A list of sources of stock photos from around the world added by anyone who is interested in developing this useful resource for photo editors, photo researchers and photographers.

To help get everyone started I have listed a few sites here, please feel free to reply with your own suggestions of great photo libraries – as so we can build a great resource directory of stock photo agencies around the world.

Alamy Images

http://www.alamy.com/

A large 14m strong archive of general stockotography from thousands of photographers.

TopFoto Photo Agency

http://www.topfoto.co.uk/

A 2.5m strong archive containing something of a lucky dip. Great historical archive and often has many surprises. You can also find a lot of the Lightroom Photos collection there as well.

Lightroom Photos

http://lightroom.weebly.com/

A small, but very diverse archive of reportage imagery from hundreds of different photographers. Special space collection of astronauts, the ISS, Hubble, satellite and more.

Photographers Direct

http://www.photographersdirect.com/

A large archive of low res pictures where the buyer negotiates directly with the photographer.

Panos Pictures

http://www.panos.co.uk/

Great archive of contemporary history (since the 1980s) and development/social issues photos.

Posting from the library.

Just stopping in for a minute to say hello, gentle readers.

I’ve been working on a few Buffy-specific posts that I hope to get up within the week.  A few of them are lists, and I’m pretty sure there’s an analysis or two in the mix.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week, mostly about life stuff.  Wondering where life is going, how I’m going to get there and if I’ll come out the other side alive… I’m pretty sure that remaining positive is the best course of action.  But in doing some pretty serious contemplation, I’ve decided to revist (yet again… I think I’m on viewing 10 or 11, or perhaps more at this point) of Buffy. 

You see, Walmart was having a sale, and even though I own the series twice, owning it a third time doesn’t seem so bad.  So I’ve restarted my collection again, with the first 3 seasons @ 15 beans a season.  Which is AWESOME, btw.  And I’ve begun rewatching the first season.

Really takes me back. 

I love Buffy because of it’s familiarity, and the comfort that it offers.  I love it because it’s always there, and it never changes.  And even though its the same thing over and over, the same story and the same characters and the same lines, there is still an aspect that is shy and new. 

It’s something that, no matter how bad or good or indifferent I’m feeling, I know that I can always go back to Buffy and things will be okay.

It’s like going home again.  And don’t they always say, “you can always go home again.”  Or maybe it’s “you can never go home again.”  And if that’s the case, then scratch that entire thought. 

Buffy is like going home again.  You’re always welcome, and it’s always the same no matter how different it may be and how things might have changed in other areas.  It’s always there.

And now that I’ve entertained you all with my newest tangent, I’m going to sign off and go take a nap.  It’s been an exhausting day.

Librarians in Troubles, picture by Claesju

Hi everyone,

today I have finished my Digital Library Learning Project.

I have introduced more practice exercise to support the different Digital Library examples.

Also there are a new section that include a discussion about the Libraries future, where I include my opinion about it.

As I say in my project, we are involving in a change time. The Digital Library subject is really huge and now is under developing. So I hope that my learning project could help people to understand the Digital Libraries, only as overview but being useful and clear.

This picture illustrate the blog´s name, Librarians in Troubles. I think that is so funny. There are two librarians very sad and worry because many people think that the Libraries are going to disappear, and the traditional librarians with them.

I don´t share totally this opinion, but I think that we need improve and adapt our profession. Or really we could finish as the picture show. 

I hope you enjoy my learning project.

Today I spent most of the day continuing to weed through the 800s. After completing a section of 5 shelves, I brought the cart to the Information Desk so I could pull up each book’s summary and record in Millennium.

For each book, I first checked how many copies we had in the system, how many copies are at the Redmond branch and, if there is a copy in Central Storage. I then checked the most recent circulation date and then checked the total checkouts since its purchase/acquisition. These factors need to be taken into account if a book is circulating well but is damaged or dirty, so rather than being weeded, it should be noted for replacement. Another consideration is if a particular book is not circulating, but in some way is unique or may have some value and there already is a copy in Central Storage, should it be weeded or disposed of, or should it remain on the shelf because of its value.

Weeding can be a challenging process but one that is a necessity because of space limitations in all libraries. Else Steele, Kirkland Managing Librarian, helped make the final decisions for each book I pulled for weeding. The majority of books would be weeded, but Else noted two that would return to the shelves because of their value and one that needed “evaluation.” I enjoyed having her go through the books with me and listening to her explanations of how she makes decisions – she mentioned that Collection Development is a process she really enjoys. I can understand why. I also like the process because it really does force you do visually see what is presently in the branch’s collection – personally, I found a couple of books I ended up checking out at the end of my shift!

