When it rains…

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

…IT POURS!

For those of you who have been keeping up with my fundraising adventures, it’s time I finally got to update you on what’s been going on. I got a letter from my friend Mary Jane who has been helping me spearhead all this stuff. Here’s a few tidbits:

Dear Justin,

I am sending you an update of our April 11, 2014 CCI Leadership Board discussions regarding your generosity in coordinating an online fundraising presence!  During our meeting, Mafe provided a power point presentation on your efforts showing your blog/online work. While she spoke, I sent out a CCI Board Leadership message to members that you had sent to me regarding your blog efforts…Dean Dennis was very pleased and lamented he wished CCI could help provide you an even stronger presence via their website….During the Board discussion, our Chair Helena Sims, along with other board members remarked about your creativity and generosity.

Justin, feel good about your work!  Let’s keep going!  I plan to add a contribution via your link this summer.  I am so very grateful for all of your work!

It is also at this point that I’m pleased to announce that one donor – whose identity will remain secret at this time – has generously donated $1,000.

LET THAT SINK IN.

ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I was floored. I literally had no words. I’ve got some words now, but it took some time to formulate them. I’m overwhelmed by the support, and I’m glad to know that I can help make the library world a slightly better place, one dollar and joke at a time. I’d like to think that donating to my favorite hangout spot in Gainesville would help bring some good karma, but I wasn’t expecting it on this level. So…celebrate?

So how happy am I right now? About as happy as this guy.

WHEE

How totally awesome do I feel? About as rad as this guy.

All in a day’s work. MRRRR

Things seem to be turning up aces at the moment, and I hope they are for you as well!

Coming up this week, I’m going to the Florida Library Association (FLA) conference once again and can’t wait! This won’t be my first time at the goat rodeo, and I hope to see old friends there and make some new ones! (I’m looking at you, MJ…and Mafe…and Katy…and Laura…and Dave…and 100 other people I can’t remember right now…)

Have fun everyone, and enjoy your graduation/wedding/childbirth/engagement/retirement/etc! It really seems to be the season for all that stuff, right? I know my Facebook is flooded with that stuff.

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

 

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Time Travel IS Possible!

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

I stepped into a time machine and it took me a month into the future! Exciting, right? Now I can-

Wait a minute……..GASP!

A month with no Brash News? This needs to be fixed immediately!

So what’s going on in the important stuff: The College of Communication and Information (home of library school) at FSU is still having their Goldstein Endowed Scholarship Fund going on. You can read about it in my first post about it, or you can see how it works below!

Step One: Check out the CCI Goldstein Endowed Scholarship Fund at

http://one.fsu.edu/goldsteinscholarships.

Step Two: Select how much you’d like to donate. Not sure how much? Don’t worry! You can always add more to your donation later.

Step Three: In the Tribute Information section, just put my name (Justin Brasher) or Brash Librarian on there and you’re on your way to fabulous prizes! In true Kickstarter fashion, I’m giving out goodies to people who donate. What would you like?

-$5-10 = Get your name mentioned on Brash Librarian – first name only!

-$11-25 = Get your name mentioned and personal thank you letters from:

  • The Brash Librarian, Justin Brasher
  • Dr. Lawrence Dennis, Dean of FSU’s College of Communication & Information
  • Ms. Mary Jane Little, FSU School of Library & Information Studies Distinguished Alumnae, CCI Leadership Board past chair  and member

-$25-49 = Get yourself featured in a future post – photo, bio, whatever you’d like to share!

-$50+ =THE BIG ONE: Your own one-on-one interview with the Brash Librarian!

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

The College has also been generous enough to donate a special grand prize! Any Brash Librarian fans who donate are entered to win a special FSU bundle – t-shirts, pens, coffee mug, stuff that says, “I support libraries and library students! I’m so Brash, it hurts.”

I’ve had a question or two about this said package. What does this stuff look like? What kind of mug? Any other cool stuff?

T-shirts, coffee mug, travel mug, pens, bookmarks…sah-weet!

