National Library Week

Folks, it’s National Library Week. I had a normal video thing made by the ALA to share with you, until I searched “Library” on Vimeo. This is a beautiful (and to me, haunting) video of Kahn’s Exeter library.


















As I said above, I find this video stunning in its cinematography and representation of that amazing space, but it really haunts me, because it lacks the two things that “make” a library - people and information (in the case of the Exeter library: books). Perhaps this is more what the ALA should be focusing on this year during National Library Week: how more people are using libraries, which have dwindling resources to offer their patrons. If things continue in this mode of cost-cutting, we could end up with spaces like the empty Exeter building. Where, then, would people satisfy their information needs? Google? Yeah, because that really does replace a person. Who will help cut through all the chatter and noise in the information world? Bing? Yahoo? Wikipedia?

No, it’s librarians, and the information at our command - the internet, ebooks, periodicals, and yes even books. The ALA really missed an opportunity this week, I think to highlight they key role that librarians play in our society. The role that all librarians have, no matter what their title might be - as stated in the ALA’s Code of Ethcs (which should get more publicity in itself):

We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry, we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations.

I can see a whole marketing campaign extolling the virtues of the librarian, not of the resources in a library. Yes, there are some amazing things in libraries - but what makes a library a library are the librarians. Highlight our impact on the people in our communities, highlight our ethics, and highlight our necessity. Instead, the ALA has conveniently given us this handy pre-written press release:

(CITY, STATE) – It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide.

The [name of library] is celebrating National Library Week by [describe programs, activities here].

“Libraries are the heart of every community and our library helps our community thrive,” says [name and title of spokesperson]. “At our library, people of all backgrounds come together for community meetings, lectures and programs, to do research with the assistance of a trained professional, to get help finding a job or to find homework help […add resources/activities that you would like to highlight].”

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

For more information, visit the [name of library] at [address], call [phone number] or see the library’s Web site at [provide URL]. Libraries hours are [list times].

Do libraries as a whole really lack any kind of stories about real impact that the ALA feels that it must create a press release? Scary.

How have librarians affected your life? How, do you think, should the ALA alter its message for National Library Week?

iPad Confessions

Readers,

I want to fully disclose something with you for a moment:

I bought an iPad last week.

I really was not going to buy one. Frankly, I was underwhelmed at Steve Jobs’ initial presentation of the device, and saw no real use in the iPad. I was doing just fine...

until I went to the local Apple Store and test-drove one for about five minutes. People are right, you have to use one in order to fully appreciate what it is and just how useful (and immersive) the device is.

Why did I buy it? For me, the iPad replaces everything I used to do with a laptop: internet browsing, email, some word processing and sharing photos. The size really is excellent for carrying around, no bigger really than a normal sized periodical even with a case. As I said, the experience of using the iPad is very immersive, and as Apple said, it feels “right.” Let me list a few specific things I like about it:

The New York Times’ Editors’ Choice app could be the future of newspapers. The content is formatted much like the physical paper, with the same typefaces and column formatting, as well as photos. This “feels” good to me. Of course, I grew up reading my news online, and so this might not be optimal for those of you who really enjoy reading a “real” paper. However, as I said, this has the potential to become the next major revolution in publishing for both magazines as well as newspapers. (If I could only get the New Yorker to make an app, I would be blissfully happy).
Apple’s Pages app is really quite useful, and has a much better user interface than I thought it might. I am a regular user of Pages on my MacPro, and so I was already familiar with much of the program. iTunes is a poor document syncing source, and Apple needs to improve the syncing of documents, either through MobileMe or an improved interface in iTunes. Office users really need some better word processing solution, and Microsoft should jump on that. Also, I am interested to see what Google Docs does with the iPad. That could be really “neat.”
Video on the iPad is just great. The speaker is pretty good, but there is no lagging, no jerkiness, just smooth beautiful video. Good job on this one.
Photos on the iPad is another highlight. Part of the reason we bought an iPad was to share the 13,000 plus images we have in our Aperture library (we take a lot of photos). The photos sync seamlessly, if a bit slow the first time. After that, everything is great. The photos look just excellent - so much so that Jen’s grandparents had no trouble at all seeing them on the iPad’s screen.

