inspired: library contest?

you may know fl is famous for Hemingway look-alike contests...

this lovely post form the chef's widow got me thinking:
What a nice summer contest for the locals,
"Do you look like a character in a book?"
let your customer submit photos, make a flickr set, maybe even have folks vote for their favorite on your website.

then why not try to get a prize from a publisher, like an author's signed copy of the works (if possible) or something like it.


technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Help Wanted.

I was going to rant about people who'd rather die than change but then I thought better of it.

Instead let me make this post totally personal and ask for good advice from experienced people.

I am looking to totally revamp my connectivity setup and budget. Those of you who know me are aware I do not have internet at home (I have my reasons) and that I just bought a big screen TV.

In the spirit of improving and saving, I would like to reconsider my phone and cable expenses to maybe find a set up where I also have internet access without spending much more.

so here is the old/current set up:

• phone land line: about 25$/month
• long distance calls: about 25$/month
• comcast cable standard: about 60$/month

potential new set-up (I think):

• can I find a cellular provider who will allow me to keep my land line number and have unlimited data AND an internet card for my laptop?
• who does that?
• how much is the minimum that would cost me?

consider I could save the 50$ on the land line and I don't really mind scaling back the cable to basic with HD which I can get from comcast for less than 20$

Doesn't it sound like that may be a great improvement at a small expense?
drop land line, reduce TV add internet and cell all at once, who hoo!

Otherwise...

...SHOULD I consider a bundle package from the cable co.?
They start pretty low (99$/month) and I get a lot more TV.
THE LIMITATIONS ON INTERNET upload and downloads seem pretty harsh...
but of course, then we don't get an extra cell (which we don't really need, my husband like the land line...)

What else is out there? I'll consider pretty much any options and it seems like there should be so much more.

Help me come up to speed and save money pleeeeeeease.

Outliers

I am listening to the book Outliers in my car and it is blowing my mind.

watch this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m363KIRPC7BAK

then check the book (or audio book) out.

update from 5/21/09
I keep re-playing and re-playing some passages:
"...when the world changed, they were ready."

"plane crash are most often the result of 7 errors, SEVEN!
and not errors due to lack of skills or knowledge, but failures in teamwork and COMMUNICATION... someone knew something and didn't tell someone else..."


Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved the audio read by the author. (hachette audio) Every chapter was more interesting than the one before and the 1st one about birth dates and hockey players blew me away... Definitely eye opening, very smart and clear about what it means to teach. Made me appreciate my family and the environment in which I grew up so much.loved it.



note. I kept wanting to stop the car and write down brilliant one line quotes, which of course, I never did. that's the problem with audio.

about opportunity and practice and luck: "...when the world changed, they were ready." stuck with me still.










View all my reviews.


technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

friday ramblings

yea yea, i am just re-posting, but mind your links, there are some cooooool things here:

innovation ingredients (stone soup anyone?)


I love a good cheeseburger



OMG lessons I needed:



thanks to meg from pointing this out:
http://www.the350project.net/home.html

Good news from San Jose.
I especially like the bit about funding other child safety priority, and restoring the libraries' open hours to their 2000 levels.
yay!



webcat, worldcat, localcat...!?



WorldCat Local for circulation
For libraries that catalog their collections with WorldCat and use WorldCat Local as their public interface, the local ILS serves primarily for circulation and acquisitions. The next logical step in OCLC’s strategy moves these remaining tasks into WorldCat Local, making it possible for a library to phase out its local integrated library system.
WorldCat Local for circulationFor libraries that catalog their collections with WorldCat and use WorldCat Local as their public interface, the local ILS serves primarily for circulation and acquisitions. The next logical step in OCLC’s strategy moves these remaining tasks into WorldCat Local, making it possible for a library to phase out its local integrated library system.


Everyone who's cool already knows about drop box. this screencast covers it well.


why weeding is good



technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

proud, busy, cool

the reason I haven't been posting:
The Cummings Library will open again on Tuesday 5/12 after the addition of a brand new youth wing is completed.



technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers