Acres of Books in Long Beach is the best used bookstore I've ever been too...heck I'll go the extra yard and say it's the best darn bookstore of anykind anywhere! Don't believe me? Ask Ray Bradbury...he's been a long time patron of the store.
Though it has status as a historic landmark, the city of Long Beach has decided it's not pretty enough; it will close down sometime this year to make way for the cities redevelopment plans. I hear they will relocate, but it's hard to relocate something like that...those of you who have been to it will know what I'm talking about. Those of you who have never checked it out, now is a good time.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Read It Now
To those who placed pre-orders for Quiet, Please with Amazon, it looks like they are shipping now; the pre-order button has been removed....so enjoy the read, and if you feel so obliged post a review.
Let me know what you think...the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Let me know what you think...the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Monday, March 10, 2008
ALA & Censorship?
A library group called "Friends of Cuban Libraries" is claiming that American Library Association, a group that champions free speech, is censoring. It's not exactly a new claim. Hundreds of people have claimed throughout ALA's long history that it censors, but the claim is nonetheless intriguing. We all censor to a certain extent, I suppose...is that what ALA is doing? Read the press release and judge for yourself. Feel free to comment below and weigh in on the issue...
Friday, March 7, 2008
Happy Birthday…You Old Fart!
Yesterday, I received a letter from my healthcare provider; it seemed very friendly, and I didn’t think anything of it…until I read it! My birthday is just around the corner, and, apparently, they just wanted to give me an early present—a present to the tune of $25.00 extra to my bill each month!
According to the friendly letter, because I am getting older I am more likely to get sick and go to the doctor.
I’m not a big Michael Moore fan, but his last documentary made a good point: U.S. health care sucks! Over the past four years I have spent over $3,000 dollars on health insurance. I went to the doctor exactly once. So when they say I’m now older and now have to pay more money, what does that mean? That over the next four years I might see the doctor twice so I need to pay an extra 300 annually?
Next year for my birthday, I think I’ll just ask my health care provider for a sucker…come to think of it all they have to do is buy me a mirror and every time I’d look into the mirror I’d see my sucker…
According to the friendly letter, because I am getting older I am more likely to get sick and go to the doctor.
I’m not a big Michael Moore fan, but his last documentary made a good point: U.S. health care sucks! Over the past four years I have spent over $3,000 dollars on health insurance. I went to the doctor exactly once. So when they say I’m now older and now have to pay more money, what does that mean? That over the next four years I might see the doctor twice so I need to pay an extra 300 annually?
Next year for my birthday, I think I’ll just ask my health care provider for a sucker…come to think of it all they have to do is buy me a mirror and every time I’d look into the mirror I’d see my sucker…
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Does Your Library Have Movie Star Looks?
Do you work in a public library that has the looks of a Hollywood Star? Emilio Estevez may want it to have a starring role in his new movie, The Public! Read about it below:
I am currently working on a feature film written and directed by Emilio Estevez entitled "The Public". It is a terrific script which features and is set entirely in the LA Public Central Library. The film is a drama involving homelessness in the City of Los Angeles and it's affect on the library and society. We will be filming a major portion of the project at the LA Public Central Library but are still in search of a location which could double as the reference desk and reading room of the library. Ideally, it is an older library that matches the classic architecture of the LA Public Central Library. It can be open, closed or not in use or partially in use. However there will be approximately 3 weeks of filming in the interior of the location and the location needs to be available for filming during regular business hours. If the location is empty or closed, there may also be an additional 3 weeks of temporary set construction and/or set dressing of the space in preparation of our filming work. Our filming begins early May and continues thru the end of June so the location would need to be available for the above mentioned term during this time period. We are hoping to find this location in the next 2 weeks.
We would prefer it to be within a 50 mile radius of Los Angeles but are considering all options at this point. If any of the libraries in your system may be interested or have a space available, they should contact me directly and send any pictures available of the location. Our main character is a librarian and this project will put the spotlight on library professionals everywhere and highlight the challenges they face in their daily work. Thank you for any help or direction you can give me in this search.
Tony Salome
Location Manager "The Public"
805/813-0374 (c)
tsal3@earthlink.net
I am currently working on a feature film written and directed by Emilio Estevez entitled "The Public". It is a terrific script which features and is set entirely in the LA Public Central Library. The film is a drama involving homelessness in the City of Los Angeles and it's affect on the library and society. We will be filming a major portion of the project at the LA Public Central Library but are still in search of a location which could double as the reference desk and reading room of the library. Ideally, it is an older library that matches the classic architecture of the LA Public Central Library. It can be open, closed or not in use or partially in use. However there will be approximately 3 weeks of filming in the interior of the location and the location needs to be available for filming during regular business hours. If the location is empty or closed, there may also be an additional 3 weeks of temporary set construction and/or set dressing of the space in preparation of our filming work. Our filming begins early May and continues thru the end of June so the location would need to be available for the above mentioned term during this time period. We are hoping to find this location in the next 2 weeks.
We would prefer it to be within a 50 mile radius of Los Angeles but are considering all options at this point. If any of the libraries in your system may be interested or have a space available, they should contact me directly and send any pictures available of the location. Our main character is a librarian and this project will put the spotlight on library professionals everywhere and highlight the challenges they face in their daily work. Thank you for any help or direction you can give me in this search.
Tony Salome
Location Manager "The Public"
805/813-0374 (c)
tsal3@earthlink.net
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Top 10 Reasons to Be a Librarian
In case you missed it, McSweeney's put my newest "Dispatches from a Public Librarian" up on Monday.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Insanity @ My Library: A Photo Contest
Do you have a picture that perfectly illustrates the insanity that takes place at a library? Maybe it's the book drop that was destroyed by a firecracker, the librarian who never matches his socks, or the library that is completely falling apart and has structural damage to prove it! If so, send them to me and you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a free signed copy of Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian.
One copy a week will be given away starting Friday March 28, 2008, ending on Friday, May 2, 2008.
To enter simply send a JPEG photo to scottdouglas@scottdouglas.org. By submitting your picture, you are affirming that you hold all copyrights to the photo (or have permission by the copyright holder to submit on their behalf). Please make sure and include your full name, address, email, and the name of your favorite library (only your first name and favorite library will be published…the other information is just to help me make sure a book gets to the right place if you win).
By submitting your picture you are also giving me permission to publish your picture (even if you are not a winner) on my blog (speakquietly.blogspot.com).
Additional commits can be emailed to me directly at scottdouglas@scottdouglas.org.
Submit as early!
One copy a week will be given away starting Friday March 28, 2008, ending on Friday, May 2, 2008.
To enter simply send a JPEG photo to scottdouglas@scottdouglas.org. By submitting your picture, you are affirming that you hold all copyrights to the photo (or have permission by the copyright holder to submit on their behalf). Please make sure and include your full name, address, email, and the name of your favorite library (only your first name and favorite library will be published…the other information is just to help me make sure a book gets to the right place if you win).
By submitting your picture you are also giving me permission to publish your picture (even if you are not a winner) on my blog (speakquietly.blogspot.com).
Additional commits can be emailed to me directly at scottdouglas@scottdouglas.org.
Submit as early!
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