We Need a Caulimobile, Boss Lady

We need a bookmobile, Boss Lady and MPL BigBoard.  Not just any ol' bookmobile, but something special.

Example of a van-style bookmobile

(Thanks, Goodnight Memorial Library)

That size vehicle should do nicely for my Library.  Now for the special detailing.

The Caulimobile (Bookmobile)

That's moi at the wheel, by the way.  Ready for patron outreach, and then some.

So, how do we make this happen, Boss Lady?  The Library BigBoard would have to approve such a sizable capital expenditure, of course.  But how to fund it?  That's the rub.

Well, I don't do details.  That's a job for my minions.  Surely there are some well-heeled library patrons who would generously pony-up the cash to buy MPL a bookmobile.  If so, you know who you are.  Just call Boss Lady and sign that check.  Better make it payable to moi.

Donations to MPL are Tax-Deductible,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Bookmobile News Beat

P.S.  "Chevy Van," by Sammy Johns, seemed like an appropriate musical closer for this blog post.  The tune was a top-five hit single (1974) on Billboard's pop charts.

Electric Buzzards (Prelude)

Our Library's composer, whom I call the Music Man, has begun composing a symphony (if my terminology is correct) entitled Electric Buzzards.  Here's the general scenario:  Survivors in a post-apocalyptic world flee from the chaos and destruction but are pursued by those bent upon their annihilation.  Some of these power-mongers have salvaged the last remaining jet aircraft.  The "main character" survivors know trouble has arrived when they see in the distant sky these aircraft circling other fleeing survivors, waiting to zoom in for the kill--like electric buzzards (hence the album title).

Pretty grim?  Post-apocalyptic works are really huge right now.  One need only mention The Hunger Games to illustrate the point.  The Music Man is simply anticipating a musical need.  With the success of the movie adaptations of book series like The Hunger Games, there will be other post-apocalyptic movie spin-offs that, frankly, could use some fantastic music to carry the plots.

Not that the Music Man is composing Electric Buzzards for movie soundtracks--although I'm sure he would be quite happy to do so, if good money were being paid--but I think motion pictures could benefit from his creativity.  That's my two cans of tuna-in-oil, for what it's worth.

Here is the Prelude to the first movement of Electric Buzzards.  Click the video player below to have a hear.  Imagine the post-apocalyptic scenario beginning as the survivors flee the collapse of civilization, or something along those lines.

Take note, all you movie producers out there.  Don't forget my 10 percent commission.

Watch For More Musical Selections, as the Music Man Composes Them,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Instrumental Music News Beat

P.S.  Want to hear the Prelude as a soundtrack to one of the Library's book trailers?  Sure you do.

Friday Features is a Biorama

Friday Features this week is a biorama.  Well, not exactly; the correct term is diorama, anyway.  Instead, we offer our YouTube Channel playlist of book trailers featuring biographies.  Admittedly, it's neither biorama nor diorama; still, those catchy blog post titles don't grow on trees, you know.

Clicking the player above starts the videos (only 12, so it's a relatively short playlist for my Library).  To select from among individual book trailers on the playlist, click here.

Was There Any Water in the Well?

Was there any water at the bottom of the well?  What well, you may well ask.  Well, it was the well at the bottom of which Wild Thang and Sammy the Toucan were standing when Scowl-Face video-recorded their latest early literacy fun.  Click the video player below to see what I mean.

There's less echo in the Grand Canyon.

Hey, Scowl-Face, here's a heads-up.  Big, empty rooms and the library digital camera's built-in condenser microphone are not a good complement.

Can You Hear Moi Now-Now-Now-Now . . . ,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Early Literacy News Beat

P.S.  Tim Buckley performed "Song of the Siren" on The Monkees television program (1968).  Note the moderate use of reverb to echo voice and guitar.  I don't quite get the junk car as a prop, however.  Folksy, in a Depression-era way, maybe.

P.P.S.  While waiting to perform some overdubs during the Monkees Headquarters sessions (1967), Micky Dolenz chatted with producer Chip Douglas (i.e., Douglas Farthing Hatlelid) while the sound engineer, Hank Cicalo, turned the reverb WAY up.  In this clip, Dolenz eventually sang a demo of the song "Pillow Talk," which was included on the CD re-release (1995) of Headquarters.  I consider this to be the best "group album" by the Monkees, when the prefab four were truly operating as a real rock-and-roll band.

2012 Summer Reading Kickoff

Last Friday, June 1, 2012, my Library held its annual summer reading bigbash.  Broadway Gal, Wild Thang, Savvy, Miss Alicia, Cataloger Queen, and many of MPL's other top-notch staff (as opposed to bottom-notched?  But Scowl-Face was A.W.O.L. at this event) were present to assist patrons in signing-up for adult, teen, and children's summer reading programs.  Patrons had loads of fun with the many engaging activities, including an outdoor movie with free popcorn.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Our PowerPoint Slideshow Advert

(Click Images to Bigify)

If you sadly missed all the excitement, we've got some photos, thanks to Boss Lady, I'm thinking.

Broadway Gal & BizMeister are the beginning

of your summer reading adventure

Savvy's ready to sign-up teen summer readers

Miss Alicia, Broadway Gal's Mom, and Queen Settler

signing-up the preschoolers

Eager patrons anticipate the movie

on an inflatable outdoor movie screen

(Thanks to Lebanon [Ind.] Public Library for the loan)

Patrons milling about on the MPL Courtyard

where exciting activities aplenty were happenin'

What types of fun activities were happening, you might ask?  When my minions were busy elsewhere, I tried out the climbing wall moiself.  Mighty cool, I must say!  I don't know why those handholds were there, though.  My claws worked quite nicely.

Climbing to the top

Our sidewalk chalk art was a huge "draw" for younger patrons

OfficeMeister doles out free popcorn

Lady Stradivarius (former MPL Adult Services Page)

says it's time for a juice break (another freebie)

Summer reading is serious business

for Wild Thang's Mom, InsuraDude, & Wild Thang

Broadway Gal is all smiles after

another successful summer reading launch

Great turnout, considering it was cold enough to make my tail fur stand on its end.  Congrats to Broadway Gal and her phenomenal youth services team.  Thanks to all the great library staff and volunteers for your invaluable services.  Great photos, Boss Lady.  We've got a new official digital camera operator, I'm thinking.

Even if you missed this primo event, you may still sign-up for summer reading.  Did I mention there were prizes?  Our website has details.

There are three convenient ways to sign-up:

• Sign-up at the library on your next visit;
• Call (317) 831-7323; or
• Visit our website and click the hyperlinks (shown below).

Sign-Up Sooner Than Later,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Summer Reading News Beat

P.S.  When I think of kickoffs, I think of American football. The Chicago Bears performed "The Superbowl Shuffle" (1985) in a rap music video that was wildly popular, back in the day.  Bears fans still speak reverently about it.