For the short time I was working the Information Desk, I worked with patrons on the following inquiries:

1. I’m making a list of resources for The Enlightenment Movement; can you help me read these reference books? This was a difficult request – the young woman wanted me to help her create a list (I defined “bibliography” for her) of different books whose content included information about the American Enlightenment Movement: i.e.: Romantic, Artistic, etc. I found her Encyclopedia of the Enlightenment which helped her quite a bit and Amanda suggested she enter the subject words “enlightenment” and “United States” (LC subject words) and use the books listed for her bibliography. We both also suggested she visit an academic library where she may find more thorough research resources.
2. Do you have any Pokémon DVDs?
3. How do you change an address in MapQuest?
4. Did someone turn in a blue USB drive? Did anyone turn in a red fleece jacket?
5. Do you have Twilight?
6. Do you have Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies?

This has been a great mail and library week.  I got in the mail:

Ms. Taken Identity by Dan Begley (Thanks to Miriam at Hachette Book Group!)

PhD candidate Mitch Samuel’s life isn’t going exactly according to plan: his girlfriend just dumped him (to be fair, he did forget to pick her up at the airport), his estranged father has landed in the hospital, and his literary masterpiece-one part Shakespeare, one part Steinbeck, and all parts lyrical epic-has been rejected for the umpteenth time.

However, after a chance encounter at Starbucks with the queen of women’s fiction- Katharine Longwell-who seems to take a liking to him, he senses an opportunity for literary riches, if not reputation. After telling her that his (imaginary) female cousin is an aspiring chick-lit author, he secures a promise from her that she’ll help his “cousin” get published. The only problem is, Mitch needs a manuscript, and fast.

Unfortunately, try as he might to get inside a woman’s head by reading Vogue and Cosmo, watching Oxygen and Oprah, nothing seems to work. That’s when his roommate Bradley suggests that he try a dance class at the studio where Bradley’s sister Marie takes lessons. Self-conscious about his own skills, and unwilling to reveal his true intentions, Mitch attends the first class under an alias: Jason Gallagher, pharmaceutical rep. What could go wrong?

Nothing, except that Mitch/Jason quickly finds himself hooked on dancing, and on the charming Marie. Who has no idea who he really is. Or that he knows her brother. Or why he’s there. Suddenly, his novel-writing project is becoming a lot more than he bargained for…

Any Minute by Deborah Bedford & Joyce Meyer (Thanks to Miriam at Hachette Book Group!)

Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success no matter what the cost. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves–especially her son, Mitchell, and her husband, Joe–but her desire to succeed in her career too often leaves little time for family.

One cold, autumn afternoon, all of that changes when Sarah’s car plunges off a bridge and into a river. She is pronounced clinically dead to those on the “outside,” but Sarah’s spirit is still very much alive. What she discovers on the other side transforms everything about Sarah’s view of life–past, present, and future.
When Sarah is revived, she is a changed woman. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Thanks Tina at Fantastic Book Review)

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeenyear- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she fi nds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck…

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale (From Bloomsbury through Shelf Awareness)

What if you were to meet the number-one person on your laminated list—you know, that list you joke about with your significant other about which five celebrities you’d be allowed to run off with if ever given the chance? And of course since it’ll never happen it doesn’t matter…

Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity hearththrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened…though nothing has happened. It isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. H er children roll their eyes. Her neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it?

I also received 3 audiobooks from Hachette Book Group:

I stopped requesting books from the library because I needed to catch up on the books I had at home to read but somehow I still managed to pick up 4 books from the library today.

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore.  She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school.  Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud.  It isn’t even something she can say to herself.  A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault.  If she can just remove herself from everybody–be totally alone–then everything will be okay…The problem is, nobody will let her.

Daughters of the Flame by Zoe Marriott

Inside an ancient temple in the mountains, fi fteen-year-old Zira trains in the martial arts to become a warrior priestess who can defend the faith of the Ruan people. Bearing a scar on her face from the fire that killed her parents, the orphaned Zira is taught to distrust the occupying Sedornes. Terror strikes when the forces of the tyrannical Sedorne king destroy the only home she knows. To survive, Zira must unravel the secrets of her identity, decide her people’s fate — and accept her growing feelings for a man who should be her enemy.

Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson

Introducing the O’Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O’Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.

Sara is terrified. She’s doing the one thing she cannot afford to do: fall in love with former pro-football player Adam Black, a man everyone knows. Sara’s been hidden away in the witness protection program, her safety dependent on staying invisible–and loving Adam could get her killed!

