Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Biblioteca de Filatelia de Oaxaca

This was a lovely accidental discovery, inside a charming museum.

Biblioteca de Filatelia de Oaxaca, Mexico

more photographs of the library and museum are here.

The ultimate holiday reads by their location (infographic) - from ebook friendly

Firstly, have a look at the infographic http://ebookfriendly.com/holiday-reads-by-location-infographic/



It is nice, but Picnic at Hanging Rock is not the book to read while on picnics in the bush.  While it is years since I have read it, the idea of reading while in the bush is creepy (bad and unknown things happen, people do not all return from the bush).  The infographic is a great idea, but should come with a warning.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Porrua

This is a bookshop, but the slippery slide is too lovely to leave out

Porrua, revisited
 You can see more pictures of it here.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Biblioteca de Mexico

This was very interesting as it looked like a series of connected libraries in one building.  There were libraries which had belonged to various people, and were now able to be used as research collections.  They were rather lovely in their design.

Biblioteca de Mexico
You can see some more photographs here.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Main Library, Cambridge Public Library

This library is an extension and refurbishment.

ceiling detail, children's room, Main Library, Cambridge Public Library, MA
I enjoyed the ceiling in part of the children's area, and it is the only library I have seen with gerbils living in the desk
  Gerbils in the service desk children's room, Main Library, Cambridge Public Library, MA
 The heritage building housed part of the collection and provided some of the reading spaces (it was hard to photograph as it was very popular). They had staff reading picks

staff reading suggestions, Main Library, Cambridge Public Library, MA
 and let you know how to connect to the libraries via social media social media connections, Main Library, Cambridge Public Library, MA
 You can see more photographs here.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Boston Public Library, Central Library

The Central Library is undergoing renovations, while parts of it remain open. This shows part of the adult non-fiction area and the red is lovely.  It is interesting that often public libraries in the USA have higher shelving than Australia.  Most of this shelving was well over head height for me.

Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square

This photograph (below) shows part of the youth area.  It was empty when I photographed it, but 20 minutes later when I walked past it was packed.  I could not photograph the area where videe games were being played, as it was packed with people while I was there.

Youth area - Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
You can see more photograph here.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

East Boston Library, MA

This library was opened in 2013. It is next to a park, and a community garden.  The park was very well used when I visited and the library was popular.  I realise that it never looks that way, but my aim is not not photograph people in the library, and that is often a requirement of me having permission to photograph.

This is a lovely branch library.  The ceiling and light are amazing, and there are very comfortable spaces through out the building.
East Boston Library, MA.
They also let you know the hashtag to use (while in the library) social media - East Boston Library, MA.
You can see my set of photographs here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The next series of blog posts

I have been on holidays and have scheduled the posts for #blogjune ahead of time.  I have visited a few libraries while I have been away, some of these visits were planned and other spontaneous.  They are all my choice and done for my interests, and done in my own time.

The next series of posts will be for each library and a few other places, and then there will be some posts drawing together some bigger ideas (and some not so big ideas, as well as the occasional rant).

I have been having fun experimenting with Flickr uploadr.  I will write more about this soon.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Rocky Mountains National Park for #blogjune

I am including Rocky Mountains National Park on Instagram because
A photo posted by Rocky Mountain National Park (@rockynps) on
they are having a really interesting promotion for their 100th anniversary.  They are seeking 100,000 uses of the hashtag #rmnp to celebrate

Last time I searched they had already hd over 64,000 uses of the tag on Instagram so they look likely to make their 100,000. I like the way they are thinking big. They also do some great reposting.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

storify for local studies

I keep expecting to see more libraries using Storify as a way of profiling local events, and collecting together social media about their community.  There are some libraries using it, but not many.  I realise that it is not an archival tool but it at least brings things together so you can then address the archiving, rather than not having the collection.

The National Theatre of Scotland makes great use of Storify.  They use it to bring together comments people are making about their performances.

The Medievalists account brings together (and it is not a surprise given the name),  medieval matters.

Museums, such as the British Museum, The Ashmolean, and the Science Museum, are all doing interesting things with Storify. Catherine Fletcher tweeted and storified about the television production of Wolf Hall (highlighting the research). Trove is using it too.

It can be used for fiction, such as this (rather creepy) work by Chuck Wendig.