Now then, back to me! Last we left off, I was gearing up for the Spartan Sprint Race in Tampa. What a good time it was! 

Ridiculously photogenic barbed wire racer.

I’ll admit, it wasn’t my favorite race. This was their first “hybrid” course that included moving in and out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stadium. As such, there was alot of running up and down stairs. Come on people, I came for obstacles and mud! If I wanted to just run stadiums, I could do that at home.

I soar over flaming logs with the greatest of ease. WHEE!

With that said, some of the obstacles were unique ones I had never encountered before. They also saved a rope climb for last that almost tired me out. I was gripping the rope so tightly, I tore my glove.

Post race. Red and black, kicking A$$ and taking names.

I was rather surprised at my finish time. As it turns out, I was over 40 minutes faster than I was at the Superhero Scramble two years ago! Aw yeah. The best part of Tampa was being able to spend a whole weekend with family! I had the pleasure of visiting my sister Ashley, her husband and my amazing friend Nigel, and their baby boy Alistair. Speaking of which, today is his FIRST BIRTHDAY!!! Happy birthday kiddo, I promise I’ll see you soon. 🙂

They even came to support me at the race! I’m so happy to have them in my life.

Coming up next: I’m not really sure, but I’ll hopefully have more library news coming to you. Oh – the Florida Library Association (FLA) conference is coming up soon! I can’t wait to go.

Till next time!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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Paying It Forward

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

Hello, peeps!

What a wonderful time 2014 has been so far! In Gainesville, late January and early February mean the annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire – knights! Combat! Jousting! Falcons! Turkey legs! Maidens! And for me? I chose time travel. Many people like showing up in anachronistic attire – pirates, ninjas, steampunk, etc…I chose The Doctor. AND I WASN’T ALONE.

Yeah, this happened. The tenth AND eleventh Doctors!

If you’re a Doctor Who fan, you should be in Time Lord Heaven. But wait, there’s more!

“There’s always more with you, Justin.”

Shut up, sarcastic voice in my head. It gets more hilarious! I had the pleasure of once again seeing The Bookaneer perform with her singing wench troupe, Just Desserts. What’s better than The Doctor? The Doctor in a dress!

I’m a pretty princess.

So now that we’re caught up with fun stuff, let me get to the more serious stuff – the main reason I’m posting this week. I’m a big fan of paying forward, giving back, being the force of change you want to see, and everything that ties into my superhero complex – part of why I’m helping out with this FSU fundraising. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ve recently joined together with FSU’s College of Communication and Information (home of Library School!) to help raise scholarship money for the college of Information and Library Science.

However, I know FSU is not the only group out there that needs help. I’ve recently learned that my favorite bar in downtown Gainesville, The Midnight, has been needing help too.

Best prices in town!

This bar has been my Cheers for years; I’ve played games, laughed, cried, sang, and hosted trivia here. I know the owners, the bartenders, the patrons – it’s a local business I feel at home in, and I’d never want them to close down.

I want to make sure nights with friends that make no sense continue to happen.

When they announced that they were hosting an online fundraiser, I thought I’d pay it forward and donate with the hope that karma would help aid me in my quest to help FSU. Here’s to hoping! Don’t forget to check out the CCI Goldstein Endowed Scholarship Fund at http://one.fsu.edu/goldsteinscholarships.

I’ll hopefully have more news for you next week on it – and more race pics! Yup, I’m running in the Tampa Spartan Mud Race this weekend and visiting family. It’s gonna be a great weekend!

Make sure you all have a good weekend as well! Donate, mud run, just get out there and pay it forward!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

 

 

 

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Fundraising Adventures Continue!

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

Hello everyone!

