Dewey - just doesn't cut it any more.

The problem(s) of organizing information are well described by some of the best thinkers in our information age. This is a 9 minute video. Joyce Valenza reflects on how this will impact her students and her teaching here.

Edinburgh (Scotland) Book Festival, August 2011

I am completely sold on the value of book festivals to kids (of all ages) and to the communities they become a part of and enrich in the process. Here's a young man, Patrick, doing an excellent job interviewing Neil Gaiman. I'd love to "read" his "What I did this summer" essay, glog, mashup, or podcast :) Enjoy!

Brushes - an iPad App

This 2.5 minute video briefly explains the iPad app that allows one to paint using only one's fingers.

From Guys Read...Joke Books in the Library.

Looking up authors who will be appearing at this year's National Book Festival, I came across this bit of collaborative fun with Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett*, Adam Rex, David Yoo, Paul Feig, Kate DiCamillo, Christopher Paul Curtis, Eoin Colfer, Jack Gantos*, David Lubar, and Jeff Kinney.

* Starred authors will be appearing at the 2011 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

TED talk - Social Networking: Discovering Mister Splashy Pants

The democracy of an open access web. "Be willing to loose control," advises Alexis Ohanian.

Ira Glass on Writing and Creativity

This very short piece by Ira Glass confirms everything that the wonderful Young Adult authors at Rochester's Teen Book Festival shared with their young audience of potential writers. Write, create, and keep writing. You'll get better. Who can't benefit from such encouragement by those who create, write and know?

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

"Around the World" by Matt Phelan is due out this October.

Around the World, is Phelan's new graphic novel in which he chronicles the lives of three adventurers: Thomas Stevens, Joshua Slocum, and Nellie Bly. I'm looking forward to reading it and buying a copy when he visits Linden Hall this fall for Lititz's Kid-Lit Festival, Saturday, November 12th.



Lititz's Kid-Lit Festival is generously supported by Linden Hall and Aaron's Books. Kudos to both organizations for connecting kids, teens, books, and authors!