Other libraries are deliberately experimenting with it, but it would seem a fit for at least temporary collection of material of relevance to local studies.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Monstrum playground design

Monstrum design playgrounds.  You can see some of their work here. I think they would be amazing working on some library design as well.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

#blogjune USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab - nothing to say other than it has lots of photographs of bees, and I enjoy seeing them

Andrena personata, f, md, eastern neck nwr, back_2015-05-26-05.43.56 ZS PMax

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Taronga Zoo for #blogjune

Taronga Zoo makes very interesting use of instagram.  They have some amazing photographs, but they also have a really interesting statement

"Taronga is working to secure a shared future for wildlife and people. Tag @tarongazoo or #ForTheWild to give us permission to repost your photos?"  which makes reuse potential clear.

Friday, June 12, 2015

sewing and writing (or reading)

The author Mary Robinette Kowal writes about designing and making the dress for the cover of her latest book. She describes the research, the methods of sewing, and helpfully provides photographs.  This is a very good tie in for libraries and makers.  Can your library connect to people who want to make heritage costumes, or create works which are inspired by fiction (such as fantasy and science fiction).  Think about how you can help this part of your community.  The skilled information seeking of staff will help, and tools for the community could be useful.  There may be programming potential or display potential.


Thursday, June 11, 2015

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

serendipitious discovery

I really like the way that one thing can lead to another, and cause serendipitious discovery.

Exploring the #librarymade tag (during American Library Week) lead to this which was a lovely plug for a library. 



Tuesday, June 9, 2015

How easy is the social media to find on a website?

Do you make it really easy for your clients to find all the social media streams your organisation is active on?  Can they be found online?  Can they be found in your library?

Tate has a great list of all their streams (and there are some lovely ones to follow).  You can read Tate's digital makeover transforms the traditional museum,  for background.

NASA helpfully brings their social media together,

Seattle Public Library via their @SPLBuzz account tells us that it is
The official Twitter channel of The Seattle Public Library. Have a question? Ask here or go to .
 Helpfully prompting asking a question.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Cornelia Parker Magna Carta an embroidery - from the British Library

Cornelia Parker Magna Carta An Embroidery

This art work is so wonderful on many fronts.  Totally exciting. More information about it is here.

Note, blog post updated after embedded image provided problems.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

#blogjune Oak Park Public Library

They had a sloth in the library (although it did give me a Zoo city moment to see it) Meet a Sloth
and the different uses of Room To Weave
the idea box
  No One Was Hurt...
 Although as an aside one expression I do not like is "think outside the box" - there is no box to think outside of (although in this case there really is).

Saturday, June 6, 2015

#blogjune Dublin City Public Library

This give a strong impression of the library. I am using images from libraries I have not visited as I am interested in the power of the story I can work out through this.

This bus highlights a local and international event as Dublin remembers building up to the commemoration of the Easter rising next year

learning-bus6
This is also good because of the bilingualism. Road to the Rising
and their one city one book events One City One Book 2015 Book Launch

Friday, June 5, 2015

#blogjune Chattanooga Public Library

Chattanooga Public Library uses its Flickr account to tell stories about what is happening in the library.  Most of the emphasis is on what happens on the second and fourth floors.

an example of programs

Tech Town Spring Camp
and of how the spaces are used Untitled

Thursday, June 4, 2015

#blogjune Christchurch City Libraries

Christchurch City Libraries is very impressive in their use of social media.  They were documenting post earthquake for local studies, and they record and showcase things happening in a their libraries. This image shows a local studies angle Chancery Arcade, Gloucester Street
This a library program and commemoration Poppy blanket at Upper Riccarton
and this, a library program
  Woven art

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

#blogjune Chicago Public Library maker space

This is interesting because the Chicago Public Library maker space was started as short term and temporary, as a way of testing need and interest.  The need and interest has continued. I like the way makers of all ages are photographed. You can see the whole stream here.

IMG_9867

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Monday, June 1, 2015

it is time for #blogjune again

I have participated in #blogjune over the last few years.  I pick a theme, and most of my posts for the month are around that.  This #blogjune I am looking at library and museum social media.  I will mainly be looking at how Flickr and Instagram are used, but may include a few other things as well.  I will be avoiding NSW examples, not as a slight, but because it is less complicated for me this way.  I will try and embed photographs, but you may have to follow links - it depends on how the sharing is set up.

First up is the National Museum of Australia. I like the way they highlight their public programs on Flickr, including lots of photographs of participants.  They must have good documentation for this.