Good on you Mr. President. A man who lives a considered and careful life has gravitated to architects who move through the design process with intention and deliberation toward extraordinary ends.

The architects who designed that exquisite, short lived,‎ jewel - The American Folk Art Museum that MoMA just ate - are chosen to design Barack Obama's Library.

Yes! Style and class really is 'Bred in the Bone' (short bow to Robertson Davies)‎.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/06/obama-chooses-the-most-deliberate-of-architects.html?mid=twitter_nymag

ScrnGrbCrd: NY Mag

‎Canadian-Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni headed the restoration of al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest library in the world. Built by Fatima El-Fihriya in 849 in Fez, Morocco, it is part of the world's oldest degree granting institution.

In addition to the complete facility restoration, the ancient manuscripts and books were included in this project. 

This is so beautiful. What a gift.

http://www.tor.com/2016/06/13/moroccos-al-qarawiyyin-library-oldest-in-world-newly-renovated-and-open-to-visitors/

This exceptional treasure is now open to the public. Here is a link to a log from a traveler to Fez.

‎https://camel76.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/fez-the-holy-city-of-green-domes/

ScrnGrbCrd: tor.com

"Bathrooms without Borders "~ Fierté dans la Capitale Pride's seriously fun theme this year : Gender neutral restrooms.
‎http://ottawacapitalpride.ca/bathrooms-without-borders/

Libraries are for all our citizens.

You know how librarians are always on the leading edge of societal change, right? ‎ Standing up for privacy rights and providing information and library services to everyone who asks and shows up is what librarians 'are' not just what they 'do'.

Ever sensitive to library users' needs, one of the participants in our Webinar yesterday asked how we ‎approach the issue of gender neutral bathrooms/ washrooms (restrooms if you are in the USofA!). We gave our answer along these lines:

http://apt613.ca/everyone-free-pee-capital-pride/

ScnGrbCrd: apt613.ca & ottawacapitalpride.ca

If you are under 30, under 20, VOTE. The personal is the political. The UK just learned this the hard way. You are our future. 

Ms. C‎osslett reports poignantly about her generation's disappointment about the BRexit result.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/24/young-angry-eu-referendum?CMP=share_btn_tw

ScrnGrbCrd: The Guardian / Opinion

It's back and beautiful and open on Saturdays. The funding for this branch fell victim to the '08 crash.

And it rises again, alive and in time with the rhythm of the City with a Teen Space to die for, a Computer Bar and a ‎Meeting Room that holds 120.

Oh, and food is allowed... in certain spaces!
I can't wait to check this out.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/nyregion/an-amphitheater-a-laptop-bar-its-a-new-york-library-like-no-other.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0&referer=https://t.co/FtQxMD8WU0

Design by:

http://www.ten-arquitectos.com/projects/142

‎

ScrnGrbCrds: ‎NYTimes

The colour Blue makes history, again.
Yttrium, Indium, Manganese‎ (Oxide), heated to 2,000F and mixed w/ chemicals resulted in an unintended vivid blue pigment called 'YInMn'. 

Scientists at Oregon State University discovered YInMn in experiments "related to electronics" in 2009. It has now been licensed for commercial use.

Blue pigment has been a precious commodity for millennia. This one, 'YInMn' doesn't fade in oil or water and "reflects a large amount of infrared light" making it a possible product to develop for energy efficiency uses.

Here is the site where you can read more about this quiet but game changing discovery:

http://www.techinsider.io/a-scientist-discovered-a-new-blue-2016-6

For more information about how The Colour Blue influenced economies and cultural exchanges throughout human history, ‎take a look at this paper from the University of Minnesota by Anne Mattson. It will help you understand the importance of this beautiful, unexpected, present day scientific discovery.

https://www.lib.umn.edu/bell/tradeproducts/indigo

ScrnGrbCrd: techinsider

‎Archeology ... Architecture in Reverse. 

Because we love London.
Because my great grandfather was a cooper.
Because Bloomberg is doing this because he can afford to. 
So what if we can't ever afford to visit Londinio again!

http://hyperallergic.com/303860/ancient-roman-waxed-writing-tablets-unearthed-in-central-london/

http://www.mola.org.uk/blog/archaeological-research-britain ’s-oldest-hand-written-documents-released

‎ScrnGrbCrd: MOLA & hyperallerigic.com

He's done it!‎ It's open.
I wonder if it is as magical as The Gates? Bet it is.

http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/culture/floating-piers-by-christo-and-jeanne-claude-opens-to-public_o

SrcnGrabCred: architect magazine

‎In the summers between 1994 and 2015 Robert Dawson traveled 48 states and DC, preserving in a photographic record 526 of the 16,536 public libraries that serve this country in any and all ways imaginable at every scale with all means available.

I particularly like the comments left on the LofC site: people in this country love their libraries!

Mr. Dawson called his photographic collection "The Public Library: An American Commons". 

His book titled, "The American Library, A Photographic Essay" with a foreword by Bill Moyers, is published by Princeton Architectural Press. In the future, this historic work will be available for all to see on the Library of Congress' website.

‎http://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2016/06/lcm-diversity-of-the-american-library/?utm_content=bufferf76e3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Here is the link to Robert Dawson's site showing more of his extraordinary photographs and large scale projects.

http://www.robertdawson.com/portfolio.html?folio=Projects

PhotoCred: Robert Dawson, Public Library Service Collection ; Library of Congress

The people of Sandy Hook, CT are ‎opening their new school.

Ms. Clement-Carlson has written a poem to commemorate this act of faith and hope that lives on in all of the people there, who are dedicating their lives to making sense of their shared grief and resolve.

