The Holodeck, It's Not

Lady RaDA sent my minions an email announcing that my library now offers a virtual reality headset (called Cynoculars) to checkout at the circulation desk.  The holodeck, it's not, but it's a start. Here's what the headset looks like:

Or Not

Something Like This, I'll Venture

Yep, Pretty Much

You'd Better Not Grab My Tail

(You've Been Warned)

This is what Lady RaDA had to say about the new Cynoculars:

"We now have a Virtual Reality headset available for circulation. It has a 7-day circulation period with no renewals, $.25 per day overdue fine, and $20.00 replacement fee. It is holdable. Please note that the patron will need an iOS or Android Smartphone that will fit into the cartridge. Larger Smartphones may not fit, so you may want the patron to see if theirs will work. The patron will need to search “VR” in the App Store or Google Play for apps to download and use with the headset.

"Here is a link to the Cynoculars website: [NOTE:  LINK IS BROKEN]  I strongly advise you to view the video on this website to learn about how it works (and to enjoy some rather bad acting)."

Can-do, Lady RaDA.

Introductory Video courtesy of Cynoculars.com

Lady RaDA continues:

"For now, we are going to keep the VR headset in a kit bag. The bag includes a remote control with 2 AAA batteries and a polishing cloth. It also has 7  laminated instruction cards on a ring."

To checkout the device, you'll need an Evergreen Indiana library card.  Ask about it at our circulation desk.  If you have the correct technology to work with the headset, it's yours for the taking.  Well, the checking-out, anyway.  You can't just take them.  Unless you're on the holodeck.  But that's not until the 24th century.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  The pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) introduced us to the holodeck.  Here's a clip with Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) discussing the technology.

Have DVD, Will Travel

As part of a pilot program, soon DVDs will transit between Evergreen Indiana libraries. That means, if my library has a DVD you want, and your "home" E.I. library is elsewhere (say, for example, in Clinton, Indiana, where Clinton Public Library's famous cat, Oliver, lives; or Thorntown, Indiana, where Thorntown Public Library's famous cat, Chance, lives, and where the even more famous cat, the late Tober, lived), you may place a hold on the desired DVD using your Evergreen Indiana library card and designate delivery to your "home" E.I. library.  Our DVD will be sent to you there, just like books, audiobooks, graphic novels, and other cool stuff you may checkout from the consortium.  When you're finished watching, just return it to any E.I. library, and it will be sent back to us through our transit system.  Pretty easy!

Click the E.I. Card (Above) to View the E.I. Online Catalog

Of course, the whole thing works in reverse--our patrons may place holds on other participating E.I. libraries' DVDs (only a certain number of libraries have been selected to participate in the pilot program), which will then transit here for our patrons to pick-up and return.

Our promo trailer (video) elaborates.

Evergreen Indiana DVD Transit Promo Trailer,

by Mooresville Public Library

How soon will DVDs begin to transit?  The Indiana State Library is still putting the finishing touches into our computerized system, so it will probably be sometime in March or April 2017.  But it's coming, and soon you'll be able to see lots of movies that your local E.I. library may not have. It's just another aspect of the wonderfulness that's Evergreen Indiana--your access to over seven million items!

Where do you find DVDs at my library?  I've got a map for that.  Make with the photo, minions.

Our Media Alcove in the Adult Services Area

(As It Looked in 2011)

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  My more senior readers may recognize that I based my title to this blog post on the television series, Have Gun -- Will Travel (1957-1963), starring Richard Boone as Paladin. Here's the series' theme song, "The Ballad of Paladin," sung by Johnny Western.

How Much Moore Moo? Just Asking

CircMaster recently emailed my minions about a change in our Evergreen Indiana "short name."  (All libraries in the Evergreen Indiana consortium go by abbreviated names in the computer system.) Previously, ours was MVPLM, or some such.  It didn't exactly roll off one's tongue.  Now it will be MOORE-MOO.

Click Logo (Above) to Learn More About E.I.

