1. jothelibrarian: Pretty medieval manuscript of the day is a lovely decorated initial from a fourteenth century manuscript produced in England. Image source: British Library MS Lansdowne 475. Image declared as public domain on the British Library website. I love the way this letter looks like an amoeba or space.

    jothelibrarian:

    Pretty medieval manuscript of the day is a lovely decorated initial from a fourteenth century manuscript produced in England.

    Image source: British Library MS Lansdowne 475. Image declared as public domain on the British Library website.

    I love the way this letter looks like an amoeba or space.

  2. theparisreview:

    From Robert Dawson and Josh Wallaert’s Public Library: An American Commons.

  3. We promise not to screw it up.

    — Marissa Mayer, on the Tumblr acquisition  as announced via press release on Yahoo’s Tumblr. Exclamation: Tumblr. + Yahoo! = !!  (via jessbennett)

  4. willywaldo:

    Se7en (1995)

    The power of literature!

    A great gif set (minus the homophobic pejorative, Brad Pitt) to introduce  LJ’s review of Dan Brown’s Inferno, which we gave a star! Also if you aren’t following LJ’s fiction editor, Wilda Williams on Tumblr, get on it.

    Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Angels and Demons; The Da Vinci Code; The Lost Symbol) returns in another thriller that invokes history, architecture, science, and conspiracy. Langdon wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of the last two days. He’s surprised to find himself in Florence, Italy, and even more shocked to discover that someone is out to kill him for something he knows. The doctor treating him helps him to escape from an assassin, and the chase is on. Can Langdon follow clues that tie in to Dante’s epic masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, and stop a plot destined to change the world forever? Verdict Brown delivers an amazing and intense read that arguably is the best Langdon thriller to date. Everything a reader expects from Brown is here, plus a well-written thriller with jaw-dropping twists as well. A high demand for the works of Dante plus a surge in Italian tourism is sure to follow. The king of the historical thriller is back, and this book will easily dominate the best sellers lists for quite some time. [See Prepub Alert, 1/15/13.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

    (Source: mcavoiding)

  5. LJ Events at BEA Thursday, May 30 - Saturday, June 1 All Day The Librarian’s Lounge, sponsored by LJ and SLJ, is not an event but a very important location. It is the place in the Javits Center for librarians to gather to relax, share ideas, and enjoy snacks and refreshments. There are author signings as well as CHAIRS. It is the BEA equivalent of Zelda’s fairy fountains. Wednesday, May 29 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Day of Dialog. I hope you are coming to this because Erin “Laser Fingers” Shea is moderating a panel WITH RICHARD DAWKINS ON IT. 6:30 p.m. BEA Librarians Dinner. A fancy schmancy (in the best way) dinner at the Yale Club. Donna Tart will be there, as will many amazing librarians. It’s invite only, but you can let us know you are interested! 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Don’t have an invite to the dinner? That’s okay, neither do I. We’ll go the equally awesome party sponsored by Bookrageous and BEA. There will be a lesson in readers advisory AND free drinks! Library Journal is a cosponsor.  Thursday, May 30 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Random House Library Marketing & Library Journal Author Breakfast. Yes, food and authors. How could you go wrong? 10 a.m.-11:5-a.m. Not actually an LJ event but it was the best session I went to at Midwinter: Library Family Feud! It also features LJ’s own memoir columnist, Erin Shea. Friday, May 31 1-1:50 p.m. THE GREAT BEA TUMBLARIAN PANEL aka “Libraries + Tumblr = Connecting Readers + Writers” starring yours truly, the inimitable Rachel Fershleiser; the famed Kate Tkacik; the genius behind NYPL’s Tumblr, Angela Montefinise; and a Connecticut-based guacamole enthusiast we all know and love, Erin Shea. 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Shouting and sharing, two of librarians favorite activities. Join LJ and AAP at the 4th Annual Librarian Shout ‘n Share, where you can listen to some bad ass library folks talk books.

    LJ Events at BEA

    Thursday, May 30 - Saturday, June 1

    All Day The Librarian’s Lounge, sponsored by LJ and SLJ, is not an event but a very important location. It is the place in the Javits Center for librarians to gather to relax, share ideas, and enjoy snacks and refreshments. There are author signings as well as CHAIRS. It is the BEA equivalent of Zelda’s fairy fountains.

