IMLS: Over $21 Million to Recruit New Librarians and Help Offset National Shortage

Over $21 Million to Recruit New Librarians and Help Offset National Shortage

"The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services announced $21,087,684 in grants to 37 universities, libraries, and library organizations across the country today to recruit and educate a new generation of librarians. The grants are designed to help offset a current shortage of school library media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities, as well a looming shortage of library directors and other senior librarians who are expected to retire in the next 20 years."

I think it's great the U.S. is getting money, but I'm still not convinced of the impending shortage. What good is pumping out new librarians if we can't get into those library director and other senior library positions (because ppl just don't seem to be moving up; there's not many entry-level jobs).

Curator is charged as 30,000 books are 'lost' by French national library

Curator is charged as 30,000 books are 'lost' by French national library

I know working in a library doesn't pay much, but really now, do we have to go stealing? I get so crazy when I hear about things like this. What's even sillier is the bad guy is right. Sure he may have stolen thousands of dollars worth of rare books, but who else has as well?

If I were working there I'd be processing and cataloguing the rare books first! Who cares if the newer stuff gets into backlog, they need to know what they already have.

Peut-être je peux faire une échange avec une bibliothécaire de France pour que je puisse cataloguer là-bas? Ok, I can dream, can't I?

blogathon 2005 | stay up late. make a difference!

blogathon 2005 | stay up late. make a difference!

Wow. now here's a way that blogging can make a difference. I found this via Bacon and ehs. I have no idea if I could do this. i'm not one for staying up all night. I like to sleep and actually have been quite crabby the last two weeks because I have not been sleeping well.

And then there's deciding which charity any pledges would go to. Hmmm. Well there's still plenty of time to think about this. So are you going to do the Blogathon?

CBC News: Controversial nude statue finds new home

CBC News: Controversial nude statue finds new home

Well it's good to know Frank has a new home. Ppl get so uptight about the silliest things. It's a nude man and it's not even what I'd call pornography (as in, it certainly does not arouse any sexual feelings or thoughts in me).

On an off-the-wall tangent, technically in Ontario, a woman has the right to go topless. This battle was fought in the courts and won. Unfortunately most municipalities have found ways to get around this issue. I'd love to be able to walk around topless, but I understand that there are tons of ppl out there who can only view a naked body as something sexual and/or dirty.

While a naked body can be sexual, so can feathers - do we make our ducks where t-shirts?

Potter craze goes back to the basics

Entertainment - canada.com: Potter craze goes back to the basics


Well I guess it's good that kids are more interested in the book than in the merchandise. Myself, I have just a bit of a collection: 3 rag dolls, 3 mugs, a couple journals and other stationery, a bath towel set, afghan and fleece blanket. I think that's about it though. I'm much more of a Hello Kitty collector anyway.

The thing I find is that as an adult fan I feel neglected sometimes. (I'm still in the navel-gaving, it's all about me stage of life.) The only place I know doing anything on the release night is Chapter's and it's definitely geared towards children. Wait, actually I read in the cinema's nespaper that they will be showing all 3 Potter movies that night, but again I don't think I'd want to sit through all that with a mess of children around.

I guess as long as I can find Potter note cards and writing paper, I'll be satisfied!

Reading And Buying Books For Pleasure - 2005 National Survey

Executive Summary - Reading And Buying Books For Pleasure - 2005 National Survey

Here's a nifty survey examining the reading behaviour of Canadians. It's interesting to see that most of us like to read. It's also interesting to note that it appears that time spent reading on the computer does not diminish other reading time (or at least that's how I read that section).

I also wonder about this:
"Thirty-seven per cent of respondents accessed the Internet during the last 12 months in order to find books or information about books."
I wonder if all those respondents were able to find what they wanted to. Although Amazon does seem to do a pretty good job with their records, but not with their helpful suggestions (at least not in my case).

Monday Report: traditional marriage.

CBC.ca Monday Report Media Player

Rick Mercer's take on the Traditional definition of marriage.

Quite amusing. I miss seeing Monday Report (I only get 1 tv channel and it's not CBC).

