Merchandising collections

McMillan is starting to actively merchandising our collection. I expect that by Fall, we will have 20+ display units with topical collections for non-fiction and another 20+ for fiction. Plus 14+ units for the Children's Room. In this we are following the lead of Richmond Public Library (www.yourlibrary.ca). They have a lot of info on their site (go to their branch and follow the link to their media presentations).

That libraries should be more like bookstores has been pushed for 25+ years, but very few libraries have actually implemented it with any authority. We are moving into this in small steps, but will have it implemented in a matter of months. Starting with 8 non-fiction topics, then new mysteries, new SF, planning Christian Fiction, Recent Horror, Chick Lit. Let you know how it progresses.

Back from PLA Boston

Had a great conference. In truth, much of what will stick were things that I had heard before, but with some new techniques and emphases.

As in, I have always looked to the Richmond Public Library for new ideas and after I hear about them for a second time, I start to see if we can implement them. That still puts us about five years ahead of most libraries. That fits well with my take on innovation.

Innovation is for geniuses and fools. I am happy to be an early adopter of mostly proven methods.

What do I plan to adopt early over the next two years?

• Merchandising a significant portion of the collection (starting next week).
• GASP as a means of clarifiying purpose and changing atmosphere.
• Improving service for YAs, though I am not the YA Librarian
• Start a staff blog (almost done with that)
• Start IM reference (almost ready already).

Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers

Working my way through this and it is marvelous. Of course, I have a special motivation. Ray was in a company originally headed by Capt. John Benton Callis. Callis was married to a Barnett and so was his sister. While he is not a direct ancestor, he is an interesting branch on the family tree. His nephew (George Barnett) later headed the Marine Corps, probably inspired by his uncle's exploits.

It is also a fascinating look at the daily life of a Civil War soldier  Recommended

Odd couple

I am reading both the Narnia series and the LeCarre canon.

I have read a deal of Lewis, from his Perelandra trilogy (twice) to his non-fiction, but haven't gone beyond the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The movie and a desire to understand his vision has motivated me to read the series, start to finish. 

As for LeCarre, I finished Patrick O'Brian and wanted a look at another long series involving a service with some continuing characters. LeCarre can write, as well as O'Brian. Gemlike, with great observations. Difficult to see him run together with someone like Clancy, who is entertaining in a trainlike way, but mainly about the action. Starting with The Looking glass war.

Doing both of them on tape, saving my paper reading time for non-fiction and magazines. 

Why the blog?

The website was taking to long to update, I needed new website software and so I just wasn't keeping it up. I wanted a simpler way to get things posted, to write more reviews, to comment on library and political matters more frequently. So here we go.

To the Stevens Point Journal, March 2006

Time for conservatives to come clean. Our president is not a conservative. He has exploded the budget deficit. He has greatly expanded government spending. He claims powers far beyond any envisioned by our Founding Fathers, who knew a little about leading a country at war. He claims he is not bound by laws passed by Congress (even after he signs them) or by the rulings of our courts (even though he appoints them). He is filling the Supreme Court with justices who share his expansive views of his powers. He has passed out tax cuts to oil companies while passing on adequate body armor for our troops. He has let lobbyists write laws and regulations, while hiding the meetings behind executive privilege. He has boasted of breaking the law, but only after originally denying that he was. He has filled the Executive branch with corrupt incompetent cronies, who have sold our country to the highest bidder and mishandled everything from the War in Iraq to Katrina. This is not conservative, it is not good management nor is it good government. Feel free to support him if you must, but it is time to stop pretending that this administration is in any way conservative.

By the way, backing these incompetents has nothing to do with supporting our troops. Our president can often be seen using our troops as props when he speaks, but that hasn’t stopped him from stiffing them on armor and equipment. His reckless invasion of Iraq and lack of basic planning for its aftermath have cost our troops dearly. It will take a decade for the military to recover from the damage he has inflicted on it. It will take longer than that for many military families.