It is a quiet day in Languedoc, sun is shining
the horizon will show you both the Pyrennees
and Beziers, not too far away, if you stand on
a special vantagepoint a little north of my
village. The vineyards are everywhere even though
the growers have to cut back a certain percentage of
the production this year according to the European
Community. They are not happy about that.
Languedoc wine was not known for their quality
but the last decade or so in order to compete and survive
the vintners are trying to produce a better quality.

France - Languedoc random raison d'etre

Taking time off for good or bad behavior, I, for now, reside
in a little village of 4000 people in a little house
with three floors and needing somewhat a gentle hand.
I am not that hand,(my hubby is) but I get by. If I don't
remember not to use the microwave at the same time as the
light in the bathroom I blow an old-fashioned fuse.
The natives are welcoming especially if they understand you
try and speak their language. I live in the old quartier
of the town, each part is different, and one part of the
village seem to know each other, but they know few in the
other part.
to be continued

Thoughts on what a modern public library should have - I can dream - can't I!

First of all I do not like the term "should have",
but being a "classical" old fogey (who still laments
the fact that the card catalogue died, that old musty smell
of dust and olden days and wisdom, when you had to remember
a lot of stuff,) I do think that a modern public library
should have:

- Much of the current fiction from the last five-ten years:
persuade customers for a longer wait of the new titles
the library is not a book store and due to current economic
restraint we cannot buy that many copies of a book, because
once the interest dies down, the library has a lot of duds
on its shelves and that does not bode well for seriousness.

- Certainly most of the classic novels and short stories
including many of the world classics from prior centuries
- a variety of good translations of foreign modern and
most of the classical literature (including plays and poetry)
- many experimental novels and short stories (for the eclectic
borrower) That means a deep selection should be desired
- a broad variety of the current non-fiction and a sparingly
choice of dvds,supplementing the collections, but not take over
the books, because even though you can see a feature on Peru,
the person who is looking for a guidebook is not going to have
any use for the dvd, except as a background material.
Computer books should not be over 5 years old, some not even over three.
The classical texts of the economy and then in today's world
newer solutions the current economic mess. The same goes for
the political books.

The music on various media, now cd's, should be held to the same criteria
as the written material. However, in the opera field, it is brilliant
to have all dvds of most known operas.

Audiobooks in multiple media, again should be held to the same criteria
as the written books, but maybe only the newer texts.

Selectors should be people who works not only as librarians, but
come in contact with the real folks. Of course, each branch
should also have some special selectors, because each branch
in any library system is different due to the catering of a different
population of that branch, and, therefore, you can utilize the special
knowledge that the branch people have. Do not assume that one branch's needs
is similar to another. That way the system can actually have more titles,
just not as many copies.

Last, but not least: a public library cannot aspire to have everything,
none are like the Library of Congress. The only item one can hope for with
the current economic restraints is that with the reduced budgets smart choices
can be made without giving up the quality. After all, a public library
should still, first and foremost, educate, inspire, inform, and become
a community center where people can gather and learn and be enlighted.

Sydney Central Library - Australia

Sydney Central Library is to be found in the old
Custom's building, a beautiful edifice with two floors
to their name. Very close to the harbor.
The computers were only for the city residents and
you had to pay a fee to be a member.
They have 8 branches, and is pretty much organized as
our libraries.
The most exciting item was that the terminals they used
were like my blog, bright red.

http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library/Branches/

It is the world

At least people in America are aware that
there is a world outside this half of the this continent.
When Bush was president of the USA he only knew
where oil, Texas, the US, and the Fertile Crescent were.
How marvelous to read the speech of President Obama when
he went to Turkey.
Been down under and the bushfires created havoc and yet
when you looked att those trees - burned and all they spouted
new growth. So being an eternal ambivalent optimist there is HOPE.

Comment to the government

http://www.whitehouse.gov/StrongMiddleClass/

Check this out. If you want to comment on the website for the whitehouse.
this is your time. Back in the dark ages of Bush and Cheney this was not possible.
And that is less than 2 months ago.
Vive l'Amerique.

Long time to reflect!

Ok, since this started has a library blog, time has changed,
and the focus of this must therefore be altered a slight tad.
I shall now be writing about various and sundries
which is why I really picked the name.

http://climatepoliticstea.wordpress.com/

I recommend you all to read this blogger's thoughts because
I truly believe she is going to become a Nobel Prize recepient
one day.