Make America great again with libraries

The link will take you to an excellent article written by David Kipen from the L.A. Times.

Mr. Kipen made some incredible points including, "If, as he claims, our new president really wants to invest in infrastructure, then America will need to build more than just roads and bridges. If Donald Trump is as smart as he insists he is, then he can prove it by strengthening our intellectual infrastructure. That means libraries — and he can start with one audacious symbolic act." -Kipen, David

My belief is that if we are going to, "Make America great again." -Trump, Donald, then we better not burn down our libraries. Seriously though, I believe that if we as a nation wish to be a stronger unified front we need to encourage everyone to utilize what the library has to offer. I don't believe everyone has all the information on what libraries can offer them so here are some examples that go beyond renting books and DVD's; *Free English as a second language classes and group meet-ups. *Free courses including but not limited to coding, web design, using the internet, Microsoft applications, and grants and fundraising. *Meet-ups about writing, scribbling, tattoos, coffee, music, adult coloring, book clubs, etc. *Children's programs that offer free courses on cooking, internet safety, coding, games, reading, the summer reading program and of course children's story time. We also have a recording studio *Central Library St. Louis, MO* Here's a link to our events page. Please stay informed it's a good way to stay ahead of what's going on around you and the people you care about. As my mother always said, "The one thing people can never take away from you is your education." You're right mom.

NaNoWriMo

In case you haven't heard there is a National Novel Write Month aka NaNoWriMo. The month of November is used as a goal for writing a 50,000 word novel. This inspires people to come together and write that novel some of us have had floating in our minds for days, months, and years. At The Saint Louis Public Library one of our own Lainie has created and is hosting a most excellent writers meet-up.

 

 

I have had the opportunity to swing by the first meet-up and enjoyed listening to our guest speakers discuss their personal experiences with NaNoWriMo. I am trudging through my novel ideas and writing as much as I can. Hopefully this NaNoWriMo will keep me accountable or at the very least motivated to write my novel. Good luck to all the writers out there! Follow the link to learn more...http://nanowrimo.org/

 

 

 



Database Review- Book Psychic

I have been perusing Book Psychic which is an optional database on our website SLPL.org.  I wanted to be familiar with this database for our patrons. It’s easy to use and easily accessible once you’re on our library catalog webpage. I simply began clicking and rating books I have read and quickly received a notification that I already have recommendations. I am an Anne Rice fan and really like vampires and the supernatural. With that being said I noticed that as I was rating different titles from various genres the books that popped up for me to rate were almost all related to vampires. I appreciate that the database figured out how much I like vampires, however it would have been nice to continue having more varied options for books to rate. I think due to its easy use and accessibility to our patrons it’s a great place to start for someone who doesn’t know what they want to read next. Though I believe it’s more fun to ask a librarian…but that’s my opinion.

Zines

Zine

zēn/

noun

informal

noun: 'zine; plural noun: 'zines; noun: zine; plural noun: zines

a magazine, especially a fanzine.

• a webzine.

Here's what I know about these little and sometimes big things. I know that anybody can create them. *I just did* I know they are all over the world. I know they can be filled with only words or only pictures or both. I also know the St. Louis Public Library is currently accepting any zines and placing them in our catalog so that anyone can check them out. I also know that the only rule in zine club is there are no rules. So go out there take that creativity you've been holding back and make a zine. It literally took me less than 15 minutes once I had a story idea. Of course mine involves pugs. Thug pugs.