Thing #14

LibraryThing as part of 23 Things on a Stick. Is a pattern emerging? Pattern or no, I used this online tool this weekend and cataloged a small selection of the Hutton book collection, just the signed copies. In somewhat un-librarian fashion, I've never inventoried our collection. While there is a general order to where titles sit on the shelves, it is probably more "bookstoresque" than "libraryish."

The collection of signed titles is an odd assortment of books purchased over a long period going back to the days when I would willingly lug home pounds of new books after standing in long lines for the coveted signature of a Newbery Award winner. Most are children's books with a small selection of adult titles. There are classics as well as a few titles of which I am the only LibraryThing owner.

Some titles have been unopened for years. Cataloging them offered the opportunity to experience forgotten details --- the choice of paper and font, illustrations in subdued hues or bright colors. As well as bits of history tucked inside --- the forgotten bookmark (did it mark a once favorite passage or is this simply where it was left as I finished reading), a charge slip (not mine but belonging to the person who gave me the book 29 years ago.) Even more wonderful, the signatures of the creators --- small, tight script or flourishing pen strokes. Well worth toting home all these titles from so many author presentations.

Bookjacket art is missing for 1/3 of the entries and the LibraryThing generic brown cover is ugly. Another project for another winter weekend (there are still a few more despite 45 degree temps today) will be to scan the cover artwork.

Thing #7

My email experiences go all the way back to the days when VAX mail required a "hard return" at the end of a line and once the cursor jumped to the next line there was no going back. If you needed to correct a misspelling or restructure the sentence, it meant starting over. Editing was possible but only with a complicated set of key commands that required a cheat-sheet list.

A 23 Things discussion of email feels like old news but in the spirit of the program, here are are my email likes and dislikes.

Email likes:

• Generic. Other than maybe my Mom just about everyone I know has email. While it may not be the most elegant method to share important news, it does so quickly and uniformly.
  
• SELCO's new spam filter keeping at bay all those messages from foreign princes wanting to exchange currency.
• Filed.
  

And dislikes:

• Full in-box. I'll admit to less than stellar email management. Even with a thorough list of Outlook folders for major projects, committees, etc. there are too many messages just hanging around in my In-Box.
• People who insist on replying only to the sender even when asked to "reply all."
• Flaming and verbal escalation.

If email is on the antiquity end of the stick then IM is a more modern approach to quick communication. Before trying it, I couldn't understand the difference between an ongoing string of email messages and IM. Now I use it regularly to check facts, chat with a friend miles away or carry on a sidebar conversation during a less than productive meeting. Yes, I know that might be considered rude, but the meeting participants were rambling and the IM conversation kept my sarcasm in check and a smile on my face. My proudest IM multitasking feat --- online meeting with 2 IM sessions. Should I try for 3?