Magical meat?

Grilled unicorn detail from a newly discovered
Medieval cookbook at the British Library.

In case you missed it, an article over at American Libraries has an April Fools roundup, with this year's best from libraries around the globe. 

I especially like the Really Advanced Search from google.  Technically not a library, but since it's google, it's only a matter of time, am I right?

Greg Landgraf, the articles author, says libraries and pranks have a strong tradition.  Did your library "celebrate" April Fools?  What is your library's best prank?

And since it's the season for Peeps, this really never gets old.

-Rebecca

Fix-It Friday : Be Square

This month's Fix-It Friday book mending topic is short and sweet: some quick ways to get straight, square measurements without taking down a lot of numbers. 

First of all, it's useful to know how wide your regular metal ruler is, and to use a cutting mat that has grid lines printed on it.  You can use the width of the ruler as well as its length as a measuring tool, and the paper or stock you are cutting can be placed square on the grid on the cutting mat to ensure a straight cut.

A trick I learned recently was to install a jig onto the cutting mat that can be used to jog up paper and hold it true and straight while cutting or folding.  Such a jig can be made easily with a piece of thick, stiff board (here, a strip of Davey book cover board), attached with strips of double-backed tape.

The library of the future

Images courtesy Yi ARCHITECTS

This is the floor plan for the 8th floor of the new Stuttgart library designed by Yi ARCHITECTS.  It's been described as the Apple store of libraries.  It's very modern and very, very bright.

As a support staff person,  one thing I always want to see, and rarely do, is the work space and how it will be used.  On the above floor plan, the sorting area is denoted by #7.   There are other sorting areas on other floors, but they are pretty much the same size.  Is it just me or is that really tiny for the size of the library?  Take a look at the pictures and let me know if you can figure out where the rest of the work gets done.

What do you think of the library of the future?

-Rebecca

Leaving and returning books

Ummm...

More book art, this time from artist Alicia Martin.  You can see several more views and a video in this My Modern Met post.

Do you work in a library where you get returns? Late returns?  How do your late returns compare to the one received by Archbishop Marsh's Library in Dublin?

For your reading pleasure

The latest issue of ASSOCIATES is out today.  What is ASSOCIATES? It's a worldwide Library Support Staff Journal in electronic form. Subscription is free and it always has interesting articles by support staff.  Check it out!

Photo: American Libraries

American Libraries’ annual review of the best in new and renovated library facilities is out in their Library Design Showcase 2012. Oregon State University Libraries, Valley Library in Corvallis is featured for their renovation of space on the main floor of the library in the "Collaborative Learning" section.

Fix-it Friday : Using Methyl Cellulose in Bookbinding and Book Repair

Welcome to Fix-It Friday -- a monthly series that proposes to bring you a bit of news you can use to help repair and conserve books!  This month, some information on a very useful bookbinding adhesive that can make book repair a kinder, gentler process for books and for you:  methyl cellulose.

Methyl cellulose is a chemical compound derived from cellulose.  When mixed with water, it can be used as a low-tack adhesive that is often added to PVA in bookbinding.  The addition of methyl cellulose to PVA slows the drying time of PVA without compromising its strength.

Application of straight methyl cellulose to previously glued materials can also help break down and loosen old adhesive.  It is used to clean old paper linings, adhesive, and super cloth from spines when preparing books for hollow tubes and rebacking.

More library designs and donations

Check out these library designs - public and private.


Southern Oregon University library may get a great donation of early Oregon history.

More book sculptures (that aren't donations) that are simply amazing.

And I'm not sure how I missed this, there's an animated greeting from the anonymous sculptor who donated her book sculptures to libraries in Scotland:

A Book For Xmas from a book for xmas on Vimeo.

You can find the entire continuing story at thiscentralstation.com.