This week in library links

I don't think anyone will argue that in recent years we've seen an explosion of "comic book movies" on the big screen. Whether this surge is due to the popularity of comic books and graphic novels themselves, or too their potential mass appeal, is a good subject for consideration. Another good topic for debate: how can libraries "read" this phenomenon in order to better serve their patrons? Which comics and graphic novels with movie tie-ins are worth having in the library? What are your thoughts?

~*~

If you've ever been to a book fair, you've probably seen a few of the strangers titles that are out there in the world of published books. I've got one: How to Gorge George Without Fattening Fanny, a 1970s diet-style cookbook by a model. (I bought it in college while researching my thesis on food and identity.) It seems that, for the past year, AbeBooks, an online bookseller, has dedicated a page to these odd tomes. Ever wanted to know the history of dentures? About Gloucestershire cheese-rolling? How to knit figures of famous historical figures? It's all there in the Weird Book Room. What are your favorites?

~*~

Sometimes the timeline of when I decided I wanted to be a librarian gets a bit jumbled in my head. I know that somewhat early influences were the movie The Mummy and an article in Bitch magazine about librarians in film. The Huffington Post has updated this "librarian" movie list to include 11 films featuring librarians in important roles. Sadly, they're missing The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, which really deserves to be a librarian classic. Are there any other films you think should be on the list?

A few links for your perusal

I just got back from an extremely relaxing week in northern Wisconsin with my best friend and her family. It was a great week of sun, swimming, boating, and overall enjoyment. Being away, however, meant that I returned this evening to 80+ e-mails. Yikes.

Here are some links that I would particularly like to share:

1) Another potential alternative library: a vending machine-type set-up in a train station!

2) Amazon.com recently announced that their e-book sales have surpassed hardcover sales; the trend for e-books seems to be showing up in libraries, too, very much to their benefit

3) Remember those "READ" posters that hung in (it seems like) every school library you ever visited? The list of celebrities who have appeared on those posters over the years is pretty impressive

4) If you enjoyed Bride and Prejudice, get ready for Bollywood's Aisha, a new take on Emma

5) And, because I can't resist, a Jane Austen-inspired wedding.

A retro phone booth library

Having just returned from my month doing library things in the UK, I was amused to see that one of the articles linked from this week's ALA e-newsletter features one of those ubiquitous red telephone booths, repurposed with a library bent.

In North Somerset, the community purchased (for one pound!) the phone booth; restored it; and turned it into a library. Now the space functions as a 24/7 book swap library; anyone can take out a book on the condition that they replace it with another. What a great way to keep the shelves of this library stocked with an every-changing array of titles!

If I were still in England this week, I would maybe need to go check this out for myself...

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!