National Novel Writing Month, more commonly referred to as NaNoWriMo, is under way. Have you considered inviting participating writers into your library for an “open swim” writing event? The official website offers a publicity kit for the price of shipping but you could always create your own promotional materials as well.
This post is part of my on-going series on the Ann Arbor District Library’s (AADL) Summer Game.
Yesterday, I covered the Branch Explorer badges. Today I thought you might enjoy a virtual field trip to AADL’s West Branch and the chance to spy over my shoulder as I complete the scavenger hunt there.
Filed under AADL's Summer Game, Field Trip, Professional Practice
Credit: State of the Book website
Looking for something to do this weekend? Consider celebrating Michigan’s contributions to literature at The State of the Book this Saturday, October 6th, in the University of Michigan’s Rackham Auditorium (915 E. Washington). Special guests include Dave Eggers, Charles Baxter, and Philip Levine.
“This day-long series of public events will showcase the state’s leading literary stars, in partnership with several of the state’s leading non-profit literary organizations: 826michigan, Dzanc Books, InsideOut Literary Arts Project, The National Writers Series, and The Neutral Zone.” Full press release here. Day’s schedule here.
Filed under Field Trip, This Business of Writing
This post is part of my on-going series on the Ann Arbor District Library’s (AADL) Summer Game.
So far it might seem like the AADL Summer Game was almost completely on-line. Au contraire. Yet another clever thing about the 2012 AADL Summer Game: it encouraged you to actually visit the library and explore. I’m ashamed to admit it, but, before playing the Summer Game, I hadn’t visited two of AADL’s branches. And even at my home branch it’s usually in the door and out again, as soon as I’ve picked up my holds. That was remedied when I decided to go after the two badges that required you to visit each of AADL’s five branches to collect codes.
Filed under AADL's Summer Game, Field Trip, Professional Practice
This post is part of my on-going series on the Ann Arbor District Library’s (AADL) Summer Game.
Points-O-Matic is a module that the AADL staff devised to crowd source cataloging and evaluative tasks within the Library’s various databases. Unlike the Summer Game, it is accessible year round.
I hesitate to call it a game, necessarily. It’s more “an ends to a means” kind of deal, although getting to spy on old photographs and read a wide swath of your fellow citizens’ reviews can be quite a hoot. Players earn Points-O-Matic points (separate from Summer Game points) that, like the Summer Games Badges, have no “real world” value apart from bragging rights. They can’t be exchanged for Summer Games merchandise. But! when a player reaches certain levels (100 tags, 1500 helpful review evaluations), they receive badges which are worth Summer Game Points.
Filed under AADL's Summer Game, Professional Practice
This post is part of my on-going series on the Ann Arbor District Library’s (AADL) Summer Game.
One of the most innovative aspects of the AADL Summer Game, in my opinion, is how it not only increased awareness of features within the Library’s catalog but encouraged players to improve these features by rewarding them with points they could spend in the Summer Game Shop.
Filed under AADL's Summer Game, Professional Practice
Recently came across some terrific children’s literature bibliographies compiled by Kathleen Collins, the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Specialist at the University of Washington. (Aside: What a cool job!) They appear to have been created in conjunction with exhibits within the UW libraries.
They’re all great resources. I plan to seek out the wordless books I haven’t read in the Ann Arbor District Library’s catalog. Hope they’re useful for you too.