It’s been a productive 2014 thus far. Stuff is getting done! For those of you who have been following, I mentioned that I’ve recently joined together with FSU’s College of Communication and Information (home of Library School!) to help raise scholarship money for the college of Information and Library Science. One of the masterminds behind all this (and my friend) Mafe wrote on my blog last week. Good news and bad news:

As I mentioned in my last email, I was going to work with the Dean and the FSU Foundation to create a more user-friendly giving page for this initiative. Finally, the FSU Foundation created the direct link below so kindly update on your blog:
http://one.fsu.edu/goldsteinscholarships

This will make the online giving process so much easier! I’ve been checking the gift reports and I haven’t seen any gifts come in yet from your blog. However, don’t be disheartened because it really takes time for people to decide, especially right after the holidays.

Thanks so much again for all your efforts and let me know how I can be of further assistance.

Good news, easier to give!

Bad news, donations are low.

I have to admit, I was kind of hoping for a little more awesome but I know Mafe has a point about the holidays having just passed. I don’t know about you guys, but my wallet goes into witness protection after holiday shopping is over.

Not quite this, but that would be pretty awesome.

For those who are just tuning into my blog, let me explain how this all works!

Step One: Check out the CCI Goldstein Endowed Scholarship Fund at

http://one.fsu.edu/goldsteinscholarships.

Step Two: Select how much you’d like to donate. Not sure how much? Don’t worry! You can always add more to your donation later.

Step Three: In the Tribute Information section, just put my name (Justin Brasher) or Brash Librarian on there and you’re on your way to fabulous prizes! In true Kickstarter fashion, I’m giving out goodies to people who donate. What would you like?

-$5-10 = Get your name mentioned on Brash Librarian – first name only to protect your privacy!

-$11-25 = Get your name mentioned and personal thank you letters from:

  • The Brash Librarian, Justin Brasher
  • Dr. Lawrence Dennis, Dean of FSU’s College of Communication & Information
  • Ms. Mary Jane Little, FSU School of Library & Information Studies Distinguished Alumnae, CCI Leadership Board past chair  and member

-$25-49 = Get yourself featured in a future post – photo, bio, whatever you’d like to share

(If you’re in the library field, this is a great way to network and get your resume out there!)

-$50+ =THE BIG ONE: Your own one-on-one interview with the Brash Librarian!

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

The College has also been generous enough to donate a special grand prize! Any Brash Librarian fans who donate are entered to win a special FSU bundle – t-shirts, pens, coffee mug, stuff that says, “I support libraries and library students! I’m so Brash, it hurts.”

“Gee, Justin…I don’t know if I can scrounge up five dollars…”

Stop that nonsense, 90% of my readers – if you can pay for that $6.50 cup of Starschumcks coffee, then you can give a few dollars. You’re probably about to have cardiac arrest with that much caffeine, anyway. (SEE? I can make you feel warm and fuzzy about helping others AND save your life.)

I hope to have a few happy donors I can announce in my next blog. Stay warm during this polar vortex nonsense! Portex? Polex? Is that a thing? I don’t know, but I know it’s cold out and this Netflix isn’t going to watch itself. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook!

Brashly yours,

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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New Year, New Brash

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A toast! I really have no idea what I’m looking at.

Once again, we’ve had another crazy year. Friendships were forged, limits were tested, obstacles were overcome – some literally! In the spirit of last year’s New Years Post, let’s recap some things:

  • I graduated from FSU with my Masters in Library Science! WHOOOOO!!!
  • I took a new job with the Putnam County Public Library System as their Technical Services and Social Media Marketing Manager. (Wow, that’s a mouthful.) With the help of people at Baker and Taylor Book Company, Brodart books and supplies, The Library Corporation and more, I’ve revamped how we do many things to make them easier and faster for patrons. I did the math – we’re currently 2800% faster than when I started. Go team!

    Yeah, look at that badboy.

  • I moved for said job above…it was so sad! Sure, I miss my Gainesville peeps, but I go to Gainesville so often it’s not really an issue. What I really miss is having the greatest little home with the greatest room mate ever. Two story townhouse with driveway, back yard, laundry room, and Caitlin! We lived together for only a year, but it was one of the greatest years of my life. Speaking of which, she actually came and visited last week!

