Tag: Library

Voetbergs play their way into Library fans’ hearts

Two weeks ago I hyped the Voetberg Family Band, an octet of fiddlin’ siblins’ from Washington State. The family’s performance last night at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria at the Central Library was not to be missed by bluegrass/folk/Celtic/Christian hymnal music fans.

The two elder Voetbergs have professional chops right now (the eldest, Liddy, has released a solo album), but the rest of the group are right behind them — right down to 8 year old Rudy, who is a fiddle champ. Mama Voetberg (I don’t know if they call her that) sang a few beautiful tunes with the kids, and Papa handled the soundboard. The kids played a great set of bluegrass and Christian standards along with some original tunes. The fiddle was heavily represented, but 19-year old Elisha strums the guitar and mandolin and 13-year old Dieter hangs on the side and plucks an electric bass.

Continue reading “Voetbergs play their way into Library fans’ hearts”

Cool family events coming up at Central Library

And chances are, if you give a Pesci a gambling license... (read on, it makes sense)
Several interesting events are coming up at the Central Library downtown:

  • Sunday, March 7: Family Concert with the Camellia Symphony Orchestra. On Sunday the Camellia Symphony Orchestra holds a free concert in the Library Galleria at 2 pm. But the coolest part happens before the concert, when the orchestra will present an “instrument petting zoo” to allow the kiddies to get up close to different instruments. I’m not sure how much actually petting they will allow but there will definitely be a chance to get up close and personal and “see how the instruments are played.”

    • Continue reading “Cool family events coming up at Central Library”

There’s Only One Book for Sacramento

Oprah sent Lisa Ling to investigate it. Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. star in a film about it. Kevin Johnson camped out to highlight it. Now the Sacramento Public Library is asking you to read about it with its One Book Sacramento campaign.

I’m talking about homelessness. Just because Tent City has folded doesn’t mean the problem has. And reading about the crisis was never this… well, fun.

In the moving book, The Soloist, by Los Angeles Times columnist and best-selling author Steve Lopez, you’ll read the true account of Lopez’s unusual friendship with a homeless man, Nathaniel Ayers. You’ll find a Sacramento familiar, Darrell Steinberg, whom Lopez reaches out to for support as he experiences mental illness first-hand through Nathaniel. This homeless musician’s talent and his hard life on the street rocks Lopez to the core. Join their incredible journey through this grabbing, real-life page turner.

Continue reading “There’s Only One Book for Sacramento”

Library cash story brings out good comments on SacBee

cold hard cashI expend a lot of hot air trashing the Bee’s comment feature, but today I have to eat my words. (It appears I must also attend mixed metaphor college.) From today’s Bee story about two library branches no longer accepting cash after the branches have experienced thefts.

Commenter “kevinakin1950” smartly questions the legality of refusing to accept American currency, and goes on to point out that a no-cash policy would discriminate against the poor, who presumably don’t have credit cards. (Let’s not get started on all the people out there who are poor because of their credit cards…)

Continue reading “Library cash story brings out good comments on SacBee”

“Find at SPL” bookmarklet

All this talk of the liberry reminded me of a cool tool that I found on the Sac Public Library’s blog. It is a “Find it at the SPL” bookmarklet (those little “unsafe” bookmark links that run JavaScript in your browser, like “Translate this website into Shizzle-ese” or whathaveyou.) If you’re on a web page, any web page, that lists an ISBN number, this bookmarklet will search the SPL’s catalog for that book. It’s amazing to me that such a task could be so easy, for a site that is as impossible to use as the SPL’s.

Best results for the bookmarklet are found in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser, version 6. 🙂 YMMV.

Because the art books kept going missing

The Sac library system wants to put butts in the seats by allowing butts on their computer screens:

Sacramento, Apr 29, 2008 / 09:23 pm (CNA).- The Sacramento Library Authority Board voted last Thursday to retain its policy of minimal interference with patrons who access pornography on library computers, News10 Sacramento reports. Board members also voted to spend $21,000 for more computer monitors with recessed screens to allow more private viewing.

Recessed screens? How about just set up a whole private booth complete with neon lights?

Board member Robbie Waters explained his support for $21,000 for more private computer screens, saying he wanted people to be able to exercise their right to be able to view whatever they would like. “It allows the screen to come right up at you and nobody can look over your shoulders,” Waters said.

This might be one of the most ridiculous decisions made by a public library that I’ve ever seen. Is perversion not pervasive enough, that now parents can’t take their kids to Sacramento’s libraries unsupervised?

And, just one request to you commenters. Please refrain from commenting on the “exercise their right” or “allows the scene to come right up at you”. It’s a little too obvious, even for the Sac Rag.

Library maintenance scandal goes deep

If you’re like me, then you’re probably closely following the library maintenance contract scandal, which concerns a contract between the Sac Library and Hagginwood Services Inc to provide buildings maintenance. The library is now investigating $1.3 million in fees paid to Hagginwood after the Bee filed a request to examine the money trail. At the heart of the investigation is several instances of possible overcharging, including “$410 to unplug a toilet, $411 to fix a leaking water fountain and $2,423 for repairing lights in one room” (personally, $410 to unplug a commercial toilet doesn’t sound like a stretch).

Well, if you’re still with me you should read on, because this thing goes much further down the proverbial rabbit hole… Continue reading “Library maintenance scandal goes deep”

Library adds downloads

Speaking of our city’s habit of combining old and new web technologies, the Sacramento Public Library today unveiled its Digital Download Catalog. You can now download e-books and audiobooks if you have a library card. Note, however, that the audiobook files are not compatible with Macs or with the popular iPod device–PC or Mac (take that, guy from “Ed”).

Attention tech geeks-slash-library patrons

If you’re an IT nerd like me (or you’re thinking of getting caught up in the Web 2.0 revolution) our own Sacramento Public Library has a great tool for you: a subscription to Safari, the technical book publishing online service. If you’ve got a library card (even one that currently has fines!) you can access full text tech books through the Web. Just bookmark this link and fill in your info. Then curl up with some hot ginger tea, an eye-friendly monitor, and an e-book on TCP/IP.

Sacramento Public Libraries…”Check” Them Out

I know, I know, very punny. But now that I have your attention I wanted to remind you of the many wonderful resources available to you at any of the 27 branches of the Sacramento Public Library system. Who knew, right? I’m sure most of you, but with the advent of the home computer and more importantly the Internet, public libraries have sort of drifted off my radar. Well, Mrs. T has been spending a lot of time there lately and really turned me on to the many free features the library has to offer.

I’ve mostly been to the Arden-Arcade branch. If you haven’t been, you’d be surprised by the number of computers they offer with free internet access or the wide selection of CD’s and DVD’s you can check out. Each time I’ve visited the vibe has been rather mellow in spite of the large numbers of people there. Plus, right now you have unique opportunity to see a Princess Diana collection. I only say that last part with my tongue partially in my cheek.

Continue reading “Sacramento Public Libraries…”Check” Them Out”