This poses a curious question:  How much more moo (or, if you prefer, "moore" moo) do we need? And who's going to provide this moo boost?  I've got a few suggestions.

Moo

Perhaps this Moo will do.

MPL Book Trailer #349

Moo: a Novel, by Sharon Creech

We've got plenty "moore" moo where that came from.  Stop by and see for yourselves.  Only don't expect any free moo-juice.  That's all reserved for moi.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Apparently, Canadian cows have "moore" moo, as this video shows (2007).

Our Thomas Tunnel

For several months the Decorinator and BizMeister have been creating cute tunnels for our little patrons to climb through at the entrance to our youth services department.  Here's their latest venture.  As always, click the photos to bigify.

It's Thomas the Tank Engine!

Too much flash, minions--you can't see Thomas' face

That's better

See how you can crawl through?

Here's where you end up

Our Miss Jess tested the tunnel after it was completed to ensure that it was safe for our young patrons to climb through.  She gave the thumbs up, so you're good to go.

If you enjoy crawling around, this is definitely a fun way to exercise.  Just be careful not to be too rough--it's cardboard, after all.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  "The Carpet Crawlers 1999," by Genesis, was a reunion song issued on Genesis: Turn It On Again (The Hits) (1999).

We Can't Spell Ukulele Without U

For several months, my library has offered a beginning ukulele workshop for folks interested in learning how to play.  There's a new batch coming next month (see our online events calendar for details).

If these famous dudes can learn to play ukulele, why can't you?  You can uke, Luke, even if your name's not Luke.

L to R: Jake Shimabukuro; Barack Obama; George Harrison

But, wait, you protest.  You don't have a ukulele, so how can you attend our workshop? We're way ahead of  you.  Checkout a ukulele with your Evergreen Indiana library card, and then come to the classes.  How easy is that?

Our promo trailer (video) explains.

Can't make the workshops?  Checkout our books and DVDs to learn to play ukulele. They, too, are available in our Evergreen Indiana catalog.

This could be you among these ambitious beginners.

Or how about these guys?  (I think they're actually instructors.)

Anyway, you're out of excuses now.  Come on in and have some fun!  You could use it.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  In 1994, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr performed "Ain't She Sweet?" on ukulele.  You can't get much more fun than that.

Not For the Bibliophobic

Our technical services director, Lady RaDA, has just mentioned on Facebook this bizarre little pop-up book that came across her desk, which we presume is not recommended for those suffering from bibliophobia.

The Pop-up Book of Phobias (1999), created and written by Gary Greenberg, illustrated by Balvis Rubess, with pop-ups by Matthew Reinhart, is listed in our Evergreen Indiana catalog as missing. Apparently, it has been found by Lady RaDA.  Better her than moi, I'd venture.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Don't let the Lady With the Red Hair see this next one.  Or Indiana Jones, for that matter.

The one below looks a bit like the giant spider in that sci-fi film that Mystery Science Theater 3000 riffed (The Giant Spider Invasion).

I'm really getting creeped-out now.

Okay, I'm outta here!

This must be a grown-up parody of children's pop-up books, I'm hoping. Maybe adult humans will get some laughs.  But for us felines, it's just too freaky.  We like things in our environment to look normal, as we cats see things.  That's why it scares some of my housemates when Scowl-Face wears a hat--or just enters a room, actually.

Let moi know if you think of a way to un-see all this.  Thanks.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  We close with "Phobia," by the Kinks, from the album Phobia (1993).

Do They Serve Nine Lives There? Just Asking

Where can you find good food and kitty companionship?  Drop by Fountain Square in Indianapolis, and you'll discover the city's first feline restaurant, Nine Lives Cat Cafe.

Indianapolis Star, Sunday, February 5, 2017

(Click Image Above to Bigify)

As you can see from this article above, this is the perfect place for feline-friendly humans to visit.  All the kitties are adoptable, so you should take home plenty.  We all need nice forever homes.  Besides, you can never have too many cats.  Just ask Buffalo Gal.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat