The MovieBoxes have arrived. At this time, they are being configured to operate with our new Sirsi library automation system. Each unit is being loaded with more than 3,000 DVDs that can be enjoyed by all residents of Pasadena who have a Pasadena Library Card and who remember, or have acquired, their PIN. We expect that the MovieBoxes at the entrances to the Fairmont and Central Libraries will be fully operational later in October.
In addition to the MovieBoxes, we are looking forward to an app for smart phones and tablets, which will allow you quick access to our catalogs, members' accounts and, later this year, to the MovieBox itself to reserve the films you want to pick up at a later time.
Before driving to the library this morning, I was reading an article from the Chronicle of Higher Education written by Corey Robin, entitled, "Who Really Said That?"
The author asked his wife this question, "Who said, 'Any idiot can survive a crisis; it's the day-to-day living that wears you out?'" She responded that it was Chekhov. But she didn't know where the quote came from. They checked Google to see if they could find an answer. What they got were many answers. Almost every source agreed it was a quote by Chekhov, but none could point to the play or other precise source of the quote.
The article went on with another quote, this one popularly attributed to Winston Churchill, that said, "Whoever is not a socialist when he is 20 has no heart; whoever is not a conservative when he is 30 has no brain." Mr. Robin again searched for the source of that quote, only to find that it was not a quote by Winston Churchill at all. In both cases, his searches started with Google but had to go far beyond Google to get the right answer.
Many people like to use the well-turned phrases of popular leaders to support their causes. The prominence of the originator of the phrase seems to add weight to the arguments of the person using the quote. However, if you are going to use a phrase to bolster an argument, it seems wise to check who really made the statement. But as Robin's article pointed out, Google is not always the answer. Where can you find the answer? As you may have guessed, this is a shameless plug for our library. The library databases really are some of the best places to look, as are Bartlett's Quotations, Quote Investigator (which is online) and the Yale Book of Quotations (which is not online).
Navigating the maze of books and web sites --some good, some bad-- often requires the guidance of specially trained navigators who we call librarians. Our trained librarians have Master's Degrees in Information Science. They are assisted by our Library Associates, who have college degrees and years of experience in helping people navigate the world of information. Please stop by the information/reference/ask-here desk at the library and let our staff of professionals help you with your information needs.
As always, our staff is glad to help you. Give the Pasadena Libraries a try.
Thomas C. Simiele
Director, Pasadena Libraries
