Library News: "Europeana Digital Library"

A news item in the Newscape section of The Hindu, Madurai edition of November 21. 2008 caught my eye. It was about the Europeana Digital Library, which was launched on November 20, 2008. It had to be closed after it was swamped by Internet users. Then I went to their website (www.europeana.eu). Swamped is right. 10 million hits per hour! Naturally they had to close down. However, they have offered to come up with a robust version by mid-December.

In the meanwhile some info about the Europeana project.

Europeana is a search platform for a collection of European digital libraries with digitized paintings, books, films and archives. The project was initiated by the European Commission. The Library contains around two million digital items, all of them already in public domain.

I repeat for the sake of bloggers, all the 2 million items are in the PUBLIC DOMAIN, which means you can use, re-use, distribute, re-distribute, excerpt and probably modify also; of course, with ncessary credit/attribution. Sort of bonanza, what you think!

The project aims to have 10 million works by 2010, when Europeana is due to be fully operational.

Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Book News-20: "Man Asian Literary Prize"

"Ilustrado", a novel by Miguel Syjuco that touches on 150 years of often turbulent Philippines history, has won the second annual Man Asian Literary Prize.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, November 15, 2008.

Detailed Wikipedia article on "Man Asian Literary Prize":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Asian_Literary_Prize

Biography of Miguel Syjuco from ManAsianLiteraryPrize website:
http://www.manasianliteraryprize.org/2008/MiguelSyjuco.html

Miguel Syjuco Wins $10,000 Man Asian Book Award for `Ilustrado' from Bloomberg.com:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=acEv2LjzS6sk&refer=muse

Q&A with Miguel Syjuco from The National Post:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/11/14/q-amp-a-with-ilustrado-author-miguel-syjuco-winner-of-the-man-asian-literary-prize.aspx

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, ManAsianLiteraryPrize.org, Bloomberg.com, The National Post and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Barack Obama's Favourite Book: "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville

Barack Obama's favourite book is Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

Courtesy: The New Indian Express, Tiruchy, November 12, 2008.

Detailed Wikipedia article on "Barack Obama, the President-elect of the US":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Detailed Wikipedia article on Moby Dick:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby_Dick

Full-text of Moby Dick from Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext01/moby10b.txt

Change.gov: Official site of the President-Elect, Barack Obama:
http://www.change.gov/

Grateful thanks to The New Indian Express, Change.gov, Project Gutenberg and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

On Reading-2:

The greatest gift is
the passion for reading.
It is cheap,
it consoles,
it excites.
It gives you
knowledge of
the world and experience
of a wide kind.
It is a
moral illumination.

- Elizabeth Hardwick (1916-2007)(American Writer)

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, November 3, 2008 ('Education Plus')

Detailed Wikipedia article on "ELIZABETH HARDWICK":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Hardwick_(writer)

Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Memorable Quotes

When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes - Erasmus.

How To-44: "How to Develop an Appetite for Reading"

How to Develop an Appetite for Reading

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Reading can be a brilliant way of escaping the world's stresses and can help develop your creativity. As a hobby, reading is inexpensive and can be enjoyed at any time and if you can develop an appetite for reading, it can give you endless hours of enjoyment.

Steps

1. Start small. If you try to begin developing your appetite for reading on a one thousand word tome with many complex issues and a huge cast of characters you may find this stops you wishing to further pursue an appetite for reading. Consider trying to read short story collections at first.
   
2. Ask a reader. Do you have a friend who always has his/her nose in a book and may have recommended several books to you in the past? If you ask someone who knows you and reads a lot what books they'd recommend for you this may be easier than trying to find a suitable book yourself. As an additional bonus you will then have a friend to discuss the book with later.
   
3. Avoid distractions. Some readers can read on a crowded train or even whilst walking down the street but not all can read with distractions and to truly enjoy a book it might be better to read in quiet places where you can give the book your full attention. Consider creating a reading nook for this purpose.
   
4. Analyze your experience. If you don't enjoy the book you were reading then consider why not. Did you feel it went on too long? Try short stories. Was there too much violence? Stay away from horror and crime. Often people do not have an appetite for reading because they feel they dislike reading, when really they have simply read the wrong books for them. If you did like a book see if you like others by the same author or in the same genre.
   
5. Join a book club. Or read the same book as a friend. This will allow you to share your opinions of the book and enjoy it in a different way. It may also give you the chance to try books you wouldn't have otherwise have thought of reading.
   
