The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie

Reason 70 million thousand I'm glad the library exists -- and I know this is going to sound a little strange -- is the book, The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie: Intimacy and Design. When I came across this on the shelf, I was looking for anything about the history of clothing, for a project I was doing with kids. I picked it up and thought two things: 1. This won't be something I'll share with the kids (in part because of the scholarly treatment of the subject), and 2. Wow. I have to check this out.

I've had a chance to read most of this unusual book, and although I'm finding the topic unsettling and sometimes even offputting, I'm amazed by this slim guide to a world I knew nothing about. I'm impressed with the authors and editors, who had to overcome many barriers in order to publish this -- and grateful to my library for giving me the chance to discover it.

CML Catalog - Word Clouds

Do you ever use the word cloud on CML's catalog? I often get questions from people about its purpose. The cloud on CML's website is a discovery cloud, which means it gives you a chance to explore different subjects. Some clouds are refinement clouds, which give you fewer search results that are increasingly specific. The Nashville Public Library's catalog has an example of a refinement cloud. Note the word "discovery" by our catalog's word cloud, and "refine by tag," on the right side of the screen on Nashville's catalog.

Both types of clouds can be useful. If you're not really sure what you're in the mood for, the discovery cloud can give you some interesting subjects. You can go from books about roses to mausoleums to Macbeth to machete. It's probably the library nerd in me, but I find the subjects used in cataloging really interesting. However, if you know exactly what you're searching for and the cloud is only getting in your way, you can minimize it by hitting the arrow above the cloud.

Reading a book in five minutes, or judging a book by its cover

I was at the Main Library last week for a training session on Reader's Advisory, which is the art of recommending both fiction and nonfiction books. We learned how interpret the clues from the cover art and blurbs of the book. In addition to skimming the book, those clues can give a good sense of what a book is about. This is called reading a book in five minutes.

I'm sure that's very similar to what a lot of library customers do in order to decide if they want to check out a book. In fact, that's what I did after the class was over. In the new fiction area, I found a book called Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson. I liked the cover art, and the recommendations were made by other authors that I enjoy. It turned out to be a good choice - I really liked the book and would suggest it to anyone who likes Steven Millhauser or Kelly Link.