    Wednesday, May 29

    9 a.m.–6 p.m. Day of Dialog. I hope you are coming to this because Erin “Laser Fingers” Shea is moderating a panel WITH RICHARD DAWKINS ON IT.

    6:30 p.m. BEA Librarians Dinner. A fancy schmancy (in the best way) dinner at the Yale Club. Donna Tart will be there, as will many amazing librarians. It’s invite only, but you can let us know you are interested!

    7 p.m.-9 p.m. Don’t have an invite to the dinner? That’s okay, neither do I. We’ll go the equally awesome party sponsored by Bookrageous and BEA. There will be a lesson in readers advisory AND free drinks! Library Journal is a cosponsor. 

    Thursday, May 30

    7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Random House Library Marketing & Library Journal Author Breakfast. Yes, food and authors. How could you go wrong?

    10 a.m.-11:5-a.m. Not actually an LJ event but it was the best session I went to at Midwinter: Library Family Feud! It also features LJ’s own memoir columnist, Erin Shea.

    Friday, May 31

    1-1:50 p.m. THE GREAT BEA TUMBLARIAN PANEL aka “Libraries + Tumblr = Connecting Readers + Writers” starring yours truly, the inimitable Rachel Fershleiser; the famed Kate Tkacik; the genius behind NYPL’s Tumblr, Angela Montefinise; and a Connecticut-based guacamole enthusiast we all know and love, Erin Shea.

    3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Shouting and sharing, two of librarians favorite activities. Join LJ and AAP at the 4th Annual Librarian Shout ‘n Share, where you can listen to some bad ass library folks talk books.

  6. Pssst

    I’ve been working hard to get a Tumblr / LJ party together for ALA. Still figuring out the final details, but pencil in Saturday, June 29 at 7pm. This will be our moment of glory.

  7. Oxford Academic (OUP) on Tumblr: Trekkies: Are you ready? →

    oupacademic:

    The new Star Trek movie, Star Trek: Into Darkness, opens today and the trekkies in the office are psyched! And being good Star Fleet members, we know to explain the lingo to our non-trekkie friends over popcorn and luckily we have a few good dictionary editors at OUP to help out. 

    Senior Assistant Editor of the OED Matthew Bladen breaks down Star Trek’s impact on the English language as well as several science fiction terms it relies and expands on. Set phasers to stun, prepare for warp factor five, and get ready to explain emotion to a Vulcan.

    So are you ready?

    image

    Image credit: GIF via fanpop. 

    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

  8. schoollibraryjournal: Happy May birthdays to LJ and SLJ staffers Annalisa, Beth, Karyn, Kent, Margaret, and Shelley! I am full of so many brownies.

    schoollibraryjournal:

    Happy May birthdays to LJ and SLJ staffers Annalisa, Beth, Karyn, Kent, Margaret, and Shelley!

    I am full of so many brownies.

  9. bookavore: Readers’ advisory practice So cool.

    bookavore:

    Readers’ advisory practice

    So cool.

  10. Oh, just today’s reminder to take the LJ Tumblr survey, if you haven’t already.

    Oh, just today’s reminder to take the LJ Tumblr survey, if you haven’t already.

  11. BEA For All: A Librarian’s Guide to BookExpo America 2013 New York can be gorgeous in the spring, and there’s plenty to see. Relatively near the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the now-perennial site of BookExpo America (BEA), is great shopping, the spectacular Highline Park, and the New York Public Library’s Schwarzman Building, with its fascinating exhibits. You might not see any of it though; changes are afoot at BEA, and they mean more…of everything. Along with a return to weekend hours—the show now runs from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, 2013, including LJ’s and SLJ’s warm-up Day of Dialog events—there is now a third author stage. Attendees will find almost 300 autograph signings on the three stages, as well as the relocated BEA Editors’ Buzz sessions, which cover children’s, YA, and adult books. The stages will also welcome the new “BEA Selects,” featuring indie publishers discussing their fall 2013 romance, mystery, literary fiction, and sf/fantasy titles. You’ll want to take in the exhibits, of course, and the dozens of programs offered during the conference. Below are the offerings that are best for librarians—not all of them are particularly aimed at our profession, but eavesdropping on “the other side” can be illuminating. Though ebook questions feature heavily, we’re moving on from library availability concerns to debates surrounding secondhand ebooks, the effects on authors, and e-publishing of out-of-print titles. For a break from it all, do what the fun crowd did at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting: check out the Association of American Publishers (AAP) Library Family Feud. Featuring Simon Doonan on the author team, it’s a hotter ticket than any Broadway show. Or take a load off at any point during the show at LJ’s Librarians’ Lounge, open Thursday through Saturday, at booth 757. Check out the events LJ editors Etta Thornton and Margaret Heilbrun recommend!

