Librarian on Wheels

An Ohio librarian with an unusual hobby. Seriously, just seeing who the crowd is at the roller derby games is amusement enough to watch this video.

The Times They Are a-Changin

You are probably familiar with the Bob Dylan song, The Times They Are a-Changin, well it's been running through my head ever since I heard that Ted Kennedy had died. As I watched the news coverage on almost every channel I turned too, I realized, the Kennedy's are gone. Well and truly gone. For the first time in my life, I won't be expecting to read about them in the newspapers, watch them speak from the floors of the Capital, track them in the tabloids or mimick their style. I'm sad about it. I can remember the Kennedy's as larger than life for as far back as I can recall, news and television coverage of Jackie moving her kids to New York City, Carolyn and JFK going to college, drug scandals, family vacations on Martha's Vineyard, the Presidential campaign of Ted or his winning yet another term in the Senate, JFK Jr.'s love life, magazine career and multiple attempts at passing the NY state bar, the politics of the Kennedy brothers, the legacy of their public and personal lives and the myth of the Kennedy curse. This mythical family has been in the forefront of American culture for so long they've influenced my life in ways I probably don't even realize yet. Back in college I volunteered with Special Olympics after reading about the life of Eunice Kennedy. In my 20's I believed that JFK Jr was the future of the family until he foolishly killed himself and his wife and sister in law in the airplane crash that claimed yet another Kennedy too young. As the children and grandchildren of Joe and Rose Kennedy die so does an era of American history defined by a family that was involved in politics, scandal, style, privilege and public service. I don't know why but Dylan's song sums up the Kennedy's to me.

If you haven't heard Dylan's song lately or don't know the words, here they are:

The Times They Are a-Changin'

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Librarian Trading Cards

I'm a trading card! Check mine out here: http://librariantradingcards.blogspot.com/2009/08/51-lively-librarian.html
This very cool idea is from The Original Librarian Trading Cards website and you can request your own by emailing Amy at libserves@gmail.com. You can also visit the site by scrolling down this page and clicking on the link to the website under my list of favorite blogs.
WOW, I feel like a superhero in the library world now!

Treasures in the New York Public Library

Check out this interesting article on the amazing collection of rare books and items that the New York Public Library owns. Truly a treasure trove of books, manuscripts, restaurant menus from the 19th century, and even some of the first paper money. Definitely on my list of stops on my next trip to NYC.

Must Read Book-The Traveler by Daren Simkin

Whlie browsing the stacks for a patron I stumbled upon a little book, rather lost amongst the larger fiction titles and picked it up out of curiosity. The Traveler by Daren Simkin, with pictures by Daren and his brother Daniel is a charming and inspirational story about a man named Charlie who is looking for something that would make him happy. Charlie grabs an old suitcase, says goodbye to his family and friends and sets off to travel the world, all the while carrying time which he has packed away in his suitcase. Time stands still for no one and Charlie's lessons are universal and something we often forget.
This wonderful little book is written like a children's story or perhaps a fable and is timeless and thoughtful and should be shared with those you love. The style and inspirational writing reminds me of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. The drawings are simple and touching and perfectly drawn for this lovely little story with a very big message.

Daryl Hannah's Eco Green Website

I discovered Daryl's Hannah's website through a link on Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Cancer site and am now a regular browser. Her site is here and is an eclectic mix of video blog, green news and earth friendly products. Her lovelife goods page has a great selection of items in 4 categories, everyday essentials, fantasy playthings, home-body and kids& pets. The stainless steel food and beverage carriers and kitchen compost bucket are an excellent price and a must have. I've just ordered an organic sunscreen and am thinking of buying the cozy and soft bamboo surfer robe. I've also got my eye on a piece of jewelery made from recycled gold.
Hannah besides being a respected actress is a keen environmentalist and her sustainable solution blogs are worth a watch. She's definitely on my list of the people I want to share a meal with.

A Traveling and Eating Librarian

For the first time in as long as I can remember I have no airline tickets waiting to be used. Guess it's time to plan another trip. The last few years I've made a conscious effort to travel as often as possible...well as often as being a mother and working full time allows. My most recent travels have been a mini "library tour". However, my plans for the next few trips focus on experiencing local culture, with yes...stops at local libraries but also really enjoying and indulging in the food. Here are a few of the destinations I am exploring:
1. Spain and Portugal- I have the opportunity to return to Spain this fall and am enjoying reading and watching videos on one of my favorite countries. A few I particularly enjoy:
Jose Andre's Made in Spain I've seen every episode and LOVE the combination of travel blog and feasting plus Jose is one of the most endearing and goofy chefs on tv.
Spain...On the Road Again with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow as they travel throughout Spain and indulge in fabulous local fare with a variety of famous and non famous guests. Great ideas for regional Spanish cooking but you will get seriously sick of the camera focusing in on Gwyneth while she eats and oohs and ahhs over the food. Still worth a watch.
2. Chile- A food paradise, crab, eel, sea bass, clams, strong espresso and lomitos (sandwiches). For a great overview of Chile check out No Reservations with the delicious Anthony Bourdain.
3. The Southern US- A region of the US I have spent a lot of time living in, exploring and drinking in. It's time to go back. After the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil came out I was OBSESSED with everything Savannah. I took a couple of trips down there in the 90's and I'm ready to explore a bit more of the delights of the area as well as the low country, specifically Charleston South Carolina. I'm planning this trip for spring of 2010 with my Mom and sister and have been reading and watching the heart attack cook herself Paula Deen. The woman loves butter but I'm hoping to swim my way through the seafood of the South with little but the water it's broiled in, lots of lemon and cold beer.
Time to start checking airfares...

Worst Library Books?

Another interesting article from the UK about the library books nobody wants to check out.
Read it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/aug/12/library-books
When I weed the collections I purchase for I've run into my fair share of strange, dumb and just plain disturbing books. Now there is a place to share the worst.

Britian's Most Prolific Reader

Here is a cool story about a British woman who has borrowed 25,000 books from her library since 1946. Averaging more than 12 books a week!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5932159/Britains-most-avid-reader-91-has-borrowed-25000-library-books.html

My Catwalk for ALA

My catwalk for the YALSA fashion show is featured in the ALA Annual Conference Overview video below. I'm 30 seconds into the video. Kinda cool!