Libraries Outside the Box

All three of these links, from this week's ALA E-newsletter, are great examples of thinking about libraries and library services in new ways in order to boost usage. What do you think?

• The Unquiet Library - a school media center has taken the main concepts of Web 2.0 and really run with them
• Machine Cuisine of the literary persuasion - a Canadian public library has integrated vending machines into their services as a new way to check out--and display!--books
• Books on tap - a pub in Hungary offers books for customers/patrons to read
  

Things I've been reading online

I haven't had near as much time to keep up with my usual blog a website reading while I've been abroad, but I have read (and been told about) a number of interesting articles. Let me know what you think of some of these ideas:

1. A shopping diet, wherein you choose six items of clothing (not including underthings, shoes, or accessories) and where only those six items for an entire month. I am so intrigued...
2. Remember that cupcake craze that happened not too long ago? Some pop culture folks think librarians are the Next Big Thing
3. Here's an article from The Guardian about one of the pieces in the special architectural exhibit at the V&A, a bookcase structure called The Ark; I was there!
   

Links from the ALA Newsletter

Have you been following my librarian abroad adventures at my travel blog? I hope so!

Looking for some other interesting library-related topics for reflection and/or discussion? Try these:

• Book parties are the new book discussion
• A pioneering library in Scotland reports on its success and prisoners' favourite reads
• Librarians do oh so much more than cover the reference desk; looks like my camp counselor skills really are useful to my intended profession!
  

Miss Librarian Abroad

For the entire month of July, I'll be blogging about my library school travels in the UK from my special occasion travel blog, Miss Librarian Abroad. Check it out!