    Oreos and milk, pizza and beer…this is we roll (dough).

  • I ran the infamous TOUGH MUDDER! I must say…I wasn’t really impressed. Aside from the high-voltage power lines that shocked me and the ice water bath, it felt just a tad repetitive. Sorry guys, but your “world’s toughest mud race” didn’t blow me away. No worries, I’ll give you guys another chance in 2014!

    Working the uneven monkey bars!

    Carrying the Bookaneer!

  • I met some amazing people – both in and out of the library system – particularly Heather, Laura, Shane, Robin, Mara, Mary…more will come to mind. Jessie from TBLC and all the staff at NEFLIN have hopefully gotten to know me a little better.

Is it just me, or did 2013 seem kinda so-so? Based on all the Facebook statuses I’ve seen, most people had a fairly crappy year. Breakups, people losing family members, people losing jobs…I can only hope it will get better.

As for resolutions, I haven’t given it much thought. I have to admit, my resolution of posting once a week for 2013 was pretty successful until the move and the new job…New job and bigger responsibilities at the price of being too busy for posts? I can pay that price. As time goes on, I’ve been getting better at it. (I think!)

As such my resolutions at present are:

  • Improve and maintain my body! In the last two years, I’ve rather gone through some extremes. I went from 190 down to 163 all the up to 210. I really need to figure out how much muscle and definition I want.
  • Try to get back into frequently posting. I know y’all have missed me!
  • De-clutter my life, and enjoy living with less stuff
  • Be better to myself! I think I’ve decided to have a cup of coffee or tea a day and to burn one candle a day.

I think more will come. Next time, I will update you guys on some more FSU fundraising stuff.

Stay Brash!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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Hold On Tight…I’ve Never Done This Before.

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

Happy Holidays everyone!

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or whatever else people celebrate these days! I’d love to tell you more about my holiday, but I’ll save that for next time…this time, I have something WAY more important.

My friend and fellow library professional Mary Jane – or just MJ to those in the know – sent me this email in November:

“Dear Fellow SLIS alumni,   (<–  School of Library and Information Studies – that’s me!)

It is with great honor that I pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Harold Goldstein who served as Dean during my student days at the Library School in the mid-‘70’s. He was instrumental in igniting my passion for teaching & public speaking. I didn’t even believe I had those skills until he called me on the phone one day to ask me to teach Young Adult Media. With his encouragement and belief in my abilities, my doubts and apprehension in sharing my knowledge in front of a group of people were eased. I never imagined that in my librarianship career of 35 years, I would also spend 20 of those years as an adjunct professor in the Library School! Dean Goldstein taught me an invaluable lesson in my young career – believing is achieving. He lit my fire for ambition and success and for that I will always be grateful!

With a deep sense of gratitude, I have decided to lead an initiative to honor Dean Goldstein by establishing the Dr. Harold Goldstein Endowed Scholarship Fund. His widow, Mrs. Julia Goldstein has also made a commitment to assist me in my efforts. During a spring 2012 SLIS convocation reception I was so touched by the number of students receiving accolades, praise and cheers from their peers, parents, and professors as they prepared to step out into the world of their chosen degree. I want to encourage and assist even more students to enter our academic doors of learning. With this fund, it is my hope to raise support for student scholarships in the School of Library & Information Studies.

At times, it truly feels “just like yesterday” that I was walking the halls of Strozier Library; joining my classmates in that basement with our many professors, igniting our passions; and hanging out in the vending machine/makeshift lounge area studying and collaborating! Today we can be pleased that progress has brought us to the Louis Shores Building with much larger quarters compared to yesteryear!

I would like to invite you to join me and Mrs. Goldstein in our efforts to secure the opportunity for scholarships to students entering our profession during this amazing time of transition, turbulence, and tradition! Your gift, in any amount will make a difference.

Thank you for your commitment and passion for our profession!

Sincerely,

 Mary Jane Little, MS LIS 1975″

What’s that? FSU needs help raising funds for library student scholarships?