As you can imagine, I have at least one suggestion for Apple: make iWeb for the iPad. As you might know, iWeb is how Jen and I “do” this website, and I would love to be able to blog from the iPad (ALA Annual? Hope to blog from there!). I’ll be surprised if they don’t address this fairly soon.

iBooks leaves a bit to be desired to me. As you might guess, I love reading a physical book, but I gave reading Thoreau’s Walden a try on the iPad (it was free). The text looks wonderful, and I love the different fonts and sizes you can pick. However, to make the text easily readable, you have to make it big. This is no problem in itself, but it does make you turn the page quite frequently, which (though it looks neat) is a bit annoying to do all the time. There needs to be some sort of arrow for page turning, in addition to how you can do it now.

And, finally, what do I see as the iPad’s implications for libraries? Well, smartphones really seem to be the “next big thing” moreso than what other librarians have pronounced. Tablet computing, as well as smartphones, will really alter how patrons interact with their libraries, and the libraries need to be proactive in changing to support their user’s habits. First, OPAC and library websites need to be optimized for the iPad and iPhone. Second, libraries should at least consider creating an app for those platforms, to better share the OPAC, as well as videos and other recorded events and such at the library. And, make all this free to everyone! Finally, the ALA (or PLA) really needs to make strong overtures to Apple so that libraries can have a role in the iBooks app. Maybe you can virtually check out electronic titles from the library, or even just find the book you are about to buy at the local library. This could serve as some form of standardization within libraries for the circulation of electronic books and resources. And we all know libraries and librarians love standards.

Have any questions for me about the iPad or other comments? Let me hear from you!

The Usable Library

This is the best, most succinct library user focus “thing” I have seen. Wonderful ideas. Spread it around. Great!!!!

The Usable Library

Magazines and Me

I don’t think I have ever written about the magazines I read regularly. So, what follows is a list of magazines I currently subscribe to, or ones which I subscribed to in the past, with some thoughts on each. Enjoy! (I’d also love to hear about what you “take” magazine-wise in your home in the comments!)

The New Yorker - I think about everyone in the states knows the New Yorker. It, and Atlantic Monthly are about the apex or magazine publishing in the states. The quality and variety of writing of this great publication are peerless (I think) and provide interesting insights into both well and lesser known subjects. It arrives weekly in the mailbox, and as such is a challenging magazine to keep up with it - and keeping up with it is very important, as if you don’t stay current, it your backlog becomes so heavy that it’s almost impossible to get caught up. Upon receipt, I usually go cover to cover and dog-ear stories I want to read, as well as funny cartoons to share with Jen. Some weeks, I read it nearly cover to cover, and other weeks there are only a couple of items of interest to me. The famous Heather Powazek describes how she reads this periodical in this article, and it’s worth a read:

How to Read The New Yorker in 10 Easy Steps

Dwell - To be honest, Dwell is Jen’s subscription, but I end up reading it almost over to cover. We mark articles that have information in them that we like, keeping in mind we will be homeowners some day. I love the developing trends in sustainability, recycling of materials in homes, and the general trends in design (hi, modern mid-century).

Good - This is a very interesting and challenging periodical which arrives quarterly. First, all proceeds from the magazine go to charity, and all the articles in it are (subjectively) about how to make the world a better place. Very inspiring stuff, as well as tips on how to do smaller things in your own home or community.

American Libraries - Of course I get this! As a member of the American Library Association, I receive this publication monthly, which is a re-hashing (pretty much) of the American Libraries Direct email that finds its way to my inbox every Wednesday evening. I usually review this to make sure I haven’t missed anything, and find a couple of good “gems” in it.

Roundel - This is the magazine of the BMW Car Club of America and it arrives monthly. For a club publication, it is very nice. I love reading the opinions, especially those of original CCA member Joseph Chamberlain about how (in the words of Bob Dylan) the times, they are a-changin’. I also love their in depth articles about new models, and the classifieds are always fun to look at.

