Library Stuff

Seems Elmer Fudd has his own version of Google, with options for "Google Seawch" and "I'm Feeling Wucky", not to mention "Pwefewences". Don't forgot to click some of the links--very funny.

Via LISNews: reminiscing at BookFinder about ALA Read posters.

Grabbed from the InfoPeople blog (California library blog): Do you write a library-related blog? Take the Survey of the Biblioblogosphere from Meredith at Information Wants to be Free.

Beloit College has come out with its annual 'freshman mindset' list, this time on the Class of 2009. It's been chucking around the library listservs, mostly because of this item:

49. Libraries have always been the best centers for computer technology and access to good software.

which I'm not even sure these kids actually believe. Certainly they're used to libraries having computers all over the place, and the online catalog is the norm for them.

Meh. Whatever. They still make me feel old.

UPDATE: Here's an interesting take on 'experiencing freshman perspective'.

Thanks to Rochelle for the heads up.

Check out the satanic librarian chit-chat on Questionable Content on Monday. Hey, is it my imagination, or is Marten's mom just cooool?

Are you reading QC? Why not?! It rocks.

Via LISNews:

The BBC reports that

The founder of an online book-sharing library says the interest in his scheme has been "beyond his wildest dreams".

The My Book Your Book website does not go live until Monday evening [Rant note: this was yesterday], but has already received 750 applications.

All of its "founder members" will be able to access thousands of paperback novels - provided they donate 10 books each to the co-operative scheme.

Search Engine Watch reports:

Google Rumored To Launch Instant Messaging Tomorrow

Google to Deliver Instant Messages from the Los Angeles Times has unnamed sources telling the paper that Google will launched an instant messaging service called Google Talk as early as tomorrow. Aside from IM, the tool would also offer voice chat similar to what Yahoo Messenger currently offers.

Google's said to have been testing the service for at least a month. Google confirmed to the LA Times that it had a new product to release this week (when don't they?) but declined to say if it was Google Talk was the product.

The New York Times yesterday wrote that "Google executives" said they'd unveil a "communications tool" on Wednesday but not exactly what that would be.

From Yahoo! News: Swedish library launches 'borrow a person'

If you're one of those people who thinks all lesbians are sexually frustrated or all animal rights activists aggressive, then a Swedish library project that allows you to "borrow" a real live human being rather than a book may provide some useful insight.

The Living Library project will enable people to come face-to-face with their prejudices in the hopes of altering their preconceived notions, Ulla Brohed of the Malmoe Library in southern Sweden told AFP.

...This weekend, nine people, including a homosexual, an imam, a journalist, a Muslim woman and a gypsy, will be available at the Malmoe Library for members of the public to "borrow" for a 45 minute conversation in the library's outdoor cafe.

James Quinn reminded me that today, August 10th, is St. Lawrence's Day, patron saint of libraries and librarians. Also of:

Archives; archivists; armories; armourers; brewers; butchers; Ceylon; comedians; comediennes; comics; confectioners; cooks; cutlers; deacons; fire; glaziers; laundry workers; lumbago; paupers; poor people; restauranteurs; Rome; schoolchildren; seminarians; Sri Lanka; stained glass workers; students; tanners; vine growers; vintners; wine makers.

Lumbago? Well, I guess that relates to librarians and archivists--we all have bad backs!

Since we share the day with vintners, I think we should all knock off early and raise a glass of wine to our profession.

Happy Day, everyone.

Seems that Library Underground is a Site of the Month over at Grateful Web.