That might not be how they see it, but I’m going with it.

TO THE BRASH-MOBILE!

I must say, this is quite a new experience for me. I want to help give back to my alma mater and help bring about more library professionals like myself – but how?I started racking my brain for what I could to do help the cause. What can I give people as incentive to donate? How can I inform them?

Hmmm.

Well, I have a blog and Facebook Page I can use to inform people…and I like attention, so maybe I can shine some spotlight on other people…Ta-da! Idea formulated! I’ve never tried using the Brash Librarian to raise money for a scholarship fund before, so bear with me during these shenanigans.

Here’s how it works!

Step One: Check out the CCI Goldstein Endowed Scholarship Fund at

http://one.fsu.edu/goldsteinscholarships.

Step Two: Select how much you’d like to donate. Not sure how much? Don’t worry! You can always add more to your donation later.

Step Three: In the Tribute Information section, just put my name (Justin Brasher) or Brash Librarian on there and you’re on your way to fabulous prizes! In true Kickstarter fashion, I’m giving out goodies to people who donate. What would you like?

 

-$5-10 = Get your name mentioned on Brash Librarian – first name only!

-$11-25 = Get your name mentioned and personal thank you letters from:

  • The Brash Librarian, Justin Brasher
  • Dr. Lawrence Dennis, Dean of FSU’s College of Communication & Information
  • Ms. Mary Jane Little, FSU School of Library & Information Studies Distinguished Alumnae, CCI Leadership Board past chair  and member

-$25-49 = Get yourself featured in a future post – photo, bio, whatever you’d like to share!

-$50+ =THE BIG ONE: Your own one-on-one interview with the Brash Librarian!

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

The College has also been generous enough to donate a special grand prize! Any Brash Librarian fans who donate are entered to win a special FSU bundle – t-shirts, pens, coffee mug, stuff that says, “I support libraries and library students! I’m so Brash, it hurts.”

Alright folks, let’s get started! On that note, I am off to a New Years party. Time to drink, party, and convince 20 drunks to pledge $10…it could work. SO MUCH BRASH!

Stay tuned for more news on this, kids! Be safe tonight!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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BRASH STILL MAD.

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

It’s been almost a month and I’m still mad at this guy.

If you read my last post, then you’ll know who I’m talking about. I wrote a reply to this bozo of a teacher’s views on libraries, and my friend finally got her paper back. She send this:

“I  received my grade on my paper. He gave me an A-. This was his feedback:

‘While I personally think libraries are no longer relevant for other than PhD researchers who want to go to the source document for their research, there are libraries out there doing what you syuggest and more. Talk about expanding digital media, the Orange Cty public library offers e-books and digital downloads of movies, which you can order online without having to go there. So, hte ideas you have put forward here already are being done by some. But, they still seem to be sinking into irrelevantcy.’

Apparently he doesn’t believe in spell check.”

Cue Jackie Chan “What’s wrong with you?” face.

Firstly, let’s all take a moment to appreciate his deft mastery of spelling and grammar.

*Tumbleweed rolls by*

…Anyway, let’s break this down:

“I personally think libraries are no longer relevant for other than PhD researchers who want to go to the source document for their research”

Really? Name all the PhD candidates you know in the public library right now. That’s like the people who have 5,000 friends on Facebook. A school library, I could understand. The University of Florida has a science library, law library, a general library, music library…maybe we got some PhD kids in there, but not at your public library. This also tells me that you don’t have a PhD. I’m actually rather curious where you got your degree…

Sounds about right.

“Talk about expanding digital media, the Orange Cty public library offers e-books and digital downloads of movies, which you can order online without having to go there”

Don’t get me wrong, these are great things, but you’re underestimating the power of the physical building. Many books are not available in e-book form, so they go and get the hard copy. Some people (like me) just really like the weight, feel, smell, etc of having a book in our hands. Also, the digital version might be checked out. That’s right – libraries are only entitled to so many digital copies at once. If Catching Fire gets checked out X number of times online, it can’t be checked out until another patron’s book has expired and “returned” to the system. If you don’t order enough digital copies, it’ll be more like Catching Hell.

