It has always seemed to me that, unlike film, theatre and art exhibit reviews which encourage or discourage attendance at subsequent performances, concert reviews are often of a "stand alone" performance. Just when I became enthusiastic and wanted to experience a musical performance, it was over! I'd missed it forever! That to me is the beauty of the podcast from musical organizations. A reprieve? Is this a re-broadcast? In clicking on Podcasts at BSO site, going to a concert, clicking on iTunes, message says, can't find iTunes on my computer. Not sure if it's ok to download. No supervisor around at the moment. Boston Symphony Orchestra also proclaims, "Enhance your concert going experience," offering pre-concert lectures. Just can't listen to anything!
On NPR Podcast Directory there are six results. Tried "Classical to Go" Podcast. Says need to subscribe, clicking on Yahoo, not able to subscribe; why is it not clear? Am getting bogged down so will continue tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Can't Attend a Concert? Try Their Podcast!
Lots of wonderful results with a Google search for "concerts" and "podcasts" and "Massachusetts." Just for a start, you'll get The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory and much more. So far everything says BUY NOW! Needs more exploration! More later...
"Mr. Bean at the Library" - Take 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyDY0hiMZy8
I clicked on the link icon last time and this, with different results. First time was under Edit Html tab; second time was under Compose tab. Hope Take 2 works. Don't really see how the preview shows an active link. Keeping my hopes up!
"Mr. Bean at the Library"
Do white gloves make a difference?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyDY0hiMZy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyDY0hiMZy8
Rare Books Rare Patron on YouTube
Here's what happened when I searched for "library videos" on YouTube. I wasn't able to open a link immediately as message read either of two programs was turned off or needed updating, followed by an install message to update Flash, followed by licensing agreement. Checked with assistant supervisor to clear installation. After that, everything worked well, and my choice for arts-minded followers so far is "Mr. Bean at the Library."
The applications for this video could be broad - shown to the college-bound, freshman library orientation, and generaly to adults. Why is this visual story so funny? What kind of library is this? Reasons why one might end up in a special collections/rare book collection. Special considerations in handling books. Is your library quiet? orderly? considerate of others? extra careful in handling rare books? what should you do if you have an accident with the materials?
I'll see if I can figure out how to embed the URL later...
The applications for this video could be broad - shown to the college-bound, freshman library orientation, and generaly to adults. Why is this visual story so funny? What kind of library is this? Reasons why one might end up in a special collections/rare book collection. Special considerations in handling books. Is your library quiet? orderly? considerate of others? extra careful in handling rare books? what should you do if you have an accident with the materials?
I'll see if I can figure out how to embed the URL later...
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Jeanne d'Arc on Google Maps
Once I visited the small town of Orleans, France and remembered seeing a statue of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) in the center. Using Google Maps, I was able to see the statue again. Not too many pictures posted, some of a great cathedral, but none of the small synagogue which I discovered on a quiet Saturday morning when I followed the sound of Hebrew prayers, up a set of alabster steps.
Looking for NFL on Flickr
When searching for Newton Free Library I knew the results would be great! One of our librarians has been documenting our library and there are oodles of wonderful pictures of patrons and staff. One of the most interesting things is the documented process of how a book finally reaches the patron's hands. The search results vary, depending upon use of quotation marks around Newton Free Library, and with (149 hits) or without (319), it doesn't match the numbers we have for those loaded in our album (281). But nonetheless, we're there!
Hometown Artist
The first image I see on the BPL Flickr page is a self-portrait lithograph print by George Bellows. He is of interest to me since we hail from the same hometown. One of his large paintings of boxers had impressed me on a school field trip, my first visit to any large museum. Later on I became an art librarian in a museum! I will look for more art and music images -- sure to plentiful at the Boston Public Library.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Feed Your Mind, Body and Soul
Here is my suggestion for our library to have RSS feeds:
Keep on top of all of the wonderful monthly free author talks, lectures, concerts, art exhibits and receptions, literary and retirement clubs, noon-time yoga classes, young adult interactive programs and children's programming and special events at The Newton Free Library. \Soon you will be able to subscribe to the monthly calendar of events, or to individual RSS feeds for your favorite activities. Since the fall of 1991, Newton Library patrons have benefitted from superior programming, absolutely free. Let us feed your mind, body and soul. Subscribe now to The Newton Free Library's RSS feeds.