CTV.ca | MPs defend parliamentary 'free lunch'

CTV.ca | MPs defend parliamentary 'free lunch': "I don't think its wrong to provide something for MPs. I know myself, often there isn't time to go to the cafeteria sometimes you miss lunch"

I don't think I want someone who doesn't anything wrong with this, sitting in my parliament! MPs aren't the only ones in jobs that require them to work long hours or under pressure. There are lots of folks that have to skip breakfast, lunch and snacks to make sure their work gets done. All of us poor folk still have to fork it over and buy our own lunches. And have they not heard of the brown bag? Well, personally I use a red Hello Kitty lunch bag, but whatever gets the job done.

We're paying them to work, the least they can do its pay for their own food!

Crash (2004)

Crash (2004)

Yesterday evening I went and saw "Crash." I really enjoyed the film. It uses what I call the "it's a small world" technique, in that everyone is connected somehow. This film does make you think about prejudice - both your own and others. Although it seems the commenters at imdb seem to be split over the motive of the movie and its accomplishments (i.e. some think this is just another poor attempt at portraying race relations without providing any true discourse or conclusion).

It was my first time at that theatre. It's a twin, in that there is another theatre just around the corner. Between the two of them they show the films that just aren't at the big theatres, cineplex, famous players, etc. That's a good thing. I bought a membership to the movie theatres since it saves $3 each time and only cost $8. Savings are nice. Next Week Bride and Prejudice is coming to the theatre, and I missed it when it was out earlier, so I'm definitely planning on seeing it. Can't wait to see what else is coming.

Library plug

Ever since Mita posted about her on the radio, I've been listening to BBC 6 Music while at work. I was bored the other day and they asked for submissions for questions and I sent one in.
So if you listen to Andrew Collins broadcast from this past Sunday, you'll here the question "do you use the public library?". (archived til next Sunday, at about the 21:26 mark)
He even suggested that he should ask every guest that question!

Livio De Marchi: house of books

Livio De Marchi

Just take a look at this house and its accesories! I'd love to have the table and chairs - they are so adorable! Can't get enough books!

A true booklover's dream!

It's official

I've been "awarded" my Masters of library and information science. Convocation was this morning, it was pretty good. Hot, but good. I'd say there were about 2 dozen of us MLIS grads who showed up to walk across the stage, kneel and pick our paper. I bought a pretty frame so I can hang it on the wall and make it look nice.

Here's a pic of myself and two friends. Yay librarians in hi-liter yellow! (and if you look close, you can see the letters "brary"; we were standing in front of the main campus library.

The Hollywood Librarian

The Hollywood Librarian

While so many librarians complain about our "image", one of them is out there trying to make a difference. (ok there's definitely more than one, but this is just one good example).

The writer/director is a librarian (or was...didn't read her bio thoroughly) and there seems to be other librarians on staff too. The documentary will mix interviews with real librarians (and those who care about libraries) with clips from librarians in movies.

Anyway, there are snippets of interviews on the site. I watched a few of them. I like it, maybe just because I like documentaries.

I wonder if she'll have any cataloguers in it?

cataloguing craziness

Here's something for you to wrap your head around.

The RVM heading Québécois says it's equivalent to Quebeckers of CSH. OK.

CSH Quebeckerssays this is only for Quebeckers residing outside Quebec.

Yet, CSH heading Quebeckers--Québec (Province) says to use Quebeckers.

please, have a look for yourself. Wait, I think i've got it...maybe it means that although Quebeckers can be subdivided geographically, you can't have just quebeckers -- Quebec.

oh no wait, that doesn't work either. It says to follow the scope note for Canadians which says "Works discussing Canadians within Canada are entered under headings appropriate to their contents" So works discussing Quebeckers are entered under the topic, but it doens't work for what we need it for.
oh and French Canadians isn't much more helpful.

BTW, this all for a book on a Québecois folktale.

HP and the HAlf Blood Prince: Cover shot

Cover photo

Isn't it amazing how every little tidbit of info makes so many fans go wild?

I'm assuming that's Dumbledore - he looks pretty strong there. How much longer til Goblet of Fire is out at the theatre?

I'm rereading Gof right now. I'm not as "true" as some fans since I'm not rereading all of the books before #6 comes out. Besides, i've read them all 3 times already in 2 languages.