Our hearts are with you.

http://www.slj.com/2016/06/schools/old-library-new-library-new-library-sandy-hook-elementary-school/#_

ScrnGrbCred: SLJ

This news will help spur R&D in new energy delivery sources with a great result: now even more librarians will have the opportunity to design excellent libraries and incorporate into their budgets cost effective and efficient sources of energy. 

Responsible design coupled with environmental stewardship is our touchstone in all things design related.

Just this morning, in our webinar presentation for librarians in the APPL Program with SOLS http://www.sols.org/ we discussed the importance of including alternative energy use into ‎library design.

Government policy strongly supporting alternative energy investment and development is a boon to companies ready to invest and develop renewable resources and related business. ‎

Ontario has taken the lead. Now the Prairie provinces , with all that wide open sky, are committed to taking up the mantel of responsible energy development leadership.‎ Good news and none too soon!

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/alberta-ontario-cleanenergycanada-pembina-1.3636911

ScrnGrbCrd: cbc.ca

Science disguised as art. Brillant imaginative minds show us what elements "look" like.

Russian scientists take it to the streets and public spaces with their special brand of performance art.

The link within this one is in Russian‎ but the photos demonstrate their work and purpose beautifully. 

The stories behind the creation of their photos are as interesting as the work itself of course.

http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1429241/russian-scientists-create-art-through-chemistry

ScrnGrbCred: blouimartinfo.com‎ and AETNAUKA 

( Nauka means science in Russian)

Since the Towers fell in NYC; since I worked at a maximum prison; since my mother thought me how to carry my keys - points out - in my hand when walking to my car; I have thought a lot about my personal safety and what I would do, could do, "should anything happen".

Well "anything" happens all the time now. We are none of us as safe as we imagined we were yesterday or last year.

Tomorrow we present a Webinar for the Southern Ontario Library Service for librarians who are developing their management skills.  In it we talk about "The 3rd Place" and "The Commons" with respect to how librarians are providing space in their libraries for individuals in their communities so that they feel like they are a part of their physical community - not just the on-line one we are becoming so used to. 

Librarians are on the forefront of societal change especially concerning how we interact and how we find our place in our community.

In light of this article from the Atlantic - CITYLAB, our message rings both sickeningly hollow and loudly. 

How can we go into a public space and feel safe? How are these violent actions that are happening globally and involving our physical safety, affecting our behaviour in our cities, towns and in our libraries?

Indeed.

 Click on the image Margo. 

Wait, it opens up in a new window.

Consumers come out on top with this ruling - for now. Stay vigilant and informed.

With BIG DATA launching further appeals, this will most likely go all the way to the Supreme Court.

https://www.good.is/articles/net-neutrality-for-the-win

ScrnGrbCrd: GOOD/ Getty‎

Shamelessly ‎lifted directly from ‎re-tweet @ HighTechPanda. Tx.
I can't resist either.
Saturday Library Smile

Wow!‎ 
How much do I love what we can do with plywood? [reverential nod to Gehry]
‎http://www.sp-arc.net/

Sameep Padora Associates have addressed a challenge common to all our countries evidently ; that is the one posed by the *need* (my emphasis) to insert beauty and individualism into spaces that 'live' in The Mall environment.

I want to eat here. OK, first I need the airfare! Then I want to see all of their projects.

See also:

http://www.archdaily.com/788987/craft-sameep-padora-and-associates

ScrnGrbCrd: archdaily‎ & sp-arc

‎'This sponsorship could take the country out of its science doldrums'...'NdGT'

Science Talent Search, a program of the Society for Science & the Public, has a long time, vocal supporter who was (as ever) pumped to announce the Regeneron - 10 year $100 Million Grant to support the STS, sponsoring high school students to develop leading edge scientific research and discoveries.

Our beloved Neil deGrasse Tyson's announcement can be read and seen, in the link below :

https://www.societyforscience.org/content/ssp-blog/sponsorship-could-take-country-out-its-science-doldrums

Begun in 1921 by a journalist and a zoologist, ‎the Society for Science & the Public has had only two sponsors. Regeneron takes up the mantle from giants Westinghouse and Intel. 

Applications for the Regeneron STS are now being accepted for the 2917 vetting process:

https://sciencetalentsearch.fluidreview.com/

We scanned Bob Warburton‎'s piece in the Library Journal News about the controversy swirling around the libraries that are slated for closing in Newfoundland. 

You can read his article here (all screen shots from Library Journal News):

If you have seen any of the Royal Shakespeare Company's productions here ‎in NYC or if you're just a fan of the Bard...you might give this a look next time you're in the City.

http://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/first-folio-book-gave-us-shakespeare

ScrnGrbCrd: NYHS

‎Learn more about the issues involving challenges to collections for your library users in the GLBT community and how to safeguard your GLBT materials during ALA's GLBT Book Month this June.

All info and details about speakers, outcomes and details for payment in this article.‎

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/webinar-intellectual-freedom-for-all

Register by 11:59am, 14 June. 

ScrnGrbCreds: ala.com

Check this out. Link to 'National Lab for Libraries'. The Harwood Institute.

Libraries are always looking for ways to readjust their focus and meet the ever-changing needs of their communities.  But what are those needs and how do we spend our energies wisely and effectively to keep pace with what people want from The Library?

The Innovators Lab for Libraries will address these questions and more at this densely scheduled event in Atlanta this Fall.

This is the agenda ...Stay tuned for what we discover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ScrnGrabCred: TheHarwoodInstitute

My dear friend and brilliant sign maker / artist  - Noella, owner of Sign-It Signs in Cornwall, Ontario

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sent me this today... Truer words have never been drawn!