I was looking through the review journals we use to select books, and came across the new Michael Robotham book that is coming out in June, The Wreckage. Whenever I have come across his name, I have wondered how exactly to pronounce it. This time I decided to try and find out, as I have been successful in the past discovering how to pronounce John Lescroart (Les kwah) and Jodi Pecoult (Pekoe).
A quick Google search lead me to quite a variety of sites that provide help in pronouncing author’s names. The first one at Teaching Books is nifty because it includes a number of authors saying their own names (my favorite was Vladimir Radunsky). A great resource, but focused on children’s authors, so I moved on. The next site I tried was Inogolo, a site that provides pronunciation help for names in the arts. Sadly, no entry for Robotham, but Vladimir, John and Jodi were there – and Jodi’s showed that this site also has some audio links. I moved on to Swisseduc.ch. This appears to be a webpage for students in Switzerland, but it is a nice site for a limited number of author names spelled out phonetically and with an audio file of the author as well. I guess Robotham is not on the reading list (nor John, Jodi or Vladimir), so I moved on to Book Browse. What a great site for readers! Well worth the time to browse through and revisit. But I was looking for pronunciations. They have quite a variety, my favorite on this page being Cees Nooteboom. Cool name, and we even have a book by him – will have to try it. But still no Robotham. So I did a direct google – how do you pronounce Robotham. I came across a brief discussion on Facebook, and apparently the problem is there is no single pronunciation, but at least there were some suggestions.
So was I successful in my search? Well, at least I have identified a way to pronounce the name, possibly not the right way, but a way. But the big bonus was coming across this article, a very interesting bit about Robotham’s background as a well-known ghost writer. Interesting what all you discover on the road to an answer.
By the way his background as a ghost writer reminded me of the great movie I saw recently . . .
Movies: Ghost writer
Friday, May 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Hit or Miss
I have wondered for a long time why some books hit big, and others that come out at the same time, get similar reviews, are similar types of books, just miss.
One that comes to mind is The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl and Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. I remember reading reviews of both when selecting books from the library's collection and thought they both sounded interesting twists on standard thrillers. They got similar reviews as well - ok but not glowing. So I bought them both, and really, The Dante Club was the one I remembered more from the reviews. But for some reason it was The DaVinci Code that took off and took off huge.
Richard North Patterson and James Patterson started off about the same time - again I remember noting the similarity in name and the fact that they were well-reviewed additions to the thriller genre. I bought both and marveled to see that while they both are best selling authors, James Patterson is crazy popular.
So what is that magical difference? Nowadays, it is often the marketing side, getting onto Oprah, etc. But back when the above examples occurred, each were similarly mild blips on the publishing scene, yet one in each became an overwhelming success. It comes down to word of mouth and having a theme or topic that just hits the public at just the right time. AT that point, success builds on success, it gets into the press and that just pushes it all into overdrive.
A recent example is the "The Girl Who" series. These titles have taken off like crazy - as anyone waiting on the waiting lists for them well knows. I am not sure why they are more popular than other mystery series as I have read equally good stories and series that don't see this kind of popularity. But wow, they are huge. Again - the pattern seems to have been word of mouth leading to heavy press coverage leading to monster success.
There are tons of examples - and I would love to hear yours. Share them so maybe we can start a bit of word of mouth magic. Here's mine - I dare you to read Small Change, by J. Belinda Yandell and explain why it or the author never saw the success of Richard Evans, Robert Waller, or Nicholas Sparks. Good luck finding it, no one in the system even has it anymore, but check the reviews at Amazon - if you are really interested, I can lend you my copy.
One that comes to mind is The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl and Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. I remember reading reviews of both when selecting books from the library's collection and thought they both sounded interesting twists on standard thrillers. They got similar reviews as well - ok but not glowing. So I bought them both, and really, The Dante Club was the one I remembered more from the reviews. But for some reason it was The DaVinci Code that took off and took off huge.
Richard North Patterson and James Patterson started off about the same time - again I remember noting the similarity in name and the fact that they were well-reviewed additions to the thriller genre. I bought both and marveled to see that while they both are best selling authors, James Patterson is crazy popular.
So what is that magical difference? Nowadays, it is often the marketing side, getting onto Oprah, etc. But back when the above examples occurred, each were similarly mild blips on the publishing scene, yet one in each became an overwhelming success. It comes down to word of mouth and having a theme or topic that just hits the public at just the right time. AT that point, success builds on success, it gets into the press and that just pushes it all into overdrive.