6. Enjoy! Having an appetite for reading allows you to get a lot more from books and is an easy hobby to keep.

Tips

• Try not to rule anything out. Children's literature can be enjoyed by adults and stereotyped genres such as science fiction are more varied than you might think. Graphic novels often have intriguing plot lines and characters and non-fiction can sometimes be just as entertaining as fiction.
  
• You probably won't enjoy every book you read so don't let yourself be put off gaining an appetite for reading simply because you don't enjoy a few books.

Related wikiHows

• How to Create a Reading Corner
  
• How to Find Free eBooks

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Develop an Appetite for Reading. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-43: "How to Create Great Characters"

How to Create Great Characters

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit


An editor has suggested that this article be merged with: "How to Create a Fictional Character from Scratch" Per the merge policy, if these topics are determined to be similar but distinct, then the articles will remain separate. Please comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2008-03-13.
This will teach you how to create great characters for your story.

Steps

1. Decide which genre your character will be in. Is it fantasy, action, comedy, etc.?
   
2. Answer the following questions: Name? Age? Ethnicity? Height? Weight? Looks? Personal Habits? Unique Features? Pet Peeves? Sayings? Background events that helped shape life? Generally good or bad?
   
3. Get a family member or friend to give you a random phrase (like "spotted umbrella") and a random verb (like "danced"). You could put it together to say she danced with a spotted umbrella. Use your character in a short story (a paragraph or two will do it) and write! Write, write, write! After this exercise, you should have more of an idea of who your character is.
   
4. Draw a picture of her/him! Or describe her with detail. Detail is key.
   
5. Give your character a name. The naming should come last if you want the name and the characteristics of your character to match or at least have some connection.

Tips

• Remember to make your characters seem real. Nobody is perfect, including those overused "perfect" characters. If you want to capture some gritty, realistic characters, ride the bus. Not the subway. Ride the MTA buses, and go downtown. Look carefully at everyone, you might find some people whose faces alone leak of an interesting character. Typically these people are different from the people one sees everyday at school or work. Don't let them see you staring. Don't jot anything down, just let it settle in. Pay particular attention to abnormalities. Warning: If you live in a very shady neighbourhood, and/or are very young/vulnerable looking, avoid this method. Also, don't wear any showy or expensive clothes. Try to sit behind or somewhere near (not next to) that person, and try to overhear anything they say. Pay attention to their facial expressions, and see what they pay the most attention to. Don't get caught. What to do once you know you've got someone interesting? Try blending in the personality of someone you understand very well (such as yourself) into the shell you have created through your observation.
  
• Nothing is entirely evil or entirely good. If it is entirely evil or entirely good, it is not real. Make your stories seem real. Even if it contains talking toes!
  
• Observe what real people do and think. People around you. Sometimes, the dullest people have some very interesting experiences. Play psychiatrist. Don't get involved, and never be too obvious.
  
• Pay attention to conversations, be they your own or other people's. Make sure that the personality of your character shows in their talking and keep in mind that dialogue is one key factor to making your characters real, unless you intentionally include no dialogue in your story. Writing good dialogue is difficult. Examine movies and plays that you find realistic, memorable, etc.
  
• Keep your old works of writing, even if you don't plan to finish it. The characters might give you ideas, and maybe even help with plot!
  
• Please do not give your characters superpowers. Not only is this idea overused and outmoded, but it belongs in comic books, not novels!

Warnings

• If you are impulsive in your character-making, and you go a lot more on feeling than planning and order, you're going to make a big melodramatic mess. If you come up with a character, write down some notes, keep adding stuff whenever you like, and come back to it after a little bit of time (couple of days) when you think you feel really clear-headed and ready to focus.

Related wikiHows

• How to Find Unique Names for Your Characters

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Create Great Characters. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-42: "How to Teach Your Young Child About the Library"

How to Teach Your Young

Child About the Library

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A love of reading will serve your children for a lifetime. They will become a better students and writers, have a better vocabulary, and know more about the world around themselves. Libraries are a great way to get them started down this path.

Steps

1. Visit your local library if you haven't lately and learn about it yourself. Look around, ask questions if you want, and get a library card if you haven't yet.
   
2. Find out what programs and services the library has for children. Look around for a calendar of events and ask a librarian if you're not sure. Start young! Some libraries have programs even for babies and toddlers.
   
3. Read to your children regularly. Bedtime is good, but any regular time will work. Even if they're not reading yet, get them used to the idea that books have stories in them and that story times are times to sit quietly. For older kids who are reading, start reading chapter books and other materials that are a bit beyond their current reading level. For chapter books, you can read one chapter at a time.
   