Gof is still my favourite - makes me cry every time. (that's why I'm anxious for the movie).

Globetechnology: Librarians as tech-savvy sleuths

Globetechnology: Librarians as tech-savvy sleuths

An article about this week's SLA conference in Toronto. It sounds like they had a good time. Nothing like good press, but I don't like how they make it sound like thy're normal people only because they work in special libraries. That is, I got the sense they were sayign public or school librariand may be a bit more unsociable and bun-headed.

Here's a questions they got from US conference-goers: "What is the quintessential Canadian dish?"

The woman in the article answered Smarties. not a bad choice. I would've chosen Poutine, even if it's more of a Québecois cuisine. What is your idea of the quintessential Canadian dish?

Giant spiders attack Toronto

Cams Across Ontario - Webcam - Ontario Investment Service

Good thing SLA is over and the librarians are leaving!

Thanks D for the laugh!

ETA: sorry, only lasted for a day....spiders have retreated. (although I think D saved the pic if you can't live w/o it.

CBC Montreal - Library yanks Kazemi's photos after complaints

CBC Montreal - Library yanks Kazemi's photos after complaints

Sometimes it sucks that the general public doesn't believe in free speech or expression.

"I don't like that picture - it's too political, take it down."

I don't blame the library for giving in though. I mean, you just have to watch the footage of the Concordia riot to understand that many people in the Montreal region are very edgy about Middle Eastern politics.

Slow Wave for 2004 Sep 04

Slow Wave for 2004 Sep 04

A librarian's dream perhaps?

I just discovered Slow wave via this post from Library Bitch. Now, I just have to wait for another crazy dream to happen before I can submit an idea.

Latest new entries - Oxford English Dictionary

Latest new entries - Help with using OED Online - Oxford English Dictionary

It's hard to believe that dickwad, dipshit and dagnabbit weren't included previously. They've been in my vocab since I was a little kid.

same with alley-oop and wussy.

Although croque monsieur was new to me just 3 yrs ago.

I'm still wondering what a buttlegger is though....

Work work work

So work is going ok. Today my checker (the cataloguer double-checking all my work) said that I could go ahead and just do any fiction that I didn't have questions about. So my fiction doesn't need to be double checked! yay! I guess that means I have to be super-duper careful in the next few weeks now that there isn't a "back-up" if I mess something up. It's only for fiction,like mass market stuff.

Also, I've made it to the 3 month point which means I get benefits. Yay! Health and dental. That's great since I have a prescription I need filled :) See, my job may be on the lower end of the pay scale, but it's permanent, it's full-time, and I get benefits. Three great reasons why it's better than some jobs some ppl I know have.

In other work news, my supervisor is leaving. She's taken a position at a local university. That's great for her! I like her though - I hope the next one is nice and does as well as this one. I think a lot of ppl are hoping it'll go internally. I guess about 3 or 4 cataloguers have already been the supervisor previously, but it doesn't look like any of them would want it again.

Saint Marie by Yang Yeo-Jin

Saint Marie by Yang Yeo-Jin is a graphic novel translated from the Korean, rated 13+.

I picked up volumes 1 and 2 at the used bookstore on Saturday and read them both straight away. And then I reread volume 2. This, as in so many stories, is the scene for a great battle between good and evil. Set in a Catholic private school (how cute), some of the students and teachers wield psychological powers that allow them to do battle for the White and Black sides. That's the thing, Saint Marie is the chessboard, and the staff and students are the players. But who are these chess pieces? who is involved in the battle? And while most who are not involved are oblivious to the deaths of several students, how does Dah-In know about it and fit in? And why does she have her former, deceased, roommate's power?

I really enjoyed these 2 volumes. I'm really new onto the graphic novel scene and haven't read many, so while the plot was simple, yet engaging, I still found it difficult to figure out which characters were male and female!! (esp when there are transvestites and homosexual ones involved!)

My new reading list

HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries: "HUMAN EVENTS asked a panel of 15 conservative scholars and public policy leaders to help us compile a list of the Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries. "

I think I'd like to read most of these books especially since I haven't read any of them.

I am curious as to what the "10 most harmful books" list might look light if the panelists were liberal-minded (and maybe more than a single woman!).