Moving on, let’s talk about movies. Have you seen the movies Orange County offers online? See for yourself. Documentaries, westerns, off-brand cartoons, instructional videos, things you’d maybe glance over just for fun – none of their Hollywood blockbusters. This is the stuff you’d expect to see in the bargain bin at Best Buy. PLEASE NOTE! I have the utmost respect for these films, but I’ll be honest and say I’d rather watch World War Z or Man of Steel than Secrets of the Amish. If you want the Hollywood films, you have to go in and get them.

“So, hte ideas you have put forward here already are being done by some. But, they still seem to be sinking into irrelevantcy”

Again, superb job on the spelling. I disagree, sir – libraries are becoming more and more relevant. More and more services, products, and events are happening at libraries. Things are happening all the time that we didn’t used to do. Alachua County Library District had a Doctor Who event at their library in celebration of their 50th anniversary; I doubt that would have happened 10 years ago! We’re hip, we’re cool, and we’re happy to show you how wrong you are. Every day, we grow more important in the advent of technology. Look at Star Wars: even in the future (fictional and otherwise), we still have libraries!

Jedi powers not included.

You’re wrong, your view is wrong, and I look forward to proving you even more wrong in the future. I hope your child gets a library card and goes to her public library every day. Even after she gets her PhD.

RAWR, I’m done ranting. On a better note, Facebook tells me that my last post about this guy was my biggest and most popular post to date – I LOVE YOU ALLS!

Tune in next time for some groovy stuff I’ve been cooking up with FSU! My next undertaking is – dare I call it – Brash.

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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Brash Gets MAD.

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

HEY.

You know that feeling when somebody belittles your profession? I know most of my theatre peeps know that feeling – “actors are dumb”, “theatre isn’t a real major”, etc…My technical theatre mentors who taught me everything I know about rigging, power tools, drafting, painting, prop building, the works…I understand why they despised anyone who used the term “techie” to describe a technical professional.

This was all sparked when a friend of mine sent me a message:

“Hey. So I recently read through your blog and saw that you have a Masters in Library Science. I figured you would be the right person to come to. For an assignment in my Entrepreneurship class, I was suppose to find an outdated industry that has not innovated in the last 10-20 years and provide 5 ways to improve its productivity, profitability, etc. I have proven to my professor that no such industry exists, given his criteria, and if it does, it is an obsolete industry that does not need to be improved but either changed radically or phased out entirely.

Anyway, he has given up on me and says I can choose any industry to try to improve and ignore the criteria. I decided to pick the Library industry (well, I’m assuming its an industry) especially since he thinks they are obsolete (I really just want to p*ss him off even more). I know many people are thinking this, but I feel libraries can still offer a lot. I would like to know your thoughts on it. What ways do you think libraries can try to improve to get people to come back? And well, can the library system really be considered an industry?”

WHAT.

Let me tell you something, professor “libraries aren’t an industry”…you’re wrong. Libraries are an industry. Libraries have innovated in the last few decades. Libraries are NOT obsolete.

Libraries have a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code of 8231 and are grouped under Industry Group 823. Technically, libraries are a service industry that cater to the public in a way no company can. Like any company, a library has management that oversee strategic planning, a budget, human resources, outsourcing, vendors, and so on. A CEO running a $30 million company is no different from a library Director running a library system with a $30 million budget – both have a responsibility to their share holders (investors, county residents) and to their boards (board of directors, board of county commissioners). Both can have retirement, marketing goods or services (book sales, programs, public events), R&D, PR, negotiations, contracts, bid wars with vendors and other library systems, customer service issues, and other details becoming of any industry or business.

