Literature Map – what are readers of one author also likely to read?
from The Centered Librarian by David Booker
Pop over to Literature Map and enter an authors name to generate a map of other authors also read by readers of the one you entered. Then click any of those to iterate the choices. Cool….

Mango is the fast, easy, and most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language!

Mango is an online language learning system that teaches real conversation skills for practical communication. Through fun and engaging interactive lessons, Mango makes learning a new language fast, easy and incredibly effective.

Mango’s unique methodology copies the way people learn when surrounded by a foreign culture – through practical conversation. Every lesson incorporates all 4 conversational components (Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Grammar and Culture), each of which is critical to your ability to communicate in a foreign language. At the same time, you’ll be increasing your ability to actually USE what you learn, with a variety of critical thinking and memory exercises. As you listen to and repeat after native speakers, you’ll learn more than just words and phrases. You’ll learn how those pieces can be rearranged and combined to make new thoughts, new conversations, and even more practical communication!

The Mango system is completely web-based and remotely accessible, so you can learn anywhere you have an internet connection — at the library, a coffee shop, or even at home in bed. Choose from 36 guided language experiences, 14 English as a second language experiences, and different levels of fluency. All you need is a library membership.

Mango is built to be both effective and fun. You’ll see progress with every session, and be encouraged to keep talking. In no time at all, you’ll be able to navigate all sorts of everyday situations — get directions, order a meal, make new friends — the possibilities are endless!

Mango is FREE at your library – learn more by visiting us online:  http://gowyld.net/list.cfm?AlphaName=M

Hashtags, people, conversations, topics, etc. Sometimes it can be a bit daunting to look for what you need on Twitter. However, having the right tools sure helps a lot. I’ve put together a list of 50+ sites that you can use to help you find who or what you’re looking for. Enjoy!

Old Spice’s excellent viral marketing campaign has swept the web over the past couple of days, as the “Old Spice Guy,” Isaiah Mustafa, has been busily making tons of hilarious videos in response to Youtube comments, tweets, Facebook messages, blog posts, and Yahoo! Answers. In one of the most recent videos, the Old Spice Guy responds to a librarian’s tweet, which asks him to “say a few words about libraries.”

And so he does, offering the best defense of libraries we’ve heard in a while. The video below speaks for itself.

Check out other hilarious Old Spice Guy videos here.

Seen on The Huffington Post.

Ellen Newell, artist, printmaker and librarian has made a donation of her artwork in collaboration with the City of Rock Springs and the Rock Springs Library Centennial celebration. The artwork depicts genres and humor found in public libraries under the guise of woodprint artistry. You might also find this series of painted woodcuts in the Sweetwater County Library in Green River, in private collections and now the series, in it’s entirety at the Rock Springs Library! Ellen has generously made previous donations of her art to benefit fundraisers for libraries across Wyoming.

The Rock Springs Library is thrilled to accept her donation on behalf of our legacy of reading, with library staff and patrons.  Come help us celebrate our newest acquisition of artwork at the Rock Springs Library this evening, Wednesday, July 14th from 6-8.  Iced Tea and New York cheesecake will be served.

Commoncraft is known for their excellent videos and instruction.  They take a difficult subject and boil it down into manageable parts.

Please take a look at their newest video on constructing passwords.  http://www.commoncraft.com/secure-passwords-video

Losing Libraries reports cuts and layoffs in libraries and library systems across America. The cuts are mapped using “Mapper” and annotated and indicate the various types of cuts, staff layoffs and furloughs, reduced services and hours and more that are happening to public libraries in the U.S. There is a mechanism that allows readers to update the map and add cuts and closures to the report.

Found via The Proverbial Lone Wolf Librarian

100+ Google Tricks That Will Save You Time in School

[via onlinecolleges.net]

With classes, homework, and projects–not to mention your social life–time is truly at a premium for you, so why not latch onto the wide world that Google has to offer? From super-effective search tricks to Google hacks specifically for education to tricks and tips for using Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, these tricks will surely save you some precious time.

iPad + Velcro from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.