Shattered Sun

I knew that it was coming but I was hoping that it wouldn’t. I’m not ready to give up using the Dewey Decimal System at the local library. I think that’s part of the draw. Of course, I must be in the minority because we’ve gone the way of the bookstore here in Phoenix with a local library opening up without Dewey. I’d like to think Dewey will be missed, but I don’t think my children or even my little sisters will really care either way. I guess it’s good to be open to change. And who knows, maybe I’ll actually enjoy the library more than I already do.

I still think it’s sad.

New Gilbert library due to be first in nation to drop Dewey Decimal Yvonne Wingett The Arizona Republic May. 30, 2007 12:00 AM When the new Gilbert library opens next month, it will be the first public library in the nation whose entire collection will be categorized without the Dewey Decimal Classification System, Maricopa County librarians say. Instead, tens of thousands of books in the Perry Branch library will be shelved by topic, similar to the way bookstores arrange books. The demise of the century-old Dewey Decimal system is overdue, county librarians say: It’s just too confusing for people to hunt down books using those long strings of numbers and letters. Dewey essentially arranges books by topic and assigns call numbers for each book. “A lot of times, patrons feel like they’re going to a library and admitting defeat because they don’t understand Dewey Decimal and can’t find the book they’re looking for,” said Marshall Shore, adult service coordinator for the Maricopa County Library District and driving force behind the idea. “People think of books by subject. Very few people say, ‘Oh, I know Dewey by heart.’ ” Libraries are trying to adapt to changing times, experts said, and their success lies in a generation of young people who are more comfy at Borders than libraries. Across the U.S., some libraries are trying to lure readers by adding lounge chairs and coffee shops. Some are incorporating the “bookstore” shelving system into sections of libraries but still use Dewey, or other classification systems, to arrange the bulk of collections, said Leslie Burger, president of the American Library Association. The books in Gilbert’s new library will be organized in about 50 sections, then subsections, from sports to cooking, gardening to mysteries. For example, a book on the Civil War would be in the history neighborhood and in the U.S. section. “Nowadays, people are used to going to a bookstore to browse, so we’re just trying to create that same atmosphere,” Shore said. “I know Dewey fans are out there. But we haven’t changed a lot in so long, and I think we’re in a fight for our own survival.” Credit: AZ Republic

Dealing with a cutie patootie! I am pleased to show off sweet little Aiden, born to my friends Rachel & Darren.

My latest creation. It’s a birthday gift for a coworker/friend. What do y’all think? I came up with the design on my own (never seen one like it before anyhow). And the below photos don’t do it justice. It’s really best viewed large but I’m hesitant to put that out there. If you want to see the large images, email me or comment here and I will send you the direct addresses.

There’s talk of the Trophy Guy becoming an NBA national ad campaign. I think that speaks a lot for the brains behind it, The Lavidge Company (a local Scottsdale agency did the original work for the Phoenix Suns). It’s a great bit of work and the gentleman they have embodying Trophy Guy acts very well.

Anyhow, check out the videos and giggle with it. They sure cracked me up (but I was probably a bit cracked before, so that might not be saying much!)

I don’t know how I didn’t find Joe’s Goals sooner but I have to admit that I’m a little hooked on it already. It’s a great application with a nice, simple design. It might be worth the $12 a year for an ad-free experience but I’m not sure yet. Anyway, I’m going to maybe play with it later, if I can really remember to keep up with it.