Wikipedia Loves Libraries 2013

I'll admit I've been a closet skeptic of Wikipedia, but this is too good to ignore: Wikipedia Loves Libraries is a real, live, in-person event hosted by libraries worldwide, or as Wikipedia puts it,  

"a general initiative for improved Wikimedia engagement with libraries (and archives), and more concretely an annual campaign of wiki-workshops and edit-athons at libraries around Open Access Week in October/November."

Those workshops and hands-on "Edit-athons" are among the actual activities for real people - although most of the time, those real people will be sitting in front of screens, not old-fashioned books. But that's OK, because libraries aren't *just* about books, they're about information and knowledge. So. Go, if you can. Bug your local library to join in and host an event.

This is cool!

~Diane Stresing

Pay What You Wish for this Sacred Title

It seems perfectly fitting that the author of Sacred Economics leaves it up to you to fill out the book's price tag.

You can read it online here.  Fair warning: you might learn something. Enjoy!

The author, Charles Eisenstein, offers more insight into his theories at sacred-economics.com.

National Library Week is April 14-20, 2013

Libraries matter; really they do!
I agree!
The Wall Street Journal said so, and
The Monitor did too.


Let's make a deal:  I'll lay off the poetry and exclamation points if you go to the library.

(You go first!)

Seriously. Maybe I'll see you there... 

~Diane Stresing

Wiser Wednesday

It's Wednesday, and if you're like my friend Janice, you know that means it's time for more brain exercise!

Don't worry, it's not heavy exercise today. Just a little stretch and warm-up. 

The What kind of reader are you? quiz was almost pure fun. And, I'll admit, not terribly insightful. I learned I am a dedicated reader who is "convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more."

Now that you're warmed up, how 'bout a little speed reading? See how you do compared to the 'average' (whatever that is) with ReadingSoft's free online test.  If you clock in at 1,000 wpm, let me know; I'll change the headline to Warp Speed Wednesday.

... and they're off!

_____________________________________________
URLs, in case the links above don't work for you:

http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_kind_of_reader_are_youhttp://www.gotoquiz.com/what_kind_of_reader_are_you

http://www.readingsoft.com/index.html

Words are Cheap, Laughter is Free

Recently I wrote about what fun my son and I had just hanging out the library. I didn't mention the oodles of hand puppets, games, puzzles, and friends we enjoyed there, nor did I mention that we went to the library that day to sign up for one of its many upcoming programs for children. I didn't mention it because I think we all know: libraries are fun. They're also a great source of free entertainment, and I'm talking about more than just being able to borrow a bazillion books, for nuthin.'

But as we enjoyed several of Doris Cronin's books (Click, Clack, Moo; Diary of A Worm) it occurred to me - she's one of those authors whose books all but guarantee belly laughs. Great big guffaws, even. We laughed so loud I was afraid we might be asked to leave :-0

What authors do that for you? Let me know!

We're Reading More! So, What?

The New York Times reports that we're reading more books - and specifically, fiction.

When I saw the headline, I thought, well, there's one benefit of this economic disaster. But the experts who comment on the National Endowment for the Arts' annual report don't go there...instead, their scholarly opinions seem to be, who knows what that means?

They're probably right. The increase, the first seen in 25 years, is just one increase. According to the report, conducted by the US Census Bureau, just over 50% of adults surveyed said they had read at least one novel, short story, poem, or play in the previous 12 months. In 1992, nearly 57% answered "yes" to the same question.

I'm not going to second-guess the experts; I can only hope that means we're not as dumb as we've been told.

I will hazard a guess (and hope!) that we'll find ourselves spending more time in libraries. My son and I read and played away two hours at our local library last weekend, and we had a blast - for free. :)