Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street eBooks?

Ubergizmo has reported that the first Sesame Street ebook, Bert and Ernie: What’s Cooking, will arrive at the Apple and Google ebookstores at the same time.  This is publisher Scrollmotion's first release on the Chrome Web Store, using the web platform HTML5, which means nothing really but "ooo, fancy computer letters and words dancing round." 

For all of you Google/Henson-files out there, I can only assume this is the great innovation that will change your lives forever.  For the rest of you, "well, ain't that sumthin'."

Ex-librarian Sold Stolen Books on Ebay

Or for Jerk-wad Librarians

Ex-librarian Gillian Polding allegedly (there's that word again) sold stolen library books on eBay.  The Harrow Times reports the Harrow Council says this was a "shocking abuse of position and theft from the public purse which is all the more galling given the financial challenges we face" which is a very British way of saying, "Crazy bitch done sold all our books." 

This does serve to remind us what a shocking amount of power we wield as librarians.  It also shows that used library books do sell on eBay, so if that booksale is not going quite like you want try going digital.

Comic Con: Someone Forgot This S$%t Was Popular

Saturday, sales for Comic Con International in San Diego sold out at a record pace, halting Ticketleap servers and ticking off a great many nerds.  The CBR website reported Ticketleap CEO Chris Stanchak saying “our platform experienced capacity issues for a 4 hour period."  


I have one question.  "Duh?" Comic Con regularly caters to tens of thousands in the brief time it graces us with its presence.  Couple that little tidbit with the fact that there are more scifi and comic book movies coming out this year than really should be possible (and the fact that they actually look watchable) and you have on your hands a reason to throw some backup servers on the grid.  This could have been avoided, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe they expected the Internet to be patient.  Yeah, that could happen.

Libraria Obscura Socialia Theatre: Are You Ready for Some Football?

Welcome to Libraria Obscura Socialia Theatre.  The Monday has come again.  You know the one.  Half the staff will be going on about their work, calmly chit-chatting about the normal benign stuff.  The hard core Big Game fan will be home, so hungover they cannot tell the toilet from the cat.  The other quarter of the staff will be sitting in the break room or at the Circ Desk talking about the big game and all it entails.  Most of these people will be talking about the commercials, yet several will be hard into the mechanics of this "football."  Here a simple conversational example of the latter starring Brenda from Reference and Betty from Circulation:

    

Brenda and Betty: Are You Ready For Some Football?

Betty:  

Hi, Brenda, did you see the game last night?

Brenda:  

Hell yeah I saw it, the Packers brought back the trophy, baby!

Betty:  

Yeah... Um, wasn't the Darth Vader kid commercial funny?

Brenda:  

My husband said it was, I was paying to much attention to the game and that bull&*t call in the 3rd Quarter!

Betty:  

Brenda, you don't have to shout, I thought that call was unfair-

Brenda:  

Unfair!  It was criminal!  That ref should be taken out back to pick his own switch and then have it shoved up his-

Betty:  

Brenda!  Calm down!  It was just a game! 

Brenda:  

Just a game!  I bleed green and yellow!  Just a game... Go pick your own switch!

Betty:  

What? No... Go to your station.

Brenda:  

You go to your station.

Betty:  

I... I'm already here.

Brenda:  

Well, you better be.

The two stand awkwardly for a minute.

Betty:  

Did you see the Captain America spot?

Brenda:  

Yeah, it was sweet.

End Scene

Fin

We thank you for attending LOST.  All proceeds will go to The Children's Home for Illiterate Lazy Drunks and Carnally Obsessed Protestant Eugenicists (CHILDCOPE) because we all need love.

5 Exercises You Can Do In the Library

Time to Pump. (Clap) You Up!

Getting exercise this time of year is difficult.  The holiday weight is still there, the gym is calling, but the cold says, "Stay at home under this warm quilt and spread disease to your loved ones."  Well, I am here to tell you that you can get in shape just by doing chores around the library.  Here are the five exercises you can do in the library:

Exercise #1: Stretch in the Stacks

As you shelve those books that seem to appear from nowhere at every table, take the time to do some basic stretches.  If the book is low, do not bend your knees but attempt to lean all the way down and feel the burn.  Low books can also give you a reason to squat to stretch out your thighs.  If the book is up high, do not use that stool!  Reach for it!  Make sure to keep your own spine straight as you straighten those book spines!

 (Also remember to keep an eye out for Moe the Hobo.  He may enjoy watching this too much.)

Exercise #2: The Book Cart Push

Here we begin the whole body workout.  Legs, butt, back and arms can all be utilized when pushing and pulling a book cart laden with heavy volumes.  All you have to do is find a cart, a bunch of books that do not have to be shelved right away, and start pushing and pulling it around the library.  Remember when starting to use your legs more to push.  The best part is you can always take off or add books to target the amount that makes you most comfortable but still gives you that burn.  Also, you can always refuse to help another staff member by saying, "Sorry, got this cart." 

Avoid carts with big wheels, they will give you no resistance.

Exercise #3:  Book Pumping

Now let's target those hands and arms.  Again, we will use books to establish those grips and guns that will make the ladies swoon (or make the men feel uncomfortable shaking a woman's hand).  This one is also easy, simply carry a lot of heavy books.  No reason to be stupid about it by hauling a cart's worth of books in your hand, but a stack of ten or twelve volumes should give you a good work out.  As you get more comfortable carrying heavier loads, begin to lift them up and down as you go.  Also, for heavier books attempt to hold them in one hand, downward.  By adding more, heavier books, your grip will grow stronger, allowing you to eat walnuts at the circ desk to warn away potential problems.

This library director could hold five volumes of Britannica in one hand.

Exercise #4:  Child Crying Wind Sprints 

This is the cardio portion of the exercise routine.  Every time a child begins screaming bloody murder, take off in that direction as fast as possible.  Even if you know the child is fine, annoying, but fine, take off.  Not only will this give you a faster reaction time, but you will get that heart pumping and the blood moving.

This big baby will nearly kill you with his drama.

Exercise #5:  Start a Bookcart Drill Team

Not only will working with others be fun and rewarding, but you will have others to push you when you slip.  Remember, health is rewarding, but not as rewarding as this:

Do you have any library exercises?  Let me know on @bannedlibrary for twitter or email at bannedlibrary@gmail.com


Images (all images copyright their respective company and website):
Hanz and Franz
Library Shelver
Book Cart
Godfather
The Dawson

Kids Protecting Egypt's Bibliotheca Alexandrina

It seems young people in Egypt have organized themselves to protect major cultural landmarks, such as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, during the recent upheavals.  Working with the army, the youth  "directed traffic, protected neighborhoods and guarded public buildings of value such as the Egyptian Museum and the Library of Alexandria" says Ismail Serageldin, the director of the library in this article from the Guardian.  The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was opened in 2002 as a way of reclaiming the lost library of Alexandria.


After all the jokes about snow days, that book in college curriculums, and general wackiness that I tend to report on this site, I love to actually find some good in this world having to do with libraries.  I hope everyone in that region finds peace in some way and feel proud for the human race that these small militias are banding together not only to protect their homes but their futures.  Organized youth protecting culture.  What will they think of next? 


Thanks to @librarianchat for this awesome article.
Update, pics and video, thanks @GlobalLib

College Class Teaching Twilight. Fingers Barely Controlled Rage...

The pic as big as I can get it in case you think I'm kidding.

I... It's just... College today...  Stupid... I... Mother...  Words... Keyboard... Wanna throw... Don't throw keyboard... Don't thro adasdfjsdkfjo'invadevwe'aik239gua90djva

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