Duped! by Andreas Schroeder and Remy Simard

Duped! True Stories of the World's Best Swindlers

9 tales of famous scams
each includes illustrations and a few graphic novel styled pages
covers the main players, how the scam played out, motives, why it was successful, how it ended and what happened to the schemers and victims after.
Includes quick fact boxes with interesting  information about the time, country, inventions, etc. related to the scam

If this interests you, have a look at Schroeder and Simard's next collaboration  Robbers!  In the same style, this outing examines real life stories of thievery and mayhem.

A Library Look..unique architecture

While privately lamenting the lack of funds to redecorate my school libraries - some non-institutional paint colour, a reading area, etc.-I let my mind wander and imagine how I could re-carpet  repaint, build new shelves, move network drops to rearrange the computers, do something/anything with those hideous ceiling tiles and on, and on...   Then I started picturing how to make the library building itself something that would stand out.  Not being an architect, I wondered what others had done.

Check out these custom libraries..would you like to have one of these spaces near you?

1) Biblioteca Sandro Penna, Italy

Photo credit: Perugia-City.com

While this first reminded me of a tube from a hamster habitat, I like the uniqueness.

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Perugia/Biblioteca%20Sandro%20Penna

2. Stuttgart City Library

Photo credit: Axel Brunst Photography

Putting The Focus On Books:  The Stuttgart City Library looks like an Apple store designed by M.C. Escher. On the outside, it's a perfect cube whose walls align exactly with the four compass points. On the inside, it's pure white with sharp angles and a soaring five-story atrium surrounded by Escher-esque stairs and rectangular furniture. Since opening in 2011, the ultra-modern library—designed by Korean architect Eun Young Yi—has been praised as one of the world's most gorgeous libraries and disparaged for its harshness and sterility. The design lacks the coziness that some people look for in a library but the stark whiteness of the environment itself puts all the focus on the colorful books lining the shelves... and there's no denying it's beautiful.

3. Vasconcelos Library

Photo: Eneas De Troya

Entering The Matrix:Mexico City's 409,000-square-foot Vasconcelos Library is known as the Megabiblioteca (megalibrary), making it sound as much like Godzilla's arch nemesis as a haven for bibliophiles. Alberto Kalach, who designed the building after winning Mexico's first international architecture competition in more than a century, created a space that appears to have been taken straight out of a Matrix-inspired dream—with books on crystal shelves that seem to be suspended in mid-air, huge industrial steel fittings, and five grid-like levels with turquoise tinted glass floors. The 500,000 volumes overlook an open courtyard featuring enormous striped whale bones floating from the ceiling. Of course. The whole shebang is surrounded by a massive botanical garden.

4. Plans for the national library of the Czech Republic

(image via: Treehugger)

The new national library of the Czech Republic is still in its initial design stages but from the look of the plans, it’s anything but bookish. Materials to be used include unpolished white marble, mirror-finished stainless steel and an abundance of new greenery. A three dimensional construct for the third millennium, the library will have a working capacity of 10 million volumes when completed.

(image via: Treehugger)

Set on the edge of the huge Letna Park in Prague, the library is said to be democratic architecture in a democratic state, as Czechs express long-suppressed desires for freedom of thought that are uniquely suited to the concept of a library.

source: http://weburbanist.com/2008/12/10/clever-creative-modern-library-architecture-designs/

wEIRD wORD wEDNESDAY

pronk:  means a weak or foolish person


mogigraphia: writer's cramp

bouquinist: a person who deals in second hand books; a used book salesperson

What wEIRD wORDS do you know?  Share in the comments.

Teens love reading and traditional library services!

Some interesting facts about teenagers use of libraries:  

• 85 percent of 16–17 year-olds read at least one print book in the past year, making them significantly more likely to have read a book in this format than any other age group.

• 60 percent of younger patrons say they go to the library to sit and read, study, or watch or listen to media, while only 45 percent of library visitors age 30 and older do this.

• 67 percent of younger Americans say they would be interested in a digital media lab for creating and uploading digital content; 27 percent say they would be “very likely” to use such a resource.

• 44 percent of library visitors under age 30 have used a library’s computers, internet, or a public WI-FI network, compared with just 27 percent of those age 30 and older.

When queried about what library services and resources are “very important” to offer:
• 80 percent of young Americans name librarians to help people find information they need
• 76 percent name research resources such as free databases
• 75 percent name free access to computers and the Internet
• 75 percent name books for people to borrow
• 72 percent name quiet study spaces
• 72 percent name programs and classes for children and teens
• 71 percent name job or career resources

Read more on this study at School Library Journal online.

wEIRD wORD wEDNESDAY

nuppence:  no money; to be paid nothing




Windlestraw: a person who is tall, thin and unhealthy looking

hippopotomonstrosequippedaliophobia: the fear of long words

What wEIRD wORDS do you know?  Share in the comments.

And how was YOUR day?

Deep Breath.   Seriously, take a deep breath!  

I came back from inventorying Teacher Resource books in the staff room to find THIS in my library.   One of our young friends was having a bad day.  DEEP BREATH!

(thank goodness I had already finished scanning the main room!)

only 5 days until the kids are off for the summer!   and only a few hours before I blend up a Margarita.   

iPod Friday

(Picture adapted from jamona_cl on flicker)

At the end of the week I give myself a treat and listen to my iPod at work while processing books or working on the database.   

These are my picks for today.                         

What do you listen to at work?

Today is day 5 of scanning for library inventory at the first of 8 schools.  I need some kick to keep me going until the weekend. The Ramones, Dirges followed by a a wee bit of the Clash start todays line-up.