Recently in just for fun Category

Where's the plug?

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cartoon.jpgDominic Frandrup, Assistant Director of the Waupaca Area Public Library, sent me this cartoon and it gave me a chuckle. Thought I'd share the chuckle with you, too!

Go to pennyarcade.com to see the full strip >


Thanks, Dominic!

> contributed by Beth

The Buzzwords of 2008

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nukethefridge.jpg(Okay, okay, this is my last list reviewing 2008, I promise!) Check out The Buzzwords of 2008 from The New York Times. Ever heard of a "frugalista" or "skadoosh?" How about "photobombing" or "DWT?"

Maybe the library world should create some of our own to go along with "Twi-hard" (a fan of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" book series about vampires). Submit your ideas in the comments!

> contributed by Beth

A new kind of librarian...

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[Note: I originally posted this on my personal blog, but couldn't resist adding it here, too, as I find Carol O'Connell's recent picture of a librarian so entertaining!]

Librarians are constantly dealing with the old stereotype of the tight-lipped, grey-hair-in-a-bun, practical shoes wearing, shhhh-ing mouse. Though there have been a few exceptions over the years, that is the one that prevails.

bonebybone.jpeg

But today I came across a new kind of librarian while enjoying the latest book by one of my favorite mystery writers, Carol O’Connell. In Bone By Bone, no one ever uses the library, partly due to the stench emanating from the place and partly due to the librarian inside its doors (who evidently causes the stench). Here’s a taste of the picture:

“Mavis Hardy’s size was impressive, more muscle than fat, as evidenced by the barbells tightly gripped in her hands. There were other items of bodybuilding equipment on the floor behind her. This argued against the rumor that she was dying, and it gave credence to a theory, oft repeated by the locals, that she could not be killed except by supernatural means.” (p109)

And later…

“The librarian coughed up a mouthful of mucus and let it fly. So good was her aim that she hit one lens of Ferris’s spectacles on the first try. He rose from his chair and fled the library.” (pp116-117)

I think I like this picture better than the tightly bunned version we’re all used to.  I’m not sure why... Maybe just because it’s much more entertaining! It’s a great book - check it out sometime.

Have you run across any interesting portrayals of a librarian lately? What do you think the ideal librarian image should be? Share your thoughts in the comments.

> contributed by Beth


Unfortunately, there's a long unnecessary introduction, but this is very funny!



> contributed by Gerri

2008 Top 100 lists

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Top 10 lists abound on the web for a wide variety of topics on everything from keyboard shortcuts to baby names to vacation destinations. The New Year adds Top 100 lists to the mix, as people reflect on the year gone by and predict the future of the year to come. Check out a couple of my favorite lists in the ReadWriteWeb's Top 100 Products of 2008 and The Guardian's 100 Top Sites for the Year Ahead. Some great tools are included, broken down into easily scan-able categories. YMMV!

> contributed by Beth

Happy Holidays

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christmas.gifAll of us at OWLS wish all of you a very happy holiday season! 

Enjoy a little treat from George and Joan, Thinking Out Loud, and listen to their latest podcast: A Library Carol. It's pretty entertaining!

> contributed by Beth

Year in review

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As the New Year approaches, it's always fun to take a look at the year that has passed. Time has done a great job of this with The Top 10 Everything of 2008. Explore categories like: News & Science; Business, Tech & Sports; Pop Culture. Because it was an election year, there are some interesting lists for Top 10 Campaign Gaffes, Top 10 Campaign Video Moments, Top 10 Editorial Cartoons, and Top 10 Election Photos.

And if you disagree with Time's picks, you can submit your own top 10 lists.

> contributed by Beth

Test your spelling skills

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Try out BusinessWriting.com's quiz on "The 25 Most Commonly Misspelled Words" and see how you do. My 68% was pretty disappointing, since I consider myself a pretty good speller (grammar, well, that's another thing...). Give it a go, and if you're willing, post your results in the comments.

> contributed by Beth

Holiday Numbers

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christmas.gifAs a reference librarian, when I think of Christmas my mind inevitably turns to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their take on the the season includes such tidbits as:

$593.8 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2008. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($66.2 million worth) during the same period.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

For more yuletide number crunching turn to The 2008 Holiday Season.

> contributed by Evan  

A novel use of books

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booktable.jpgTake a look at Laura Cahill's book vases and furniture made from unwanted books. Hmmm... maybe this would be a way to use leftovers from book sales? Get your teens together and see what they can come up with!

> contributed by Beth

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