4. Teach your children how to care for books. Never allow books to be left on the floor or tossed around. Impress upon children that books are to be treated in special ways and have a special storage space just for them. A bookshelf is best, but books can also spend time on a nightstand or table if it seems more natural, especially while they are being read.
   
5. Get your children their own library cards. In most cases, you will still be responsible for the care and return of the materials, but having their own cards makes it much more personal than if you check things out for them.
   
• When they are old enough, encourage them to keep track of their own books and due dates, but supervise and remind them, especially at first.
  
6. Attend age-appropriate library programs. Many libraries have story times, performances, and other activities for kids. They're a great opportunity to help your kids associate the library with having fun, and many are designed to encourage reading.
   
7. Visit the library frequently, every week or two. If the kids have their own cards, let them check books out themselves.
   
• Check out at least a week's worth of books at a time. Remember that a week's worth of books for young children may be quite a few.
  
8. Model reading and the use of the library. Check out and read books for yourself when you take them.
   
9. Make time to read each day. As your children get older, bedtime story time can transition into independent reading.
   
10. Give your children freedom to select their own books. For younger kids, help them find the right section but let them choose what interests them. As they get older, let them choose their own titles and let them judge what is interesting and appropriate.
    
11. Sign up for the summer reading program if one is offered. It's a great way to keep children engaged and reading over the summer, meaning that their education can advance during the summer rather than backslide. Reading is also a great antidote to summer boredom and excess television watching, even if your kids choose to read manga or adventure stories.

Tips

• Nap times are good reading times. Your child will not always have a nap time, but nap time can morph into reading time as they come of age, giving both you and your child a restful period each day even after the toddler stages.

Warnings

• Supervise your child in the library at all times. Learn what your library's rules are about supervising your child and how old children must be to go to the library unsupervised.
  
• Do not tolerate temper tantrums and other behavior that will disturb other patrons. Remind your child before going inside that libraries are quiet places. Take your children outside if they are getting out of hand.

Related wikiHows

• How to Assist Children With Cultural Adjustment
  
• How to Write a Book for Young Children
  
• How to Create a Library in Your Home
  
• How to Estimate when Your Library Request Will Arrive

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Teach Your Young Child About the Library. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Publishers-1: "John Wiley & Sons, Inc"

Just to highlight the greatness of Wiley, they have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in various categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry, Physics and Peace!

It was founded in 1807, meaning more than 200 years of existence! It has been a valued source of information to seekers of knowledge worldwide. It publishes 1400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals, besides encyclopedias, reference books and online products.

It has its HQ at Hoboken, NJ, USA. It also operates in Asia, Canada and Australia.

Wiley's Website:

http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/index.html

Wiley Fact Sheet:

http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-301788.html

Detailed Wikipedia article on 'John Wiley & Sons':

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons

Grateful thanks to John Wiley & Sons and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Book Review-11: "Billion Dollar Lessons" by Chunka Mui and Paul Carroll

Billion Dollar Lessons: Chunka Mui and Paul Carroll look at the flip side of Jim Collin's study of successful companies (Good to Great) and how they got there. In this book, Mui and Carroll take a point look at corporate failure. They review case studies showing how companies, who were sailing along nicely, blew it.

http://rblb.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/book-review-billion-dollar-lessons/

Courtesy: The New Indian Express, Chennai, Oct.16, 2008.

Grateful thanks to The New Indian Express and rblb.wordpress.com.

Book News-19: "The Million Book Project"

This fascinating project was started with the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science playing the lead role. Its aim was as is obvious from the name, to digitize a million books, which target has actually been exceeded as of now. It provides access to more than a million and a half books in 20 different languages, comprising 979,000 in Chinese, 360,000 in English, 50,000 in Telugu and 40,000 in Arabic. Most of these are in the public domain.

A real treat to booklovers!

Detailed Wikipedia article on "MILLION BOOK PROJECT OR UNIVERSAL LIBRARY":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Book_Project

FAQ about Million Book Project:

http://www.library.cmu.edu/Libraries/MBP_FAQ.html

"The Million Book Digital Library Project" by Raj Reddy and Gloriana StClair of Carnegie Mellon University,Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213, USA:

http://www.rr.cs.cmu.edu/mbdl.htm

Grateful thanks to Raj Reddy, Gloriana StClair of Carnegie Mellon University and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.