Monocle - I once subscribed to this magazine, which is a paragon of beautiful photography and print design. However, at about 140 dollars for 12 issues, I had to give it up. The writing was just not that good, and seemed to rest on the photography and design of the publication. Really, though, if you don’t have good (and interesting) content, then why pay so much money? If it was reasonably priced I might reconsider.

Texas Monthly - I had a subscription to this great magazine for about a year, and then it just stopped. No idea what happened to it. However, it is filled with great articles (and, to my chagrin, more and more and more and more ads) about all things Texas. Great read, with some excellent journalism, writing, and opinions.

What do you read?

PS - Check out my new online CV:

www.jasonwdean.com

Historical Maps Tutorial

Readers,

I just wanted to share with you that I just wrapped up another presentation about cataloging, and this one focuses on Historical Maps. I’ll embed it below, and here’s a link to it:

Historical Maps Tutorial

Let me know what you think in the comments!

The Morgan Library (Library Design, 3)

Well, this post has been gestating for a while in my brain, and I want to share it with you now. The third installment in the library design series is all about a library I very much want to visit (and work at): The Morgan Library.

The Morgan began as the personal library of the infamous banker and financier, J. Pierpont Morgan. The library was adjacent to his residence (at the time), and the original building’s architects were McKim, Mead & White. McKim designed the exterior as a Italian Renaissance style palazzo in the Palladian tradition. The result was this façade:

(Source: here.)

Personally, I find the exterior very typical of the time in which the original building was contructed (1902-1906) but some architecture critics describe this as McKim’s masterpiece. Looking at the inside, I might agree:

(Source: here.)

The interiors are, like the exterior, very much reflective of the time in which they were constructed. However, they are also reflective of their purpose: for the exclusive use of J. Pierpont Morgan. It is the next event that makes this space unique in this series, as well as in libraries in general (to the best of my knowledge).

After Morgan dies, his son (J. P. Morgan, Jr.) decides that the items in his father’s library are far too important for only private use, and so in 1924 “gives” the Morgan library to the public. This, of course, changes the nature of the collection, as well as the use of the space the collection is housed in. Though I read little about the interim of the use of the building, I can imagine it was less than optimal for visitors and patrons of the library.

This all changes in 2001 when the Renzo Piano Building Workshop is selected for the first major construction project at the Mogan since its initial construction. In 2006, construction is finished, and the additions to the Morgan are widely praised, by both critics and the public alike. Piano’s sensitivity to the needs of the reader and user of the library are evidenced by these images:

(Source: here.)

(Source: here.)


(Source: here.)

(Source: here.)

(Source: here.)


(Source: here.)

From the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission:
The largest expansion in the Morgan's Library's history, adding 75,000 square feet to the campus, was completed in 2006 after approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, the project increased exhibition space by more than fifty percent and added important visitor amenities, including a new performance hall, a welcoming entrance on Madison Avenue, a new café and a new restaurant, a shop, a new reading room, and collections storage. Piano's design integrates the Morgan's three historical buildings with three new modestly scaled steel-and-glass pavilions. A soaring central court connects the buildings and serves as a gathering place for visitors in the spirit of an Italian piazza.

The final image is of the new Piano-designed reading room, which is a space I think deserves special attention in any library, as it is the space in which patrons interact with the resources of the library - really the essential function (and therefore space) of any library.

As you can see, the reading room is flooded with even, natural lighting. I can only assume that this is not terribly intense, or the light-sensitive rare books of the Morgan are used in a different space. However, if they are used there, what a great space to use them in - well-lit by natural lighting, large tables with lamps, and power outlets. Also, a librarian is close at hand to assist patrons as well as a couple of computers to use the Morgan’s catalog (I assume).

I think this might be my favorite space thus far for four reasons:

The effective re-purposing of the library as reflected in the addition.
The sensitivity of Piano to the existing space and buildings.
Piano’s efforts to make the new space user friendly.
The amazing reading room.

What are your thoughts about this space? Have you ever been there? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Marfa Photos

Readers,

I just finished upoading a video of my photos of our recent trip to Marfa. I invite you to check them out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QUB6A1OWmo

Or, watch the embedded video below. Enjoy!