Kindle2 Love Affair

My Kindle2 arrived Friday. It came several days earlier than Amazon said it would, those sweethearts.

I am completely in love with it, except when it won't download things the way it says it is supposed to.

Our first night together went very smoothly.
I shopped, I Click-ed, I downloaded, very quietly (it's called WhisperNet, right?).

But later, love turned to jealousy and the endearing little machine refused to work for my husband, who had found a new Stephen King title he wanted. This one, UR, was made *just* for Kindle, I was told. He shopped, he I-Click-ed, he tried to download. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

Perhaps the Kindle is not in favor of my husband pawing it the way I do. Perhaps it is prudish.

Perhaps it just doesn't like Stephen King (not everyone does, you know, and that is fine).

Oh, wait. My bad. Perhaps it just needs a re-boot. :)

Oh how I would love to go a-conferencing...

I'd very much like to attend the ACRL conference in Seattle this March, but, reality being what it is, I have neither the professional leave needed to travel there from the east coast nor the financial requirements (boo! hiss!! bad economy!) available to me to go.

All is not lost, though! The ACRL, in its infinite wisdom and creative planning, has made it possible to attend a Virtual Conference via: social networking sites like FaceBook, podcasts, blogs, webcasts, and the online virtual world SecondLife.

I may get to go to the ball, after all, wicked step-mother, oops, I mean, failing economy!

Want to (virtually) go? Check this out:

The Reference Interview - or Guide to Life

One of the skills learned in library school is how to conduct a reference interview. This consists of me (the librarian) helping you (the patron) figure out what it is you want and need that the library has or can find or can lead you to.

I believe this skill should be taught to children in grade school. It is an empathetic exercise in listening to another person with the sole intent of helping them gain access to what they need. In doing this, both the interviewer and the interviewee learn (or practice) the art of asking questions.

What is a "librarianaut"?

A librarianaut is one well versed in the ways of the library.
A librarianaut can be your guide when traversing vast oceans and continents of information.
A librarianaut, like an astronaut, is a traveler and adventurer; a thrill seeker unable to be sated with mundane life.

I confess.

I made up the word.

But it fits.