Flickr

We've been using Flickr at Oak Harbor for a while, mostly as a place for people to share photos from vacations. The old days of leisurely perusing albums in the staff room appear to be gone. For my personal photos, I prefer Facebook. I'm not a serious photographer, but I love seeing pictures of family and friends. The library's flickr account is at http://www.flickr.com/people/ohlib/

Fun with Facebook

I love Facebook. I started using it when my son went off to college. He did not seem to mind me lurking on his site - mostly looking at photos. What was really cool is that I could check in with his friends, too - kids that practically lived at our house before they all dispersed to the winds. Then I started getting hits from my nieces and nephews, as they saw me on Evan's site and invited me. It's a wonderful way to stay in touch with this younger generation who I would probably never call (and they certainly would not call me - it's hard enough for them to find time to call their parents!) An old friend from elementary school found me online, too, and we've gotten back in touch - we're planning to visit her this summer. I especially love the photo albums, and have used those a lot.

Midwives ramblings

Visit the Whidbey Reads web site at www.sno-isle.org/whidbeyreads

Several libraries have already held successful discussions of Midwives. Carter says he was mobbed by the 60+ crowd at Coupeville, and Debby had 18 people at Clinton (where did they all fit?)

Favorite question for discussion: Number 6 - "After Charlotte's death, Tom says to Connie, "So, they're going to have to blame someone." (p. 101) Do you think this is true? Should someone be held accountable for every death of this sort, or can some be simply attributed to tragic accident?"

In Blink: the power of thinking without thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell, this same question comes up (Seven Seconds in the Bronx). Gladwell thinks that there are ways that we can prepare ourselves for making better decisions in overwhelmingly stressful situations. Unfortunately (or fortunately) most of us do not get much practice with this. Those who must make life or death decisions on a regular basis need to be prepared as well as possible so that they do not make mistakes that will change their lives forever.

Googling IM

Okay - trying Google IM - contacted a few people with whom I would be happy to chat - they do not appear to be online (dang, they must have lives....) I have a feeling this could be very useful between librarians at the desk (e.g. please rescue me - there must be an important phone call or something) and friends who need lightening up during the day. I have plenty of screen time and face to face contact all day long and really don't feel the need for much more! However - with the right person - wait and see.

More on Midwives

"On an icy winter night in the rustic community of Reddington, Vermont, seasoned midwife Sibyl Danforth is forced to make a life-or-death decision that will change her world forever..." Once you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down. At least that's what we are hoping as we present Readers Theatre at the Whidbey Playhouse on Tuesday, April 15 at 7pm. A local actress, Candice Baker, will do a dramatic reading, playing Sibyl's daughter Connie as a 32-year old obstetrician and as the 14-year-old she was when the events took place. She will also play Sibyl herself, as told through her journals.

We are marketing this heavily with the Chamber of Commerce crowd: the goal is to hook those busy folks who might not otherwise take time to read a book (especially a book of fiction). For all those who always wanted to join a book club but never had time to read.... WE'LL DO THE READING FOR YOU! It should be a lot of fun - coffee, cookies and book sales by the local bookstore afterwards. All in preparation for the big event with Chris Bohjalian himself on May 19.