Here is one thing that makes me a bad librarian: I think Amazon's search engine is superior to the ones most libraries employ to help patrons find books. Yes, library OPACs generally have greater search capacity, can do more types of searches, blah blah blah, but when it comes to a basic keyword search, Amazon's search is MAGIC.

What brought this on? I'm doing a GLBTQ booklist and put "boy meets boy" as a keyword search into both my library's catalog and Amazon's search bar.

Guess which one DIDN'T bring up Twilight by Stephenie Meyer as the first hit?

Yeah, I don't get it either. But I am ENDLESSLY amused.

Tags: librarianship, libraries, not earth logic
126: cynical
780: c'mon live a bit / never want it to stop

Many posts today.

Articles:

1) I bet they didn't teach you in library school that not only are you a librarian, but you're also the parent to all the children in town! And once again, the person who gets the most talking time in the article is not a librarian and does not have a library degree. Honestly, people like this just make me want to spin my head and spray the pea soup I ate for lunch.

2) Review/article/thoughts on Welcome to Lizard Motel, beloved by everyone except for the people who actually know a thing or two about children's and teen literature. Katherine Paterson is so fabulous.

Books:

Got my reading assignments today for the 2006 Garden State Teen Book Awards. I have seventeen assigned books and I've only read one. Guess I know what I'll be doing from now until the middle of February. Looking at the list makes me see that I'm woefully behind on my YA reading. And also? I didn't really get anything that I want to read. But that's okay. I can always go and read the other books on my own time if I want. In fact, I should.

OMG I'm in love. I started Miss Wyoming by Douglas Coupland and I want to write like him. Best imagery Evah.

Scholastic sent me copies of Lucas and Getting the Girl from their Push imprint. Read 'em both already, but they're both really good.

Discussion on NEXGENLIB-L is about the MLIS degree and who needs it and who doesn't and how it's always astonishing that jobs that pay $23,000 a year always want you to have two Masters degrees and a third arm.

Tags: 2004, books, librarianship
126: hyper