You know how airports and hotels and universities all have those zippy plasma screen televisions with updates and promotions and pictures continually scrolling on them?
I've wanted one of those for my library for AGES.
Sadly, cost is a wee bit of a factor. Those screens are uber-expensive, and then getting a program that will scroll and flip and update can be awfully pricey.
So, what do we do in the TinyTown library?
Get creative - on the cheap!
I decided that with a castoff monitor from my folks (thanks, Dad!), a decommissioned CPU from the Indiana Room and a powerpoint presentation on a flash drive, we could build our very own zippy promotional system!
It sits by our circulation desk and flips between pictures from programs, upcoming program information, general data (hours, ILLs, etc), and how to contact us. We're going to update it every few weeks, and so far response has been very positive. It may not be the biggest screen ever, but for us, it'll do. ;-)
Rock on!
(I'm particularly proud of using the plant to camoflauge the wires. We're nothing if not image conscious. *grin*)
I've wanted one of those for my library for AGES.
Sadly, cost is a wee bit of a factor. Those screens are uber-expensive, and then getting a program that will scroll and flip and update can be awfully pricey.
So, what do we do in the TinyTown library?
Get creative - on the cheap!
I decided that with a castoff monitor from my folks (thanks, Dad!), a decommissioned CPU from the Indiana Room and a powerpoint presentation on a flash drive, we could build our very own zippy promotional system!
It sits by our circulation desk and flips between pictures from programs, upcoming program information, general data (hours, ILLs, etc), and how to contact us. We're going to update it every few weeks, and so far response has been very positive. It may not be the biggest screen ever, but for us, it'll do. ;-)
Rock on!
(I'm particularly proud of using the plant to camoflauge the wires. We're nothing if not image conscious. *grin*)
I love Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois.
I love "the camel":
I love the enormous outcroppings:
I also love Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, right on the Ohio River.
I love the view out of the cave to the river:
I also love the look of Indiana skies when they are threatening...
And how the colours change minute to minute...
But most of all, I love spending time with family, exploring, taking pictures, eating outside in the wilderness, and having a laugh (or two):
'Twas a good day off!
I love "the camel":
I love the enormous outcroppings:
I also love Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, right on the Ohio River.
I love the view out of the cave to the river:
I also love the look of Indiana skies when they are threatening...
And how the colours change minute to minute...
But most of all, I love spending time with family, exploring, taking pictures, eating outside in the wilderness, and having a laugh (or two):
'Twas a good day off!
This Is How It Happened by Jo Barrett
This was a great chick lit book, except that it didn't follow the formula - no high flying job, no searching for love, no soul searching. Instead, Maddy is out for revenge on her lying, evil ex-fiancee, and she isn't above hiring muscle to do it. ;-)
This is a fast, funny read - I loved how Barrett alternated chapters, one chapter in in the present as Maddy tries to exact revenge, and one chapter chronicling her relationship, and the implosion of it, with her ex Carlton, who is just a despicable character you love to hate. You can't help but cheer Maddy on as she experiments with arsenic brownies and hires a hit man to take care of her "little problem".
The tags on the cover of this book are "NOT a love story" and "She's gotten mad, now it's time to get even", which truly sets the tone for this revenge tale tinged with romance, laughs and great characters. I really, really enjoyed this one - be sure to check it out!
This was a great chick lit book, except that it didn't follow the formula - no high flying job, no searching for love, no soul searching. Instead, Maddy is out for revenge on her lying, evil ex-fiancee, and she isn't above hiring muscle to do it. ;-)
This is a fast, funny read - I loved how Barrett alternated chapters, one chapter in in the present as Maddy tries to exact revenge, and one chapter chronicling her relationship, and the implosion of it, with her ex Carlton, who is just a despicable character you love to hate. You can't help but cheer Maddy on as she experiments with arsenic brownies and hires a hit man to take care of her "little problem".
The tags on the cover of this book are "NOT a love story" and "She's gotten mad, now it's time to get even", which truly sets the tone for this revenge tale tinged with romance, laughs and great characters. I really, really enjoyed this one - be sure to check it out!