A recent example is the "The Girl Who" series. These titles have taken off like crazy - as anyone waiting on the waiting lists for them well knows. I am not sure why they are more popular than other mystery series as I have read equally good stories and series that don't see this kind of popularity. But wow, they are huge. Again - the pattern seems to have been word of mouth leading to heavy press coverage leading to monster success.
There are tons of examples - and I would love to hear yours. Share them so maybe we can start a bit of word of mouth magic. Here's mine - I dare you to read Small Change, by J. Belinda Yandell and explain why it or the author never saw the success of Richard Evans, Robert Waller, or Nicholas Sparks. Good luck finding it, no one in the system even has it anymore, but check the reviews at Amazon - if you are really interested, I can lend you my copy.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Fads vs Staple
We are all familiar with passing fads, those must have things that fade quickly. Pet Rocks or Parachute Pants come to mind. There are those things we think will be a passing craze that seem to linger to become, astonishingly, a staple - saggy pants come to mind on that. Who would think that Marky Mark would have set off a craze that is still with us today.
There doesn't seem to be a discernable reason for one to fade as a fad, and another to stay with us as a staple of life. A fad hits the public's interest at just the right moment, capturing the interest of consumers, pundits and journalists. But what makes it last? What ensures the enduring popularity making it a standard? If there was a way of predicting, marketers and investors would have a much easier time of it.
The idea of fads and staples has been on my mind for a while. Today I came across this video about Mexican Pointy Boots (really you have to stay for the whole video), and combined with a call from Barnes and Noble, it got me wondering why eBooks are showing significant signs of becoming a staple, this time. We librarians see eBooks as just a new format in our array of offerings, a great addition to the Large Print, audiobook, paperback, hardback choices intended to meet the varying needs of our community - that this time around is actually showing signs of staple-dom.
This time? You might well ask. eBooks are not new. I can remember back some 10 or so years when working at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, having the Assistant Director, Gladys Maharam, - a true visionary of library service - demonstrating this new gizmo that would allow people to read a book electronically. She saw such a future for them that she had invested in purchasing several, plus the books. She was sure that everyone would be as excited as she was, would understand the potential, and electronic versions of books would be, well, a staple. I guess you realize that it didn't. Didn't even show up as a fad. No one was interested, and nothing came of it - back then.
Fast forward to the present, and suddenly eBooks are the thing. Not a fad, and not the death of the printed book - but something comfortably in between - a staple. Everything has its golden moment - the trick is making the evaluation: fad or staple? The science is making the right evaluation and know where to invest and where to just enjoy the fleeting craze.
Book: Trendwatching: don't be fooled by the next investment fad, mania, or bubble, by Ron Insana
Audiobook: Microtrends: the small forces behind tomorrow's big changes, by Mark Penn.
There doesn't seem to be a discernable reason for one to fade as a fad, and another to stay with us as a staple of life. A fad hits the public's interest at just the right moment, capturing the interest of consumers, pundits and journalists. But what makes it last? What ensures the enduring popularity making it a standard? If there was a way of predicting, marketers and investors would have a much easier time of it.
The idea of fads and staples has been on my mind for a while. Today I came across this video about Mexican Pointy Boots (really you have to stay for the whole video), and combined with a call from Barnes and Noble, it got me wondering why eBooks are showing significant signs of becoming a staple, this time. We librarians see eBooks as just a new format in our array of offerings, a great addition to the Large Print, audiobook, paperback, hardback choices intended to meet the varying needs of our community - that this time around is actually showing signs of staple-dom.
This time? You might well ask. eBooks are not new. I can remember back some 10 or so years when working at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, having the Assistant Director, Gladys Maharam, - a true visionary of library service - demonstrating this new gizmo that would allow people to read a book electronically. She saw such a future for them that she had invested in purchasing several, plus the books. She was sure that everyone would be as excited as she was, would understand the potential, and electronic versions of books would be, well, a staple. I guess you realize that it didn't. Didn't even show up as a fad. No one was interested, and nothing came of it - back then.
Fast forward to the present, and suddenly eBooks are the thing. Not a fad, and not the death of the printed book - but something comfortably in between - a staple. Everything has its golden moment - the trick is making the evaluation: fad or staple? The science is making the right evaluation and know where to invest and where to just enjoy the fleeting craze.
