The library has existed for millennia--although it has not by any means existed in the same form or even always for the same purpose. It was not always a "public" institution, even though that term seems almost synonymous with the library today. Before the invention of the printing press, books were much rarer and much more valuable because of the enormous amount of time and energy that went into the creation of a single volume. Books were not available to the average person, but the "average" person during that point in history also could not read most of the time.
A colleague sent me this video on the Medieval helpdesk of a library. While there are a lot of historic inconsistensies, I found it a rather amusing video. I bet a vast number of librarians would be able to find some similarities between this exchange and many of their own!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
My favorite recipe: quick and easy
I admit that it's hard to do complex cooking when working full time. It's even harder during a semester when my evenings are taken up by schoolwork. It's one of the reasons I always take advantage of my time on the weekends and get as much cooking time in as I can.
However, sometimes even then I don't have the time for a complex meal. I have a few projects going on right now: getting my garden going (I'll post pictures for sure this weekend), finally getting the shelving into the apartment that Scooter and I have been wanting, and various projects that family and friends ask for help with (mom's garden improvements, aunt moving to a new house, etc.). For times like these, it's really nice having a repertoire of recipes that I can use that involve 1) little prep, 2) few ingredients, and either 3) cook relatively fast or 4) don't need me to watch the food. A couple of years ago, my best friend K gave me a book called The Four Ingredient Cookbook. This week's recipe is taken from there. Here's a fast and easy way to make honey mustard chicken.
What you'll need:
1/2 c. Miracle Whip dressing (I used the Light)
2 Tbs. dijon mustard
1 Tbs. honey
4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts
What you'll need to do:
1. Set oven to the "Broil" setting and raise rack if necessary.
2. Mix together the Miracle Whip dressing, dijon mustard, and honey until it's well combined.
3. Brush the chicken breasts with about half of the dressing mixture and place in a pyrex or metal pan to broil.
4. Broil 8-10 minutes on each side, longer if the pieces are thicker. After turning the chicken, brush on the remaining mixture. Serve with risotto.
I know that there are some people who don't like the taste of Miracle Whip, and I have to say that by itself it would not be my first choice of condiment. However, when mixed with the dijon and honey, the flavor of it is definitely diffused. Those who are not fond of the dressing may still like this recipe.
However, sometimes even then I don't have the time for a complex meal. I have a few projects going on right now: getting my garden going (I'll post pictures for sure this weekend), finally getting the shelving into the apartment that Scooter and I have been wanting, and various projects that family and friends ask for help with (mom's garden improvements, aunt moving to a new house, etc.). For times like these, it's really nice having a repertoire of recipes that I can use that involve 1) little prep, 2) few ingredients, and either 3) cook relatively fast or 4) don't need me to watch the food. A couple of years ago, my best friend K gave me a book called The Four Ingredient Cookbook. This week's recipe is taken from there. Here's a fast and easy way to make honey mustard chicken.
What you'll need:
1/2 c. Miracle Whip dressing (I used the Light)
2 Tbs. dijon mustard
1 Tbs. honey
4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts
What you'll need to do:
1. Set oven to the "Broil" setting and raise rack if necessary.
2. Mix together the Miracle Whip dressing, dijon mustard, and honey until it's well combined.
3. Brush the chicken breasts with about half of the dressing mixture and place in a pyrex or metal pan to broil.
4. Broil 8-10 minutes on each side, longer if the pieces are thicker. After turning the chicken, brush on the remaining mixture. Serve with risotto.
I know that there are some people who don't like the taste of Miracle Whip, and I have to say that by itself it would not be my first choice of condiment. However, when mixed with the dijon and honey, the flavor of it is definitely diffused. Those who are not fond of the dressing may still like this recipe.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
This may put a smile on your face...
A podcast I listened to recently mentioned that what is new in libraries is not new FOR libraries--meaning that "new ideas" used in the library world have been--to borrow a phrase--begged, borrowed, or stolen from other industries (and please don't mistake me for condemning libraries for that). Example: the bar code is used by libraries everywhere to scan items for circulation purposes (in layman's terms: to check items in and out), but the bar code was invented for the food industry. There is a lot of creativity in the profession, but we unfortunately don't have time or the budget to fund serious inventing endeavors. Listening to the podcast made me wonder what truly new innovations librarians would be able to come up with if we were given the time and the money to do it.
A colleague of mine sent me links to a few videos that put me in mind of library innovation. Each video is a funny and creative way the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University is working to promote their services.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs
http://www.youtube.com/user/hbllproduction#p/u/2/GIUiH3PNOAE
http://www.youtube.com/user/hbllproduction#p/u/5/llD1AY5fsjc
I bet they'll put a smile on your face. They certainly put a smile on mine.
