Info, links and musings from a (non-librarian) Library supporter.
I picked up this list of interesting facts (and links to facts) from InfoPlease:
Found through h20boro lib blog:
Summer reading list for food lovers
– reported by the Portsmouth Herald
Picks include:
I don’t know if this post from The Biblio Mosquito is a real conversation or not, but it’s funny and worth sharing. Excerpt:
[snip]
“Ma’am, I’m sorry to keep you holding.”
“Mmmm. (sigh)”
“But according to the Directory of Wake-up Techniques, you can stimulate tired eyes by pouring coffee directly onto your eyeballs.”
(Pause. Suddenly with more energy.) “Onto my eyeballs?”
“Yes - according to page 36 of the directory, if you pour coffee that has been cooled to room temperature — (laughs) of course you wouldn’t want to pour HOT coffee onto your eyeballs — but if you pour cold coffee directly onto your corneas, you will not only rid yourself of the redness, but will actually be able to read faster.”
“(Long pause.) I don’t think I want to pour coffee onto my eyeballs. Thanks anyway.”
Call ended.
This is the punchline. You really have to read the whole thing to get the full effect. 
It may just be me, but I don’t understand what the controversy is here:
Plan For Bilingual Libraries Sparks Heated Debate
Critics Say Plan ‘Caters’ To Hispanics
A proposal to turn some of Denver’s libraries into bilingual branches is sparking heated debate — between critics who say the plan “caters” to Hispanics, and supporters who say it’s only aimed at serving a diverse public.
The plan calls for all libraries to maintain core services and materials. But city librarian Rick Ashton said certain locations would tailor their collections to patrons’ interests — meaning some would hire bilingual staff members and buy more books and magazines in Spanish.
Fred Elbel of The Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform said “somebody has an agenda” to change the library system for immigrants.
But Lisa Duran of “Rights for All People” said a strong, multilingual library will help foster democracy.
Ummm…. OK. I thought all libraries customized their collections to suit the needs of the communities they serve. So, it’s a big deal that if the community has a large portion of Hispanic customers that that library serves buys more materials in Spanish?
Anyone else getting this?
According to a Library Journal Article, (when polled) more children than parents could imagine Barbie as a librarian.
Maybe it’s that kids have good experiences with children’s librarians, and their parents are too harried to do more than order books online.
[snip]
The results as of last week showed 37 percent of kids voted for librarian, 37 percent for policewomen, and 25 percent for architect, while 93 percent of parents voted for architect, 3 percent for librarian, and 2 percent for policewomen.
Good to know… I think. At least we no longer have to worry about “Math is hard” or whatever that was.
I’ve received the results of my MRI and it looks like my back issues are going to be long-term. I’m still wrapping my brain around it and am not ready to go into details.
Just giving notice that posting will continue to be sparse for a little while.
10 things you shouldn’t buy new
—reported by MSN
Why waste money on shiny packaging and a fancy store when you can get it ‘pre-owned’ for a fraction of the cost? Here are your best buys.
Takeaways:
(…reprint from stories from an ordinary life…)