More Tips about Resolutions, Research and Book Accumulation

Yes, I know, it is another post that is just a hodge-podge of information and articles. But, as always, I will attempt to make these seemingly random topics come together in a coherent fashion. After all, what are librarians good at doing if not collecting information, analyzing it and making sense of it all?

First up is this wonderful photography resource. Photography research is one of the most useful things I learned in library school. And now the Library of Congress has made photography research easier with there Researcher’s Toolbox. Check it out and be amazed at all the different photographic processes and information that can be gleaned from photographs.

Now, there are a lot of photographs of people online that you can find via Flickr, Google Image Search, etc. But that’s not all, you can also find a lot of personal information on just about everyone on the Internet too. Lifehacker’s article on data privacy is so relevant in today’s hyperlinked world. I’m always amazed how much you can find out on the Internet and how little people think about data privacy.

And finally, maybe, these will be the last articles about keeping New Year’s Resolutions: Lifehacker’s article on avoiding common mistakes and the Top Ten Tools for Sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions because you know I can never pass up a good list.

Lastly, here is an entire part of a wiki on how to stop accumulating books. Handy if you are moving, but really, who wants to stop accumulating books. I mean like Michel de Montaigne said, “When I am attached by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.” I have no problem with book accumulation, but I’m sure others do. My easy fix, other than patronizing your local library (which you should be doing anyway) is to buy another bookshelf–easy to find and IKEA has pretty, inexpensive ones in tons of colors.

See? Once again the Waki Librarian has solved your book, data, and resolution dilemmas! Never let it be said that I didn’t try to help.

Enjoy the day and I’ll see you tomorrow.