Saturday, July 27, 2013

Time for a Break..

From my spot near the Reference Desk, this Virtual Library feline is witnessing the true meaning of intensity this weekend, as recent law school graduates spend their last few days preparing for the New York State bar exam.  When it's time to take a break and take your mind somewhere far, far away for a few minutes, I always recommend outer space.  Here, from the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Picture of the Day page, you can browse through the Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive.  Then check out the exquisite photos of the universe, like this one, in NASA's HubbleSite Gallery Picture Album.  Be inspired.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Eight: Anthropometry

The U.S Department of Agriculture once housed a bureau known as the Bureau of Home Economics. Founded in 1923, the principal aim of this bureau was to aid the American housewife in managing her household.

One helpful publication was designed to improve the fit of one’s clothing. See for yourself, here, and note the quite interesting thumbnail history of human body measurement, or anthropometry.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Are You Social Reading?

"The term “social reading” can mean different things depending on its context. Social reading can be the kind of work that happens in a literature class where a group of participants all read the same novel (or short story or poem or play) at roughly the same pace and work together .... It could also mean the kind of reading that happens for book groups ....“social reading” has recently also taken on a technological turn as more and more people embrace e-reading technologies: Kindles, Nooks, iPads and iPhones, ...

"Social Kindling,” [is] Amazon’s practice of sharing your highlighted passages and/or annotations with other users. ... even if you do not decide to share ... reading on a Kindle is inevitably a social experience because the default setting on most of the devices is to have “Popular Highlights” enabled. This feature is not unlike buying a used book that has been highlighted by a previous reader–the difference is that instead of a single reader, your e-book will have highlights from hundreds maybe thousands of other readers." Read more here.

Social Reading.  Try it this summer!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Schumpeter Blog Talks Business

Are you interested in business, management, finance and entrepreneurship?  Or do you need to get up to speed on the global corporate picture for that summer job?  A good place for well-chosen and succinct posts covering corporate and business news and trends is Schumpeter, the business and management blog of The Economist.  Named after Joseph Schumpeter, an influential economist praised at its launch as a "champion of innovation and entrepreneurship," the Schumpeter blog offers intelligent takes on major corporate giants, on company finance, failures, and public relations, and on technology, hot products, and industry-related issues of the day.  All posts are written by Economist correspondents from around the world, providing an on-the-scene as well as a global perspective on developments.  Non-subscribers to The Economist can register to view up to six articles per week.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Unusual U.S. Government Publications, Part Six: The Golden Age of Bathing

Not to be confused with Monty Python’s Golden Age of Ballooning, it seems that there actually was such a thing as a golden age of bathing, at least according the National Park Service. See an example here, and, if you really want to know more, then click here to find a freely downloadable copy of the document in various formats.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

On This Day in 1929: Small-Size Currency


On July 10, 1929, the first small-sized and newly designed U.S. currency notes were placed into circulation.  The reduced size notes replaced paper notes issued since 1861. 
 Adopted in part to cut paper costs, the notes enabled the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to convert from 8 to 12 notes per sheet. However, before the small-currency could be issued, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had to prepare for the new design by developing new procedures, engraving new plates and altering old or installing new equipment.

  Federal Reserve banks and branches were authorized to 
make available to commercial banking institutions of their respective districts limited amounts of the new small-size currency.  

Introducing the new currency required the development of a marketing plan.  The Treasury Department Circular 415, together with a statement fixing July 10, 1929, as the date for the initial issue of new small-size currency, Federal Reserve banks were authorized to offer exhibit sets of the new currency to banks in their districts, and Undersecretary Mills delivered a radio address describing the initiative
Bureau of Engraving and Printing images are from the Library of Congress' National Photo Company Collection.  Click here for additional images and descriptions.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Sunday, July 07, 2013

50 Ways to Market Your Practice

The ABA Journal recently published an interesting article entitled "50 Simple Ways You Can Market Your Practice."  The article was compiled from strategies straight from successful lawyers and consultants who who have focused on a marketing plan to increase their practice.  Some tips include volunteering at various organizations, taking advantage of Google tools, increasing social media and more.  For the full article, click here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Saturday, July 06, 2013

Free Field Trips Add Fun to Google's App

This month Google has made life better for anyone who's running its Field Trip app on a phone. The Google Field Trip app was designed to make exploring fun places easier by suggesting cool cultural attractions near your current location and providing instant helpful information on these museums, historical sites, zoos and entertainment centers. Now, through the end of July, your phone's Field Trip App will automatically provide a free pass when you are close to 23 of the most popular art, nature, and history attractions in major U.S. metropolitan areas, including the Bronx Zoo and six others in New York City.  Mashable explains more about it and provides the full list of free admission sites.         

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Monday, July 01, 2013

What would the planets in our system look like if they replaced the moon?

Former NASA art director Ron Miller created images of how the planets in our solar system would look to us if they were as close as the moon.  Jupiter and Saturn would fill the night sky while Mercury is only slightly larger than our moon.  The images are incredible so enjoy this new perspective.

Thank You Mail Online (UK)for the pictures and story.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat