LISNews: Librarian News

During the second annual Edible Book fundraising event at the Lilly Library, Florence, MA, visitors could taste 16 dishes inspired by books. The evening was a fundraiser for the Lilly Library and The Forbes Library, Northampton who split the proceeds. Masslive.com reported that the delectable tomes ranged from "a cake based on The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman to a platter of horse shaped cookies inspired by Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses."

The "Best in Show" award went to John Riley, owner of Gabrielle's Books, Northampton, who made Aristotle's Second Book of Poetics, a fictional book in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. The 'book' was made of a combination of baklava and lavash flat bread.

Scott Douglas has released full details of a book give away contest here:

Do you have a picture that perfectly illustrates the insanity that takes place at a library? Maybe it's the book drop that was destroyed by a firecracker, the librarian who never matches his socks, or the library that is completely falling apart and has structural damage to prove it! If so, send them to me and you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a free signed copy of Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian.

Okay, this is cool. The Wadleigh Memorial Library recently held a competition where patrons could dance their fines away through playing the video game Dance Dance Revolution. While patrons could donate food items to reduce fines, but they were also encouraged to enter the competition too.

Both librarians and patrons alike took part.

Several local businesses donated food to provide energy for the hungry dancers.

I just tripped across this today: one of the rotating features on the front page of the Harris County (TX) Public Library's website is "Writers' Strike Got You Down? The Library Has You Covered." Here's their page of suggestions for folks suffering withdrawal from their favorite TV shows, such as:

Did you know that Dexter is based on the series of books by Jeff Lindsay, beginning with Darkly Dreaming Dexter? Or, that Bones is based on Kathy Reichs Temperance Brennan series beginning with Deja Dead? Do you already miss new editions of The Colbert Report or The Daily Show? We have Colbert's latest book I Am America (and So Can You!) as well as books by Jon Stewart. We also have DVDS, so why not watch reruns you choose?

What a great marketing idea!