Reading Public Library presents . . .

A Book Discussion
When: Thursday, June 21, 2007
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: City Espresso, 124 South 5th Street, Reading, PA

RSVP: The program is free, but pre-registration is requested.

To sign up, call 610-655-6355, or visit the Reference Desk
at Reading Public Library, 100 South Fifth St., Reading, PA.
Refreshments will be available for purchase from City Espresso

2007 Adult Summer Reading Program Starts June 4th

Online Librarian
Carl

IMDB www.imdb.com
Founded: United Kingdom (Online 1993, Incorporated 1996, Bought by Amazon.com 1998)

What THIS SITE IS:
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is a free online database that collects information about movies, actors, TV shows, and video games. What began in the late 80’s as an online community’s attempt to list movies with the latest pretty actress soon blossomed into a legitimate database powerhouse. With 6.3 million individual film/TV credits this is the largest accumulation of data about films on planet earth. Don’t believe me? Check out IMDb’s Statistics Page.

Positives: Information is kept up to date and mistakes corrected; Coverage goes back to virtually the beginning of film (see the video); Search interface allows for various field types (titles, names, companies, etc.) as well as an advanced “power” search

Negatives: The navigation and display of information can be clumsy and confusing for the unfamiliar; Commercial ads (but hey it’s largely a free site this is to be expected)

Who SHOULD USE THIS SITE:
IMDb’s primary use is as database for movies, TV shows, and video games. Entertainment fans will delight in the cutting edge content and ranking schemes offered. Information professionals will rejoice in the search capacities and depth of information available.

Supplemental to IMDb’s capacities as a straight database it also offers current openings, reviews, links to video trailers and previews, movie & TV news, message board, showtime & ticket finder, rankings, links to purchase the item under review, optional personal account, and many other features.

Librarian Note: The multiple search fields and power search allow the information professional to quickly narrow down which film or movie and what edition the patron is interested in even with only partial information. The rankings and sorting features allow for further recommendations of genres, types, and specific related movies, shows, and video games. Also, by clicking on “movie connections” for any given film one can quickly ascertain sequels, prequels, or other related spin offs.

Interesting FEATURE:
One of the hardest tasks of any information professional is to make recommendations and this becomes even harder when one is not familiar with the particular item or type of item under consideration. When it comes to films one helpful tool is the recommendations available on IMDb.

These suggestions for similar films can be found by clicking on the “recommendations” link found under “Awards & Reviews” in the left hand toolbar for each entry in the IMDb. You can also directly access this through the Recommendation Center.

Bottom LINE:
This should be everyone’s first choice for finding movie information online. IMDb’s secondary draw is as a source of information for TV shows and video games and should not be overlooked. The database’s additional features (message boards, rankings, etc.) are just icing on an already rich cake.

Helpful LINKS:
Instruction/Tutorials/Features
Search Tips
IMDb Index
IMDb Browse
IMDb Section Browsers

Extras
Wikipedia Entry

Any QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to make a comment by clicking on the comments link below or if you prefer to reach me by email.

National Library Week

To celebrate National Library Week, we are hosting three contests with chances for great prizes!

Contest #1

1. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

2. Answer as many trivia questions as you can on an official answer sheet. Obtain your questions and andswer shhet at the Reference desk. You must return the questions to the Reference Department when you hand in your answers.

3. Answers must be turned in to the Reference Department by 5:00 pm on Friday, April 20, 2007.

4. First prize is a $25 Boscov's gift certificate. Second prize is a $15 Boscov's gift certificate, and third prize is a $10 Boscov's gift certificate.No purchase is necessary, but you must have a library card to enter.

5. All decisions of the judges are final.

Contest #2

“Why I Love the Reading Public Library” Contest

You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

In 25 words or fewer, tell us why you love Reading Public Library. Simply fill out the entry form and turn it in at the Circulation Department. The deadline for entering is April 20, 2007.

All entries become the property of Reading Public Library and will not be returned. In addition, parts or all of the entries may be used in publicity releases, etc. and will include the writer's name Three entries will be chosen as first, second, and third place winners based on originality and creativity.

First prize is a $25 Boscov's gift certificate. Second prize is a $15 Boscov's gift certificate, and third prize is a $10 Boscov's gift certificate to Boscov's.

No purchase is necessary, but you must have a library card to enter.

All decisions of the judges are final.

Contest #3

Enter a drawing to win an MP3 player! Details to follow.

Join us in our celebration of National Library Week!

Internet Book List

I just found this website, so I haven't explored it very extensively; but it looks like it might be something to rival Amazon in searching for fiction titles and information. According to the About page, "its purpose is to provide a comprehensive and easily accessible database of books, since Patrik considers the Book to be humanity's greatest creation." There's a bold statement.
The database is designed to search by title, author, genre, and rating. It is particularly easy to search information about books in a series, a function I find lacking on Amazon.
The forums are also quite interesting and extensive. There are forums for general discussion of books; author, book and convention announcements; discussion of movies, music and cultural trends; specific official and unofficial author discussion forums; and more.
Explore and enjoy!

Kurt Vonnegut 1922 - 2007

So it goes...


More about his life and writings at Wikipedia.

List of works available through RPL:

Novels
Player Piano (1952)
The Sirens of Titan (1959)
Mother Night (1962)
Cat's Cradle (1963)
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1965)
Slaughterhouse-five (1966)
Breakfast of Champions (1973)
Slapstick (1976)
Jailbird (1979)
Deadeye Dick (1982)
Galapagos (1985)
Bluebeard (1987)
Hocus Pocus (1990)
Fates Worse Than Death (1991)

Timequake (1997)

Man Without a Country (2005)

Collections
Welcome to the Monkey House (1968)
Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage (1981)
Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (1999)
God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian (1999)

Local Author Glenn Shrom at City Espresso

Reading Public Library presents...
Local author
Glenn Shrom
discussing his book
Getting Past the Culture Wars: Regarding Intelligent Design
Come and meet the author and learn more about the debate over Intelligent Design.
The author will have copies of his book available for sale and signing at the event.

Thursday, April 19, 2007
6:30 - 7:30
City Espresso
124 South Fifth Street, Reading

The program is free but registration is requested. To sign up, call 610-655-6355 or stop by the Reference Desk of the main branch at 100 South Fifth Street.
Refreshments are available for purchase from City Espresso.