to the Web site for your local group by clicking on your community's link on the left. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions). Have fun!

The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be another's treasure!

In addition to describing hoaxes and chain letters found on the Internet, Hoaxbusters discusses how to recognize hoaxes, what to do about them, and some of the history of hoaxes on the Internet. Bookmark this page, along with snopes.com and run, don't walk, to it the next time you receive a suspicious email or warning!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

What's All the Fuss?


What is a blog, anyway? Why read them, why write them. In short, why care?

Online definitions of the word “blog” differ. Marketingterms.com defines a blog simply as “a frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.” Another online definition defines a blog as a “personal online journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption.” Well, consume we do. Blogs can be found on all newspaper and magazine Web sites, conference and political Web sites; there are millions of them and they are everywhere and can be used for all types of purposes.  From the Daily News Transcript, From the Library, Charlotte Canelli, columnist
Read the entire article in the  From the Library column in the Daily News Transcript.

I came across the Shanachie Tour - A Library Road Trip Across America 
a "unique book with its accompanying DVD documentary follows three Dutch library employees on a coast-to-coast U.S. road trip to discover how American libraries are engaging their communities and preparing for the future. In the spirit of roving Scots-Irish storytellers from a bygone era, the Shanachies Erik Boekesteijn, Jaap van de Geer, and Geert van den Boogaard traveled to libraries both large and small in 2007, meeting with librarians to encourage, record, and share their stories. The book includes original blog entries from the trip, insights from library professionals, and vivid color photographs of libraries, their staffs, patrons, and environs. An entertaining one-hour road movie on DVD brings the trip to life, featuring conversations with innovative librarians and educators from east to west. With its infectiously upbeat outsider s view of American libraries and the many challenges they face, this book and video set is sure to galvanize librarians of all stripes. ShanachieTour is a heartfelt love letter to American libraries: informative, inspirational and a whole lot of fun!" Amazon.com Review
It looks interesting and something that library-lovers will enjoy.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

The World Sings!


I'm enjoying the international flavors of the music on WorldSings. Try the top twenty from around the world and venture out to 'videos being watched right now' for something funkier. There's some beautiful stuff here and I think it beats watching American Idol.

Periodically I Find This Kind of Thing!


The Periodic Table of Typefaces is a pretty cool tool. It doesn't do much for you but it is pretty to look at and you can spend some time admiring it.

The School Project: It's a Family Thing

Last Thursday night my husband and I attended an amazing program at the elementary school in our hometown of Norfolk. The event was the annual Wax Museum and included the exhibits of over 150 fifth-graders as famous personalities. That night I met Amelia Earhart, Charles Schultz, Ben Franklin, Christa McAuliffe, Theodore Geisel, Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, Jackie Bouvier Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and many others, including our own grandson, Colin, as Norman Rockwell. I don’t know if I was the most impressed adult in the crowd but I was certainly awed by the creativity and brilliance of these confident 10-year olds.  From the Daily News Transcript, From the Library, Charlotte Canelli, columnist
Read the entire From the Library column in the Daily News Transcript.

WiFi Finder

Jiwire has a free app for iTouch and iPhones called the WiFi Finder. Their website WiFi Finder lists locations in the US - most libraries, interestingly, are not listed.

Book Sprouts


There are plenty of great book club sites on the web including Book Sprouts iLibrarian has a list of 10 book club and reading websites.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Here We Are

Monday, March 2, 2009

Reading About Reading

When I leave the library each day I try not to look around me. What I mean is that working as a librarian has its shortcomings. I often use the analogy of working in a candy story while having to watch sugar intake. I often overload my bedside table with books that I’ve read about, hear about or watched come and go from our busy library. It’s a tough job and someone has to do it … but it can be pretty frustrating when you’re a busy person with little time to read.  From the Daily News Transcript, From the Library, Charlotte Canelli, columnist
Read the entire From the Library column in the Daily News Transcript.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

March Is Women's History Month


Check out the US Census Bureau Facts for Features press release for some interesting statistics on women in America.
Image from the ShapeTheFuture.org website