October 31, 2012

What Are You Afraid Of? (And the Books to Match)

This is horrifying! -- The things people are afraid of and the books to match.

Click on the image, if you dare!






What are you afraid of?

 (◕‿◕) @castlelibrary

Maximum Ride -- We Have the Whole Series!

We have the whole series!



What else should we get?

(◕‿◕) @castlelibrary

October 27, 2012

Books and Reading + Pinterest = FUN (and Great Info)!

Time, there's just not enough of it to keep this blog as vibrant as I would like it to be.

... Enter Pinterest to my rescue!

I love Pinterest! Not necessarily for pinning to my own boards (I just started an account, and I don't spend time scouring the Internet for stuff to put on my boards, as you can see), but I enjoy looking at what other people love enough to pin and share.

[ Nerdy side note to students: Do a Google search and add the word Pinterest to your search, and you'll be amazed at the infographic-like info that you'll find for your research project.]

S-o-o-o-o-o, for the next little while, I'll be sharing with our students (and teachers and other interested learners) eye-pleasing pins I find on Pinterest that celebrate books and reading. It's a fun, social way to spread the reading love, that's QUICK.

Here's the inaugural pin.





Isn't it the coolest? Check out Home Office with an Overhead Library for the skinny on this architectural marvel created by designer Travis Price for National Geographic's Wade Davis.

Thanks for the pin, Genevieve!

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Do you have any cool photos or graphics that celebrate books and reading? (No, they need not be from Pinterest.)  Send them my way and I'll post them for all to enjoy.

Happy reading,

Ms. Lindsay
(◕‿◕)
 @castlelibrary


October 5, 2012

A Price Comparison Google Custom Search Engine for Librarians and Other Thrifty Book Buyers

I purchase books for our students from three vendors: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million.

Yes, I'm thrifty. I want my money's worth! So comparing book prices is a must. And there is no doubt about it: finding the best price for each individual book is time-consuming. 

An engine that searches all three vendors simultaneously? -- now wouldn't that be a fantastic timesaver! I dismiss the thought. Too hard to build, I guess.

Enter the folks at howtogeek.com, with a clear, detailed how-to article to create your own Google custom search engine. I decide to try it.

Who knew it would be so easy?





Go ahead, try it! Tip: For best results, add "price" or "cost" to your query.

Here's a short, easy-to-remember tinyurl link to the search engine in a separate window.


You can also

     •Add the Book Price Comparison custom search engine to your Google homepage, or

     •Add this search engine to your blog or webpage with color and size customization 

Feel free to use this Book Price Comparison custom search engine in the format that best fits your needs. And yes, you might want to create your own, to include your favorite vendors.

Happy book buying!

(◕‿◕)


P. S. If you want to create a Google Custom Search for a wiki, here's a nice tutorial from mediawiki.org.

10/07/12 Update: Just found Shoptimate, a Google Chrome extension that pops up anywhere you're shopping, and displays 3 best prices. Nice!