Libraries can be competitive in their own right: many libraries have new release DVDs that compete with stores, Redbox, Netflix, and best sellers to stop any book store dead in their tracks. The evolution of libraries to digital makes them even more powerful. Instead of 100 people going to a “bricks and mortar” library to get books, 1000 can now check out eBooks on their devices wirelessly from anywhere in the county – or the world for that matter! Just because people are not going to the physical library anymore doesn’t mean that libraries are failing or obsolete. Speaking of physical libraries, let’s not forget the other important part of libraries: Community centers. Many libraries are working to incorporate video game stations, teen zones, work-only areas and other niche areas to create the “third place” mentality – the intellectual version of Cheers where everybody knows your name! As some books are weeded out over time and more floor space becomes available, that becomes space to hold yoga sessions, dance lessons, technology classes, knitting circles, resume/skill workshops, or just Magic card games for teens. Though not important in the least to arrogant and ignorant people like that professor, libraries serve a vital need for regular humans who actually LIKE to be connected in human social activities and probably are barred from holding their knitting circle at a fancy university, anyhow.

Libraries are at the front lines for innovation. They see and hear it all; they are great predictors for trends, technology and pop culture. The only reason libraries don’t get the credit for leading innovation is that libraries don’t have the funds to pursue innovative opportunities in the ways that a private company can. Apple can see changes in the technology winds and do something about it long before a library system can have anything to show from their data. Libraries serve some pretty vital roles: It’s a place to get free books. Until the book disappears completely, libraries will serve a huge need in providing them to the public. Have you priced books lately? Your effete, pampered professor would probably not relate to this. But with income and property increasingly being concentrated in the hands of a few, the need to borrow books can only increase, at least for so long as Americans can still read. It’s a place to use a computer with internet. Many things, like applying for a job or getting a hunting license, increasingly can be done only online. In my little county, barely over half the citizens have computers and internet service. So when someone who is not an academic snot needs an online computer, who they gonna call? Bingo, the local library.

In short…you clearly haven’t been in a library in a few decades. Now get out…and go to the library before you embarrass yourself any further. Whew, I feel better.

Never let anyone tell you that libraries are not a thriving and innovative industry. It’s a bold industry – dare I say Brash?

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian (and/or industrialist)

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Halloween!

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

Oh, ‘ello!

Yup, it’s that time of year again – Halloween, pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cake, pumpkin beer…even pumpkin shampoo!

As usual, I’m having my yearly “ohmygodwhatdoIwear?” breakdown where I can never decide on a costume. Something comfy to wear a party is usually good – as much as I love being Big Boss, it’s not the most suited for lounging at pumpkin carving parties. Anybody have suggestions? The current contender is the tenth Doctor of the Doctor Who series played by David Tennant. Black glasses, suit, tie, overcoat at times, sneakers, auburn hair…if only he had a beard on the show, I could be his clone.

It’s like a English clone, only clean shaven.

Any other suggestions? Being a handsome time-traveler isn’t so bad, really. I’m going to a pumpkin carving party tonight with fellow library workers…perhaps pics will come of it? If I bring my homemade candy corn liqueur, who knows what may happen.

With the changing of the seasons come new things…I’ll be running Tough Mudder with the Bookaneer next week, plus my phone is falling apart and I need a new one. I’m torn between two phones – one with a removable SD card and one with no removable storage. These new phones nowadays want to try and stream everything or save it to the cloud. Google music and whatnot, etc…I still feel a little naked with no card to store photos, files, music and other things on my phone and relying on a server farm in Norway. What are your experiences? Anyone like it? Dislike it? Confused? (It happens often around here, like being on a Tardis!)

My other issue being that there is a $300 difference between the two phones; the one place I try to avoid being Brash is my wallet. I’m planning for a price drop in the coming month, Black Friday and all. Either way, I wager I’ll have a new phone by December.

So, that’s all I have for this week. Enjoy your weekends, and stay safe all!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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Support Libraries the Brash Way!

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

Hey Kids!

The end-of-the-fiscal-year crunch is finally over and I have a moment to breathe. And write! This week, I’m giving you guys a Brash way to contribute to your local library. That’s right, you can donate money to support your libraries. Without ever having to spend an extra dime.

