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Public Art Collections

Finding and touring public art collections can be a fun date night activity.  They improve the character of a place and make great destinations for scavenger hunts, especially when your city is rich with public art.  Lincoln, Nebraska is such a city.  Public art has been a part of Lincoln since it was conceived.  The State Capital houses many public art treasures.   Pioneer's Park is home to  Smoke Signal  and  Columns , some of the older large scale public art installations.  Sheldon Art Galleries'  outdoor public art  includes such notable sculptures as  Fallen Dreamer  and  The Torn Notebook .  Wesleyan's collection includes Calling Away  and several monuments made by students. Union College's Clocktower has the distinction of being one of the tallest pieces of public art in the city. Pop-culture public art collections are scattered throughout the region.  Liz-Shea McCoy hosted some broadl...
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AI and the Library Reference Interview

More and more the general public is turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist them in their daily work and life.  AI tools draw on a large textual reference base (called a Large Language Model) to synthesize data and present it in a useable form.  Alternately, AI can take visual images and apply common forms of illustration techniques to come up with unique art.  Search engines are increasingly using AI to provide topical summaries to users.  AI is being embedded in our daily workflows.  Ultimately, will AI tools take the place of a librarian reference desk interaction?  Or is the human component of this interaction still necessary?  Let's consider that question. Engaged Inquiry When a librarian interacts with a patron, they provide assistance.  It is an action of Engaged Inquiry.  How does a librarian provide this service?  It can be as simple as point a patron to key topical resources or research databases.  It can b...
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Psalm 23 - Reflecting on this day

Psalm 23 - Notice The Setting.  God is our Good Shepherd and Gracious Host 1-4 - Green Pastures & Still Waters 5-6 - The Banquet Table Questions/Thoughts about this Psalm: Do we find the concept that everything for us beyond the presence and work of God in our lives is a luxury true?  God's presence comforts us in fear-filled times, places and moments.  He is our protection and guidance.  With Him there is no lack.  He leads us in righteous paths, because it is his character to do so.  It is for the sake of his name - not ours.  It is certainly a different point of view.  The banquet God provides is more than sufficient, even in the midst of peril.  His commitment to us is not fickle. __________________________  Personal Reflections: Taking a break in painting interior walls and having the guys come back from storm clean up with friends to reflect on today and write something down about it.  Scattered or unorganized though it ma...
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Books of the Bible

Study Resources and useful links. Bibles available electronically: Bible Gateway - an online bible, containing in multiple English translations.  Searchable. ESV Bible Online  - An English Standard Version that is easy to read.  Audible versions available. Bible Hub - an online bible, contains parallel and interlinear bibles Old Testament    - Animated Overview by The Bible Project. Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth I Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Named Part...
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Unique Libraries

A short list of unusual and unique libraries. Heritage of the Printed Book Database A project of the Consortium of European Research Libraries Hosted in Germany, this database refers to the catalogs of CERL member institutions in Europe and North America.  It serves as an index to publications created in the hand-press printing era (c.1455 - 1830).  It includes references for bibles, maps, music, journals, scientific works, games and other publications.  Libraries from 25 countries make portions of their catalogs available to this database. KCMI Radio - The Cross Reference Library https://www.libib.com/u/crossreference/l/1350973 Hosted by KCMI Radio , this is a library of Christian works from various eras located in Western Nebraska.  The library contains works for entertainment as well as instruction.  The library hosts a simple catalog on Libib. Common Soil Seed Library https://omahalibrary.org/seed-library/ This library is a place to share open-pollinated se...
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Libguide - Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth

Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth  (JtCE) Science Fiction, Scientific Expeditions as Entertainment or Thought Experiments for the Masses? A recently assigned reading for a high school Sci-Fi literature class prompted the creation of this guide. "Science, my boy, is built upon errors; but they are errors that are good to make, for they lead little by little to the truth."  Jules Verne in Journey to the Center of the Earth Journey to the Center of the Earth was published as serial literature as a bi-weekly chapter in the French magazne,  Magasin,  put out by Pierre-Jules Hetzel (1814-1886) in an ongoing feature called Voyages extraordinaires  (Extraordinary Journeys).  The column was meant to educate the whole family and featured material of interest to scientists, authors and illustrators.  Once the bi-weekly features were published, they would be gathered together into book form and released for purchase as Christmas presents in thr...
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Cataloging Home or Special Collections

There are a lot of useful apps for avid readers.  Card catalogs still work for analog library use.  But I had been looking for an online library catalog suitable for a home library or for cataloging special collections when I found the Handy LIbrary App.  It is a newer app but it works well for this purpose.  In using Handy Library I created bookshelves for libraries I frequently access so I can keep track of books I own as well as books I have access to from other organizations.  It can also be used to keep track of books that you lend or give to others if you are a person who loves to introduce others to reading. There is also a new and promising ILS system for small libraries created by Insignia Software.  I had the chance to see it not too long ago at a library conference and was impressed.  Consider how you organize your book collection or organize your reading and see what works for you. "Over the Counter" library cataloging apps: Book Catalogue ...
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