Book: Trendwatching: don't be fooled by the next investment fad, mania, or bubble, by Ron Insana
Audiobook: Microtrends: the small forces behind tomorrow's big changes, by Mark Penn.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Have you met Vicki?
There's a good chance that you haven't had a chance to meet Vicki. While she helps out at the reference desk, it is limited to Friday nights and every 3rd Saturday. The rest of the time she is behind the scenes making sure that everything you check out is there to check out. Vicki is our cataloger, entering most of our collection into the system so that you can see it in our catalog. This is a very specialized process that takes a detail oriented person that strives for perfection, and we are lucky that Vicki is right there in the top ranks of the field. In fact, she is one of very few librarians in the state that the State Library allows to do some specialized cataloging. Of course she does much more than that for us - but it is all invisible to our users, but absolutely vital to making the library function.
Luckily, Vicki isn't a terribly serious person (except with her work) so her easy laugh and humorous attitude do much to lighten the load for all of us here at the library. And in addition to her participation in a very competitive Sweet Adeline Chorus, she has other unexpected interests. We found out during out 5 questions:
1. When I am not at the library, you can find me: at home on the computer.
2. Describe your perfect day: At a Science Fiction Convention with my friends. In fact, I already have made plans to attend the WorldCom in London in 2014.
3. If you had to live somewhere else than New Hampshire, where would it be? Down in Georgia. I got my masters in Decater and worked there for a while, and loved it. I made great friends, found Atlanta to suit me well and have always planned to move back at some point.
4. What 3 things can you always find in your fridge? Eggs and OJ for my dad, and chocolate ice cream for both of us.
5. You would be surprised to find out that I: Collect hand fans. I started collecting back in 1981 as an inexpensive way to decorate my home. Now I have a large collection and belong to the Fan Association of North America.
So keep an eye out for her, but know that her work is visible every time you look for a book or check out a DVD. She brings a great deal of professional experience to this library, and we gladly benefit from it, but we all treasure her friendship.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Snowed under?
We have all seen them, the ads for Bing where one word sets off a random torrent of conflicting responses, and let's be honest, it is a successful ad because we all have experienced that.
This week has been one of those times where nearly everything that comes up relates to one idea - the overload of information we are all recieving. Being snowed under as it were. It started with a book I ordered in to read. Talk about a service that sucks you in and makes you reach out for so many books, movies and cds! I won't say how many knitting books I have to look over at home. Did I mention we now have two successful knitting groups here? See how easy it is to be led way off track with a single idea.
Anyway, the book. It is a marketing book about catching the attention of your customer: Your attention please. The introduction and first chapter is all about how the overwhelming avalanche of information (ads, emails, web content, etc) is making it almost impossible for people to focus on anything. I see myself doing exactly what he mentions - keeping emails to check later - and never getting to them because of the dozens and dozens that have come in since. Printing off great articles for reading later - and never getting to them because of everything else coming along and swamping them. Making notes of what to do the next day, only to have so much unexpected come up that they are covered with a new series of notes, to be covered again and again.
Well, since then, I have seen an article in this week's Newsweek about how an overload of choices and information is interfering with decisionmaking. I have also seen postings around the web, and have experienced in on the job - just too much going on to be able to sit back and think clearly.
I'm not sure what we can do, except shut off the computer/phone/device. Find something away to occupy yet not overstress your brain: take a walk, sit and watch the view, knit - did I mention all those knitting books? But it is vital to slow the flow, put some brakes on all that we see and hear so we can take a moment to enjoy the moment for more than a moment. One of the most surprising tidbits in the book I mentioned above was the fact that there is more information in a single issue of the NY Times than the average person recieved in a lifetime in the 1600's. Wow. No wonder it is so hard to focus and no wonder it is so important to slow the process a bit.
Book: Making it all work, by David Allen
Book: Information: a history, a theory, a flood, by James Gleick
Book: Winter of our disconnect: how three totally wired teenagers (and a mother who slept with her iPhone) pulled the plug on their technology and lived to tell the tale, by Susan Maushart
Book: Against the machine: being human in the age of the electronic mob, by Lee Siegel
This week has been one of those times where nearly everything that comes up relates to one idea - the overload of information we are all recieving. Being snowed under as it were. It started with a book I ordered in to read. Talk about a service that sucks you in and makes you reach out for so many books, movies and cds! I won't say how many knitting books I have to look over at home. Did I mention we now have two successful knitting groups here? See how easy it is to be led way off track with a single idea.
