From today's Twitter feed (thanks @dmcordell!) comes the USB Typewriter. No, really. If you every thought you wanted to enjoy that oh-so-satisfying click-clack of the keys (or - horrors - if you remember it and miss it), you can now experience it. Without sacrificing the convenience of modern computing (I don't know anyone who waxes nostalgic for old-fashioned typewriter correction options), you can now use a vintage typewriter as an external keyboard. Definitely would work with an iPad, as this image shows:

Need to replace a part on that typewriter? Or on your 1927 Chrysler Roadster? Well, follow Jay Leno's example. Leno, an enthusiastic collector of antique vehicles, uses a 3D printer to design and prototype replacement parts. And you thought printers were just good for printing sheets of paper.

And finally, check out what Gargoyle reporter Katie Cox has to say about the library's new Nook Tablets. Previously an "I'll-never-give-up-paper-books" girl, she's become a diehard fan of the e-reader. For all the right reasons, I'd say!

Excerpts from today's final progress report, from the Computer Literacy 2 "Music Video" group:

Schedule

Sadly, this was our last week. Next week, we plan to remain in silent misery, while we mourn for the end of our project. Kai and Gillian have resolved to give up color for the next week, and dress solely in black, white, and varying shades of grey... it will be such a dramatic change....During this time, we will also plan our presentation, making sure that we have the correct Finale files ready for class presentation.

Goals

To continue to find meaning in this life now that we have no more progress reports to write. It will be difficult, and they will be sorely missed.

We have made a deal, Celia, Gillian, Kai, and me. If they want to continue writing progress reports, I will be delighted to continue reading and commenting on them. *sniff*

Yesterday's find, from 1984:

Cool computer graphic, yes? But the best part (imho): "Expert advice from an experienced reference librarian." Oh yeah.

But wait, check out this example from graphic designer Lumen Bigott's concept for "social media shoes."

I gotta say, these are a hoot. And those Wikipedia shoes? Represents the answer to every term paper writer's prayers. On the other hand, my guess is that none of these designs will have a quarter of the shelf life of 10,000 Ideas For Term Papers, Projects and Reports.

Yesterday's find:

Mark Danna, one of the authors of this handy guide, is described as a "professional Frisbee disc entertainer." Truly, there's nothing wrong with this book (and it's round! like a Frisbee!). But the 1978 stylin' just kills it for today's aspiring Ultimate Frisbee players. It turns out that Danna has since become a big time author of puzzle and game books. Gosh, you can even still order this very Frisbee book from Barnes and Noble (and other outlets, I'm sure). Some used copies are listed for upwards of $75 (even $200!). Our copy will just go to the climate-controlled stacks of the Oak Street high density storage facility, where it will remain accessible to library users of the future.

"We live in an age when knowledge is power. New technologies give us unprecedented access to information. They also facilitate surveillance, with the power to collect and mine personal information. It’s time for Americans to take charge of their information privacy." ***

May 1-7 is this year's Choose Privacy Week, sponsored by the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom. Librarians are pretty big on privacy. Search engines, corporations, and government? Not so much. Does it matter? Do you have any choice? Yes and yes! Test your knowledge by taking the Choose Privacy Quiz. For you parents out there, I co-wrote this guide called What Parents Should Know About Privacy Online. I like to think it's a non-alarmist, but potent little list of tips ;-).

Miriam's latest - this one made from extra book covers:

She also just sent word to students and staff that May is Asian American Heritage Month. Check out the official website to find out more about its history and the current celebration. Throughout the month, our hallway bulletin board will feature Asian American media-makers and performers. Check out these inspiring individuals and stay tuned for new profiles that will go up each week. If you’d like to suggest an individual to profile, just email Miriam (larson40 at illinois.edu).

Check out the starter profiles:

To find out more about the hip hop duo Blue Scholars or filmmaker Grace Lee and one of the subjects of her film, activist Grace Lee Boggs, take a look at these clips:
· Blue Scholars Interview
· Trailer for “The Grace Lee Project”
· Profile of Grace Lee Boggs on PBS

And, of course, we have a book display -

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Libraries are all about recycling, repurposing, and repairing. Yesterday there was a lot of squeeing from Vivian when she discovered we had a brand new jar of magical library paste. Her ardor was somewhat dimmed when she couldn't pry off the seal.

Paul finally had to hack away at it with the large exacto knife. Note the yawningly empty jar to the left:

I wish I could use library paste to fix my cursed Microsoft Outlook problem. For the past few days, it's been doubling the contents of my Inbox every time it syncs, resulting in ever larger numbers of duplicate email messages. So today I am "rebuilding my main identity" (really, that's what it's called). And, I've been rebuilding for some hours now, sigh.

Hm, I just overheard Paul saying "Curse you, Excel!" Now what?

Okay, so besides having a volleyball to check out, the library hosts all manner of project-makings. Josh, Joy, and Ashley have found the perfect spot for their stop-motion animation "paper-popup" project. No one disturbs it under our typewriter table, so their setup stays perfectly intact from one day to the next.

And did you know about our secret pocket door? Close it and - *poof* - the back room is magically transformed into a recording studio.

Any other requests? We're ready!

It's true. There are at least nine Barbies based on books. The "Hunger Games Katniss doll" is on back order and won't be available until August.

Mattel's creepy Alice in Wonderland collection sent me running to this beautiful dance of card catalog drawers at Yale University:

Very therapeutic, don't you think?

Why, yes, that IS a volleyball in the library. Besides circulating books, periodicals, videos, cameras, voice recorders, laptops, colored pencils, and whatnot, we are now circulating a volleyball. And we couldn't be happier about it. This latest initiative is the brain child of Matt Childress, Uni High class of 1989, now IT guy for Uni High and junior varsity volleyball coach. After observing a group of volleyball girls on the lawn during Uni period, who assured him they would bop a ball around if they had one, he thought - "I know how to make this work! I bet the library people will help me out!" And he was right. Here's a photo of our first happy customers:

Want to know something else cool about Matt? He drives a twike. Yep, an electrically powered vehicle called a twike. He tells you all about it here:

How cool is that?