Book 'em, Danno

Perhaps with enthusiasm, perhaps with trepidation, you pick up a book to read, but as you go along you realize the book is not for you. A decision must be made: should the reading continue, or be given up? It is almost as though there's a fear that somewhere lurked a cadre of reader police waiting to arrest whoever balks at finishing a book.

Very different is the student assigned to read a book. He or she may find deceitful or ethically-challenged means to get around not only not finishing a book, but not starting it. They enlist the internet or maybe Masterplots and its ilk.

But it is the voluntary, reading-for-pleasure persons who feel the mystic obligation to slog on to the final page. Some who won't think twice about slipping aconite into a spouse's coffee will be nudged by guilt to finish a mammoth volume they hate from the get go.

Reading is the single form where this compunction dominates. People switch away from a television program, walk out of a movie, ruthlessly turn off a music CD, surf sporting events, nod during a speech, or daydream as a story is related.

There is a workaround for those who want to proclaim that they finish any book they start. They can follow the example of Forrest J Ackerman. The collector of a vast library of science fiction and fantasy books would tell listeners, “I've read every last word in every book in my collection,” then add “When I get a new book I turn to the last page--and read the last word!”

3D Libraries

Soon you will not be able to tell a library from a shop class. Slowly becoming home to 3D printers, libraries aren't so much a natural fit for them as other places offer a rounder hole for this square  technology peg. However, should 3D printing become popular and profitable enough, established places will accommodate themselves or new niches will crop up, luring away the audience that libraries fostered.

We All Scream

An imposing number of Americans are disconnected from libraries. The cause? Maybe there's too much passive marketing.
  
Sure, libraries do outreach, but it's through the traditional bookmobile. Rather, they should follow the ice cream truck model. As the vehicle goes through a neighborhood it plays a jingle through loudspeakers that will entice the attention of the underserved. A line from the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" can be adjusted from "come and take a look" to "come and take a book." Decorating the truck's outside can be book spines sporting bar codes that enable the contents to be downloaded into smart phones. It's done on the walls of subway stations, so how much more appropriate for a bookmobile.

And you wouldn't have to go inside to borrow a book.

Publisher's Progress (by John Bunion)

As I walked through the Wilderness of this World I came to a Place to lie down to sleep; and as I slept meseemeth to dream the following Dream. A large Publisher was coming down a slippy Slope whose Bottom is the Slough of Despond when He met a little, laden Library struggling up.
Publisher: Let Me assist You.
Library: Oh, thank You.
The Publisher proceeded to reach deep into the Pockets of the Library.
Library: What are You doing?
Publisher: I am lightening your Burden.
Library: How is that?
Publisher: I am removing your heavy Coins. Also your pound Notes. They weigh less, but every little Bit helps.
Library: What of my Bookes and the Rest that I carry?
Publisher: There is a Limit to my Charity.

ALA Anaheim: Escape from Disneyland

Like going down on the Titanic, one way to end your Anaheim trip is a visit to nearby Disneyland Park. At least aboard the ship there wasn't the hordes of baby strollers that roll over your toes and bring pedestrians traffic to a molasses-in-January slowness. If there is such an affliction as stroller trauma, this is the place to catch it.

Once in the park you may be forgiven for thinking that its founder, Walt Disney, should have been named "Wait" Disney, since waiting is the one certain thing that you will do when you visit either Disneyland or California Adventure. Lines are long and slow for rides that are short and quick.

The more the merrier is doubtlessly true at Disneyland, if you're a stockholder. But when you are one among the crowds you begin asking, why did I come here? and end with, when can I get out of here? On the other hand, space may be so constricted that you won't have breathing room to ask.

On the bright side, if you are not a children's librarian and forget what a child looks like, you are in luck, for they are everywhere and at every age.

ALA Anaheim: Rather Short

Among the minor distinctions of Dan Rather's talk was its brevity when compared with other speakers. Allotted an hour, after 45 minutes he was done with his prepared remarks as well as those shied at him during the q and a, when he left the stage for the ordeal of facing fans lined-up for his book-signing. As an audience member I felt as though I had paid for a pound of butter but got three-quarters instead. Since he didn't talk any faster than other speakers, his words had a higher unit price without being better.

ALA Anaheim: Where's Anaheim?

“The city of Anaheim is easily accessible, within 5-10 minutes of the convention center”--American Libraries (May/June 2012, p. 76)

An innocent statement? Hah!

The convention center is in Anaheim, so accessibility is not an issue.

Just to walk a few blocks from the center absorbs more than 10 minutes.

There are parts of the city of Anaheim that are not easily accessible, whatever the transportation.

If "the city of Anaheim" is its downtown, to reach it by car in 10 minutes would require breaking speed limits and running traffic lights.