How is that possible, you ask? Read on!

As some of you know, my library system – along with a list of others – is part of the North Eastern Florida Library Information Network (NEFLIN for short). NEFLIN is a non-profit library cooperative providing members access to ongoing training, continuing education, resource sharing, along with opportunities for research and development, partnerships, grant funding, leadership positions, and additional services through relationships with their sister organizations. Here’s a handy map showing the Panhandle Library Access Network (PLAN), the Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC), the South Western Florida Library Information Network (SWFLIN) and the South Eastern Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN), to help you find your library!

See? It’s color-coded and everything.

How much can one network cover, you ask? Here’s what NEFLIN covers alone:

Alachua County Library District
Alachua County Public Schools
Baptist Health Medical Library
Bradford County Public Library
Bradford County School District
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University – Hunt Library
College of Central Florida
City College, Gainesville Branch
Clay County District Schools
Clay County Public Library
Columbia County Public Library
Diocese of St. Augustine
Duval County Law Library
Duval County Public Schools
Edward Waters College
Emily Taber Public Library
Episcopal School of Jacksonville
Florida State College – Jacksonville
FL. Dept. of Agriculture/Div. of Plant Industry
Flagler College Library
Flagler County Public Library
Florida Coastal School of Law
Everest University – Jacksonville
Everest University – Orange Park
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
ITT Technical Institute Library
Jacksonville Public Library
Jacksonville University
Jones College Library
Keiser University Library – Jacksonville
Florida Gateway College
Levy County Public Library
Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida
Marion County Public Library System
Marion County Public Schools
Brevard County Library System
Nassau County Public Library
Nassau County School District
New River Public Library Cooperative
North Florida Community College
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health Systems
Putnam County Library System
Putnam County Public Schools
Santa Fe College
St. Johns Country Day School
St. Johns County Public Library
St. Johns River State College
St. Vincent’s Medical Library
Sumter County Public Library
Suwannee River Regional Library
Three Rivers Regional Library
Trinity Baptist College
UF Legal Information Center
Union County Public Library
University of Florida
University of North Florida
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Rasmussen College
Nemours Children’s Clinic Medical Library
Florida Technical College – DeLand
Florida Institute of Technology – Evans Library
Everglades University – Altamonte Spings
Volusia County Public Library
Altamonte Springs City Library
Stetson University – DuPont Ball Library
Seminole State College of Florida
Eastern Florida State College
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Bethune-Cookman University
Keiser University – Daytona Beach
Art Institute of Jacksonville
University of Southernmost Florida – Jacksonville

Pretty big list, right? Again, that’s just one network. ONE.

“Excuse me, Justin, but you still haven’t mentioned how I can help NEFLIN without spending an extra dime.”

I’m getting there! As mentioned, NEFLIN are very good about partnerships; one of their larger partners would be Amazon.com! By visiting NEFLIN’s partner site first (www.neflin.org/amazon) before shopping, NEFLIN will receive a portion of your purchases off Amazon. If clicking the link doesn’t work, directly typing it into your address bar should do the trick. Okay, guy in the back…ask your questions.

“Will NEFLIN see what I’m buying off Amazon?”

No. NEFLIN will have no idea that you bought a zebra print Snuggie.

“Will NEFLIN know I gave them money?”

No. NEFLIN will not know anything. They won’t know who is giving them money, what you bought, or anything. They’ll simply take their portion, smile, and go about their merry day helping library professionals.

“So all I have to do is visit their site first, shop Amazon like I usually do, and they get a portion of my money?”

YES, it’s that simple. You literally just supported your local library by spending money that you were planning to spend anyway. Don’t forget to support Brash Librarian by following me on here by clicking that button that says “Follow” over there on the right ———> and liking me on Facebook. I’ve only got like 18 followers on here yet my Facebook page has over a hundred…What’s up with that?

Now get shopping. Don’t forget to bookmark their page for when Black Friday rolls around!

Shop Brashly,

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian

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