Anyway, the book. It is a marketing book about catching the attention of your customer: Your attention please. The introduction and first chapter is all about how the overwhelming avalanche of information (ads, emails, web content, etc) is making it almost impossible for people to focus on anything. I see myself doing exactly what he mentions - keeping emails to check later - and never getting to them because of the dozens and dozens that have come in since. Printing off great articles for reading later - and never getting to them because of everything else coming along and swamping them. Making notes of what to do the next day, only to have so much unexpected come up that they are covered with a new series of notes, to be covered again and again.
Well, since then, I have seen an article in this week's Newsweek about how an overload of choices and information is interfering with decisionmaking. I have also seen postings around the web, and have experienced in on the job - just too much going on to be able to sit back and think clearly.
I'm not sure what we can do, except shut off the computer/phone/device. Find something away to occupy yet not overstress your brain: take a walk, sit and watch the view, knit - did I mention all those knitting books? But it is vital to slow the flow, put some brakes on all that we see and hear so we can take a moment to enjoy the moment for more than a moment. One of the most surprising tidbits in the book I mentioned above was the fact that there is more information in a single issue of the NY Times than the average person recieved in a lifetime in the 1600's. Wow. No wonder it is so hard to focus and no wonder it is so important to slow the process a bit.
Book: Making it all work, by David Allen
Book: Information: a history, a theory, a flood, by James Gleick
Book: Winter of our disconnect: how three totally wired teenagers (and a mother who slept with her iPhone) pulled the plug on their technology and lived to tell the tale, by Susan Maushart
Book: Against the machine: being human in the age of the electronic mob, by Lee Siegel
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Family
We have just started a Genealogy Club here at the library, giving people interested in looking into their family history a chance to share techniques, great sources and stories. Genealogy it a popular hobby with many of us, providing us context and stability in our ever-changing lives. It puts into perspective the trials and joys of our lives when compared to those of our ancestors.
My mother went through a family history craze years ago while trying to prove that her family could be traced back to the Mayflower. So to me, tracing family history meant boring waits in the car, trips to cemeteries filled with strangers, and my mother engrossed with sheaves of paper all the time. My brother has recently caught the bug, leading him all over New England in search of this or that family link. He has ratcheted up the process, dropping in on descendants of distant shared ancestors.
My version of catching the bug was when I decided to scan, label and package all the old family photos so that everyone could have a copy. It was fascinating to see my grandmother, who suffered from depression for many years, as a happy young girl. It was a delight to see my grandfather as a strikingly handsome young man. But it was all the mysterious other people included in photos that linger on my mind. Who were they? Who were they to my ancestors? Many were identified by my parents, but one, a long time girlfriend of my Great Uncle, remains a tantalizing mystery. She is/was vivacious, lovely and brimming with life - here are a just a few of the dozens of pictures:
She was apparently considered part of the family since her name was never part of the meticulous labels in white ink on the black paper photo albums. All the relatives that would know are dead now, so I may never know who she was - unless someone out there recognizes her? She lived somewhere in the Alston/Billerica/Greater Boston area.
But that is what is endlessly fascinating about genealogical searches. There are snapshots of times past, hints of what our great great grandparents lives were like, mysterious people entering and leaving our family histories - really it is like a good mystery book - you know the end, but how did we get there?
If you are interested at all in genealogy, join the club - it meets next on February 22nd at 1PM. If you can't make the meeting, be sure to try out our genealogical esources: Ancestry Plus and Heritage Quest. Plus we have some wonderful resources at the library and the reference staff can help you any time.
Book: Genealogy online, by Elizabeth Powell Crowe
Book: Family history for the older and wiser, by Susan Fifer
Book: Scrapbooking your family history
Book: Uncovering your ancestry through family photographs, by Maureen Alice Taylor
DVD: Faces of America
My mother went through a family history craze years ago while trying to prove that her family could be traced back to the Mayflower. So to me, tracing family history meant boring waits in the car, trips to cemeteries filled with strangers, and my mother engrossed with sheaves of paper all the time. My brother has recently caught the bug, leading him all over New England in search of this or that family link. He has ratcheted up the process, dropping in on descendants of distant shared ancestors.