Keep on top of all of the wonderful monthly free author talks, lectures, concerts, art exhibits and receptions, literary and retirement clubs, noon-time yoga classes, young adult interactive programs and children's programming and special events at The Newton Free Library. \Soon you will be able to subscribe to the monthly calendar of events, or to individual RSS feeds for your favorite activities. Since the fall of 1991, Newton Library patrons have benefitted from superior programming, absolutely free. Let us feed your mind, body and soul. Subscribe now to The Newton Free Library's RSS feeds.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Looking for Lessons
Supposing I were looking for a music teacher for piano lessons, it was easiest on Craigs List, after finding category - Services, then under that heading, Lessons. Not very professional looking of course, but a similarly quick searching of the Globe produced jobs for musicians by employers. Nary a find with the Herald of either. Considering people are on and off the computer pretty quickly, I'd use Craigs List for local music teachers available for private lessons, and the Globe for a job if I wanted a music teaching position.
Social Networking at My Library
Social networking could promote communities internally among staff at the library, and also help develop groups of library devotees, replacing some of the e-mail surveys and printed materials we now employ. For three examples, I'll use the following:
Idea 1: "Let's Communicate!" Periodically, I survey the staff for language proficiencies, a useful list of names by department showing level of competency, from beginner to native speaker. Knowing this often helps when a patron is non-conversant in English. An online social network led by staff could help create staff appreciation of different ethinic traditions, customs, manners, and the understanding of grammatical sentence structure. Further, we could then form sub-groups of leaders to organize clubs for the community, to meet individually and later jointly in celebration of the many cultures present within the community, highlighting library resources and programming of interest to these cultures.
Idea 2: "Are You Like Me?" could be a YA social network site, to help teens feel less alone and scared when facing personal problems or concerns. The YA librarians could respond to teen issues by developing collections based upon these concerns, and writing reviews of resources, how and where to find them. Doing this online may prevent embarassment. At the same time, if any wanted to meet as a group in the library to talk about information, that could be arranged.
Idea 3: "Younger/Older : Mentoring Each Other" would be an intergenerational pool of skills, talent, wisdom, expertise, advanced knowledge, where patrons could meet in the library, exchanging their younger/older abilities, helping each other in today's world and to advance their future.
Idea 1: "Let's Communicate!" Periodically, I survey the staff for language proficiencies, a useful list of names by department showing level of competency, from beginner to native speaker. Knowing this often helps when a patron is non-conversant in English. An online social network led by staff could help create staff appreciation of different ethinic traditions, customs, manners, and the understanding of grammatical sentence structure. Further, we could then form sub-groups of leaders to organize clubs for the community, to meet individually and later jointly in celebration of the many cultures present within the community, highlighting library resources and programming of interest to these cultures.
Idea 2: "Are You Like Me?" could be a YA social network site, to help teens feel less alone and scared when facing personal problems or concerns. The YA librarians could respond to teen issues by developing collections based upon these concerns, and writing reviews of resources, how and where to find them. Doing this online may prevent embarassment. At the same time, if any wanted to meet as a group in the library to talk about information, that could be arranged.
Idea 3: "Younger/Older : Mentoring Each Other" would be an intergenerational pool of skills, talent, wisdom, expertise, advanced knowledge, where patrons could meet in the library, exchanging their younger/older abilities, helping each other in today's world and to advance their future.
Jane Austen's Musical Notebooks
If you're a fan of both Jane Austen and the piano, you'll want to attend the Concord Authors Festival program to be held at the Concord Public Library on Sunday afternoon at 3pm, October 19th 2008. The Virtuous Virtuoso: Keyboard Works from the Musical Notebooks of Jane Austen
Jane Austen excelled as an amateur keyboard player. In her novels, the piano is often featured as a site of provocative interaction between men and women. Elizabeth Morgan presents a conversational program of piano pieces from Austen's collection of notebooks and sheet music. Introducing each piece, Morgan tells the audience about the composer and recounts scenes from Austen's novels in which the piano is featured.
WHO: Elizabeth Morgan
WHEN: Sunday, October 19 at 3:00pm
WHERE: Concord Free Public Library
Jane Austen excelled as an amateur keyboard player. In her novels, the piano is often featured as a site of provocative interaction between men and women. Elizabeth Morgan presents a conversational program of piano pieces from Austen's collection of notebooks and sheet music. Introducing each piece, Morgan tells the audience about the composer and recounts scenes from Austen's novels in which the piano is featured.
WHO: Elizabeth Morgan
WHEN: Sunday, October 19 at 3:00pm
WHERE: Concord Free Public Library
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Classical Music Fans
Here is a site for classical music fans to social network: http://www.dilettantemusic.com/. You can find a review of it here: http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/01/a-social-networ.html. Excerpt: About the name. Dilettante the site tries to reclaim "dilettante" the word from its generally accepted meaning today ("a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge"), and restore it to its earlier meaning, from the Latin "delectare" ("to delight - noun: a lover of an art of science, esp. of a fine art").
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