    BEA For All: A Librarian’s Guide to BookExpo America 2013

    New York can be gorgeous in the spring, and there’s plenty to see. Relatively near the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the now-perennial site of BookExpo America (BEA), is great shopping, the spectacular Highline Park, and the New York Public Library’s Schwarzman Building, with its fascinating exhibits. You might not see any of it though; changes are afoot at BEA, and they mean more…of everything. Along with a return to weekend hours—the show now runs from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, 2013, including LJ’s and SLJ’s warm-up Day of Dialog events—there is now a third author stage. Attendees will find almost 300 autograph signings on the three stages, as well as the relocated BEA Editors’ Buzz sessions, which cover children’s, YA, and adult books. The stages will also welcome the new “BEA Selects,” featuring indie publishers discussing their fall 2013 romance, mystery, literary fiction, and sf/fantasy titles.

    You’ll want to take in the exhibits, of course, and the dozens of programs offered during the conference. Below are the offerings that are best for librarians—not all of them are particularly aimed at our profession, but eavesdropping on “the other side” can be illuminating. Though ebook questions feature heavily, we’re moving on from library availability concerns to debates surrounding secondhand ebooks, the effects on authors, and e-publishing of out-of-print titles. For a break from it all, do what the fun crowd did at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting: check out the Association of American Publishers (AAP) Library Family Feud. Featuring Simon Doonan on the author team, it’s a hotter ticket than any Broadway show.

    Or take a load off at any point during the show at LJ’s Librarians’ Lounge, open Thursday through Saturday, at booth 757.

    Check out the events LJ editors Etta Thornton and Margaret Heilbrun recommend!

  12. Woke up this morning, found that I was reblogged by the Lifeguard Librarian & Library Journal

    text-block:

    image

    I think I’m actually the person in green— most of the credit should go to thelifeguardlibrarian’s great response.

    Oh my god, text-block, major props for this awesome gif.

  13. The Brooklyn Public Library is inviting all Brooklyn residents to participate in its Hurricane Sandy Oral History Project. News articles and statistics don’t equate to personal narratives recounting the emotional impact of the storm.

    Participants will be interviewed for 20-30 minutes and their stories will be preserved in a permanent collection and many will be available online.

    If you’re interested in being apart of the project, email June Koffi at j.koffi AT brooklynpubliclibrary.org.

    (Source: therumpus.net)

  14. mydaguerreotypelibrarian:

    Edward Christopher Williams (1871 – 1929) was the first African-American professional librarian in the United States of America. His sudden death in 1929 ended his career the year he was expected to receive the first Ph.D. in librarianship.

    Upon his graduation with distinction from Adelbert College of Western Reserve University in 1892, he was appointed Assistant Librarian of Hatch Library at WRU. Two years later, he was promoted to librarian of Hatch Library until 1909, when he resigned to assume the responsibility of the Principal of M Street High School (now Dunbar High School) in Washington, D.C. He continued his career as University Librarian of Howard University until his death on December 24, 1929.

    He is also author of the novel When Washington Was in Vogue.

    Holla library history / DC history twofer.

  15. historyhobbit: I know you aren’t supposed to cry in book club, but I have the sweetest little friends ever. This Lego librarian (with shhhhh! Coffee cup and book) was a gift from 3rd graders Alex and Will….this MADE my week! #lego #lovemylibraryjob #kidsaremadeofawesome I recognize this is super sweet but every time I see that little librarian figure under the plastic I think someone is trying to kill her.

    historyhobbit:

    I know you aren’t supposed to cry in book club, but I have the sweetest little friends ever. This Lego librarian (with shhhhh! Coffee cup and book) was a gift from 3rd graders Alex and Will….this MADE my week! #lego #lovemylibraryjob #kidsaremadeofawesome

    I recognize this is super sweet but every time I see that little librarian figure under the plastic I think someone is trying to kill her.