My version of catching the bug was when I decided to scan, label and package all the old family photos so that everyone could have a copy. It was fascinating to see my grandmother, who suffered from depression for many years, as a happy young girl. It was a delight to see my grandfather as a strikingly handsome young man. But it was all the mysterious other people included in photos that linger on my mind. Who were they? Who were they to my ancestors? Many were identified by my parents, but one, a long time girlfriend of my Great Uncle, remains a tantalizing mystery. She is/was vivacious, lovely and brimming with life - here are a just a few of the dozens of pictures:
She was apparently considered part of the family since her name was never part of the meticulous labels in white ink on the black paper photo albums. All the relatives that would know are dead now, so I may never know who she was - unless someone out there recognizes her? She lived somewhere in the Alston/Billerica/Greater Boston area.
But that is what is endlessly fascinating about genealogical searches. There are snapshots of times past, hints of what our great great grandparents lives were like, mysterious people entering and leaving our family histories - really it is like a good mystery book - you know the end, but how did we get there?
If you are interested at all in genealogy, join the club - it meets next on February 22nd at 1PM. If you can't make the meeting, be sure to try out our genealogical esources: Ancestry Plus and Heritage Quest. Plus we have some wonderful resources at the library and the reference staff can help you any time.
Book: Genealogy online, by Elizabeth Powell Crowe
Book: Family history for the older and wiser, by Susan Fifer
Book: Scrapbooking your family history
Book: Uncovering your ancestry through family photographs, by Maureen Alice Taylor
DVD: Faces of America
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New year, new look
We took advantage of a little lull between Christmas and New Year's to do some rearranging here at Kelley. This is just the next step in a reorganization of the library to make it more welcoming, provide more space for our growing collections, and just to bring it more up to date. I'll start with the main floor and talk about the Children's Room next time.
We had already painted the walls and moved the study tables throughout the library. This time, we did a lot more. The new book area got a facelift with some comfortable club chairs and new carpets. The area now looks like a welcome spot to sit and browse through the new books. The paperback section was reorganized for easier browsing and to remove the wall of shelving that greeted browsers. The teen books were moved further back into the library where this popular and growing collection could grow and have seating for browsing. The cd-book collection took over the teen area enhancing browsing for this collection and allowing for expansion. The TV show DVDs moved over next to the film DVDs so that the whole DVD collection is together. Westerns are still where they always were, but now the paperback westerns are with them. All our science fiction is now in aisle 11a providing for easy browsing in just one location.
We think it looks and feels good and so far feedback has been good. If you haven't seen the changes yet, here are a few previews, but the best way to see it all is to come in and take a look.
Are we done? Not by a long shot - the next series of changes will be coming in a few months. What is great about the changes is that it improves your experience, revitalizes the library experience, and other than a lot of lifting and carrying by our wonderful staff (a big woohoo for Natalie, Allison, Michele, Cindy, and Christine!) it was all done at a very low cost.
Music CD: Best of Bowie
Book: Who moved my cheese, by Spencer Johnson
We had already painted the walls and moved the study tables throughout the library. This time, we did a lot more. The new book area got a facelift with some comfortable club chairs and new carpets. The area now looks like a welcome spot to sit and browse through the new books. The paperback section was reorganized for easier browsing and to remove the wall of shelving that greeted browsers. The teen books were moved further back into the library where this popular and growing collection could grow and have seating for browsing. The cd-book collection took over the teen area enhancing browsing for this collection and allowing for expansion. The TV show DVDs moved over next to the film DVDs so that the whole DVD collection is together. Westerns are still where they always were, but now the paperback westerns are with them. All our science fiction is now in aisle 11a providing for easy browsing in just one location.
We think it looks and feels good and so far feedback has been good. If you haven't seen the changes yet, here are a few previews, but the best way to see it all is to come in and take a look.
Are we done? Not by a long shot - the next series of changes will be coming in a few months. What is great about the changes is that it improves your experience, revitalizes the library experience, and other than a lot of lifting and carrying by our wonderful staff (a big woohoo for Natalie, Allison, Michele, Cindy, and Christine!) it was all done at a very low cost.
Music CD: Best of Bowie
Book: Who moved my cheese, by Spencer Johnson
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