Labels: book review
Red Lily by Nora Roberts
This is the concluding volume of Roberts' "In the Garden" trilogy, the other two I've listened to previously.
This time, Hayley is the focus of the novel - the youngest, newest member of the family, who is raising her baby daughter and falling in love with the son of Harper House. As this is the concluding book, the mystery of the "Harper Bride" is finally unraveled, and the family struggles to put the ghost to rest.
This was a very pleasant series - lots of talk of gardening and flowers, a nice interweaving of the three women's stories, and it was nice to spend time with the same characters and see how they change and grow. I'm glad I read this trilogy!
Note: I listened to the audio edition, narrated by Susie Breck, who did a fine job with all the southern voices.
This is the concluding volume of Roberts' "In the Garden" trilogy, the other two I've listened to previously.
This time, Hayley is the focus of the novel - the youngest, newest member of the family, who is raising her baby daughter and falling in love with the son of Harper House. As this is the concluding book, the mystery of the "Harper Bride" is finally unraveled, and the family struggles to put the ghost to rest.
This was a very pleasant series - lots of talk of gardening and flowers, a nice interweaving of the three women's stories, and it was nice to spend time with the same characters and see how they change and grow. I'm glad I read this trilogy!
Note: I listened to the audio edition, narrated by Susie Breck, who did a fine job with all the southern voices.
Labels: book review
Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
This is not typical Patterson fare. There's no murder, no choppy chapters, no characters from a series making an appearance.
Instead, this is Patterson trying to write a love story, in the same vein as his (uber-treacly) Sam's Letters to Jennifer or Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. This time, Jane is a sad, lonely 32 year old women who falls in love - with her imaginary friend from childhood.
I think having a female co-author helped Patterson marginally this time - the plot is still treacly, but bearable if gimmicky, and you come to root for the characters, which is nice. This read was...pleasant. And short. At three hundred rather small, hugely fonted, well spaced pages, this is a "whip through in an hour or two" read. Which, sometimes, is nice.
If you are looking for "typical" Patterson, though, this isn't it!
This is not typical Patterson fare. There's no murder, no choppy chapters, no characters from a series making an appearance.
Instead, this is Patterson trying to write a love story, in the same vein as his (uber-treacly) Sam's Letters to Jennifer or Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. This time, Jane is a sad, lonely 32 year old women who falls in love - with her imaginary friend from childhood.
I think having a female co-author helped Patterson marginally this time - the plot is still treacly, but bearable if gimmicky, and you come to root for the characters, which is nice. This read was...pleasant. And short. At three hundred rather small, hugely fonted, well spaced pages, this is a "whip through in an hour or two" read. Which, sometimes, is nice.
If you are looking for "typical" Patterson, though, this isn't it!
Labels: book review
Fear and Yoga in New Jersey by Debra Galant
I was first intrigued by the title of this novel, and then by the premise: yoga instructor Nina finds things coming apart at the seams - her parents are fleeing a hurricane and coming to visit, her husband has lost his job, her son wants a bar mitzvah, and one of her clients fell in her studio. Only one thing can be responsible, she decides: feng shui.
This started off promisingly for me, but the ending was really rushed, and nothing felt resolved. I didn't see Nina evolve at all for me as a character, nor those around her. It just felt like the middle part dragged and dragged, then the ending was thrown in for the last two pages. I know it's a suburban satire, but it left me just, well, kind of sad.
Not my favorite...
I was first intrigued by the title of this novel, and then by the premise: yoga instructor Nina finds things coming apart at the seams - her parents are fleeing a hurricane and coming to visit, her husband has lost his job, her son wants a bar mitzvah, and one of her clients fell in her studio. Only one thing can be responsible, she decides: feng shui.
This started off promisingly for me, but the ending was really rushed, and nothing felt resolved. I didn't see Nina evolve at all for me as a character, nor those around her. It just felt like the middle part dragged and dragged, then the ending was thrown in for the last two pages. I know it's a suburban satire, but it left me just, well, kind of sad.
Not my favorite...
Labels: book review