A colleague of mine sent me links to a few videos that put me in mind of library innovation. Each video is a funny and creative way the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University is working to promote their services.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs
http://www.youtube.com/user/hbllproduction#p/u/2/GIUiH3PNOAE
http://www.youtube.com/user/hbllproduction#p/u/5/llD1AY5fsjc
I bet they'll put a smile on your face. They certainly put a smile on mine.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Yet Another Reason to Support your Public Library
I’m thinking of a place where you can go for free computer classes that can help you learn basic computer programs. This same place will have free workshops on everything from Chinese Medicine to the culinary arts to knitting blankets. You’ll also be able to pick up the latest book by Charlaine Harris for free, then log on to check your email (for free) before getting your pressing question about the national health care plan answered. Meanwhile, your 9-year-old son is getting (free) help with his homework assignment for Math before choosing a copy of “Shrek 3” to take home and watch. A coffee for you and an orange juice for him wrap up your visit to this magical place where all this happens on a regular basis.
What place could I possibly be talking about? The public library.
Our society has turned into one where money is no longer the only currency: information is the new fad. And libraries, information brokers since the dawn of time (not literally, but you know what I mean), are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this. And the kicker is that they provide their services for free. An article I read mentioned that if the idea of libraries had been proposed now, there would be no way that they would have been created. I have to agree; there would not be nearly enough funding to create enough public libraries across the nation, and people would likely begrudge the thought of any more money being squeezed out of what little they have by the government. In a time when it seems that nothing is free anymore and people’s ability to afford more than the bare minimum is almost non-existent (and in some cases it is), we should be valuing the benefit of the public library.
Lucky for us, it seems that a significant percentage of the population does. ALA’s 2011 The State of American Libraries Report has shown that visits to the library and the utilization of library services continue to steadily increase. People know and appreciate what the library can provide for them. After all, the library is the only free place you can go that connects people with the information they need and helps to bridge the Digital Divide (a claim Google would not be able to make).
If you’re not convinced that the library is still valuable with all of the digital and Internet resources you now have at your fingertips, I encourage you to take a look at this article. I think that the first point is the most important: “Libraries serve the disenfranchised.” Right now, there are a lot of have-nots in the country. People can’t afford the hardware/software/Internet connection/Wi-Fi/etc (the Digital Divide issue I just mentioned) that is steadily becoming the norm for looking up government forms (ex. unemployment benefit forms), searching and applying for jobs (many if not most companies only post open positions online), and staying connected with family and friends (social networking). So what happens to those that don’t have a computer but still want to be able to do these things? They go to their local library.
Sony, Google and Apple are all under fire for various reasons regarding their customer’s privacy. Sony’s PS3 Network was hacked, and millions of users’ information was obtained in the attack. Google and Apple are currently dealing with lawsuits that allege their violation of users’ privacy in the type and amount of information that their smart phones have been secretly collecting. I take comfort that I will never have this problem in the library: “Libraries are interested in your privacy.” The librarian is no stranger to defending her patrons’ privacy, and the ALA also offers guidelines on confidentiality and privacy in the library.
The public library—and what it has to offer—is a role model for society.
What place could I possibly be talking about? The public library.
Our society has turned into one where money is no longer the only currency: information is the new fad. And libraries, information brokers since the dawn of time (not literally, but you know what I mean), are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this. And the kicker is that they provide their services for free. An article I read mentioned that if the idea of libraries had been proposed now, there would be no way that they would have been created. I have to agree; there would not be nearly enough funding to create enough public libraries across the nation, and people would likely begrudge the thought of any more money being squeezed out of what little they have by the government. In a time when it seems that nothing is free anymore and people’s ability to afford more than the bare minimum is almost non-existent (and in some cases it is), we should be valuing the benefit of the public library.
Lucky for us, it seems that a significant percentage of the population does. ALA’s 2011 The State of American Libraries Report has shown that visits to the library and the utilization of library services continue to steadily increase. People know and appreciate what the library can provide for them. After all, the library is the only free place you can go that connects people with the information they need and helps to bridge the Digital Divide (a claim Google would not be able to make).
If you’re not convinced that the library is still valuable with all of the digital and Internet resources you now have at your fingertips, I encourage you to take a look at this article. I think that the first point is the most important: “Libraries serve the disenfranchised.” Right now, there are a lot of have-nots in the country. People can’t afford the hardware/software/Internet connection/Wi-Fi/etc (the Digital Divide issue I just mentioned) that is steadily becoming the norm for looking up government forms (ex. unemployment benefit forms), searching and applying for jobs (many if not most companies only post open positions online), and staying connected with family and friends (social networking). So what happens to those that don’t have a computer but still want to be able to do these things? They go to their local library.
Sony, Google and Apple are all under fire for various reasons regarding their customer’s privacy. Sony’s PS3 Network was hacked, and millions of users’ information was obtained in the attack. Google and Apple are currently dealing with lawsuits that allege their violation of users’ privacy in the type and amount of information that their smart phones have been secretly collecting. I take comfort that I will never have this problem in the library: “Libraries are interested in your privacy.” The librarian is no stranger to defending her patrons’ privacy, and the ALA also offers guidelines on confidentiality and privacy in the library.
The public library—and what it has to offer—is a role model for society.
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