Clubbed to Death by Elaine Viets

In the Superior Club’s complaint department, Helen Hawthorne has to deal with the rich and spoiled. Then her deadbeat ex-husband sails back into her life aboard the yacht of his new lady—known as the “Black Widow” because of her string of dead spouses. When Helen’s ex goes missing, she fears the Black Widow may have struck again.

Helen’s barely begun digging when a club patron is found with his membership permanently expired. Now Helen must find her ex and get to the truth—without getting clubbed herself…

My routine has become, when I arrive at Redmond, to fill the Choice Reads shelves (I kiddingly refer to this task as “babysitting Marian’s books”). It no longer amazes me how popular these reads are to patrons – it’s almost impossible to stock these books in order to match the quick selection pace by patrons.

Recently, a cohort mailed a link to an Associated Press article titled, Romance Novels Offer Comfort in Down Economy. In the article romance readers are making more frequent trips to the library to check out their favorite genre books rather than spending the money to buy books. One reader explains, that she’s “been escaping into sweet and heartening stories of love and passion . . . with a satisfied feeling at the end of a good book, a feeling of hope that all can, and will, be OK.”

Once a reader is drawn into the lobby and a particular book may not be available it is possible to suggest another book that is in the library. On this particular day, I had a patron approach me and ask if I could find out where she was in line for Janet Evanovich’s newest novel, Finger Lickin’ Fifteen. Because she wasn’t even close to receiving the book, I asked if she wouldn’t mind me suggesting a similar type of book – she liked the idea. I showed her the Novelist database and how, at home, she could access the “Author Read-alikes” link; as soon as I typed in Evanovich’s name, we could see the name of the author I was going to suggest: Jennifer Crusie. Although not a detective novel, I explained that three of my librarian student friends had suggested Crusie’s novel titled, Anyone But You to those who like popular fiction written by women. We read the summary together and the patron said it sounded like a book she’d be interested in reading. Yes! Pay-dirt – thank you to Nancy Pearl for her Reader’s Advisory advice.

Today, Chris Livingston, Managing Librarian, start “weeding”, a task I enjoyed at the Seattle Public Library. She suggested the 800s which contain literature, poetry, drama, and literary criticism. It was really interesting – what a great section! I successfully pulled around 10 books for weeding and/or consideration for Central Storage (an example for suggesting a book or type of material for storage may be suggested because circulation is nil or low, but its uniqueness may deem it valuable).

Because I spent some time weeding, helping at the Information Desk was limited to:

1. Do you have From the Files of Madison Finn #1? (Actual title is To Have and To Hold)
2. Can I book a study room?
3. Can you put a Hank the Cowdog on hold for me?
4. Do you have any Calvin and Hobbes books?
5. Can you recommend any really scary mysteries for me? This was an extremely difficult RA because when I asked for the last book this patron read, she responded with a YA title. I knew the book because of my YA class and had several titles to suggest to her including Sight by Adrienne Maria Vrettos, Acceleration by Graham McNamee and The Shining by Stephen King . Because she looked like an older teen, I felt safe suggesting them to her until she came back to the desk with me and I found out she was 20 years old! But, without blinking an eye, I asked her if she felt like more complex and “longer” mystery books – she agreed, but it sounded like she preferred the YA books, which made me feel better about mistaking her age.
6. Do you have books with poetry children – you know really classic poetry like Shakespeare for my 8 and 10 year old children? Wow – took this patron to the poetry shelves and together we found some appropriate-children poetry books. This father was pulling complex college-level books which I suggested the kids could work their way up to once they got the idea and content of what poetry is – he agreed.
   

Following are some of the gardening and eco-events in Eastern Iowa in June 2009:

Fri., June 5., 8  p.m., An Evening with Fireflies, Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids. 1 ½ mile walk on grass-surfaced trails. Members, $3; non-members, $5. Children, $1. See: http://indiancreeknaturecenter.org

Sat., June 6, 4:30 p.m., Prairiewoods Garden Party at Mercy Medical Center’s Hallagan Education Center, 701 10^th St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Features local wines and artisan cheeses from Kalona; dinner at 6 p.m., silent and live auctions and music. Cost: $35 each or $250 for table of eight. Call (319) 395-6700.

Mon., June 8 – Sat., June 27, RIVERRenaissance, flood anniversary events. See full schedule at: www.downtowncr.org

Tues.,  June 9 and Thurs.,  June 11, 6 p.m and Sat., June 13,  9:30 a.m., Brucemore in Bloom, 2160 Linden Drive SE. Wander among the unique flowers and plants as the Brucemore garden staff traces the development of the formal garden from conception to the current design. Learn about Mrs. Douglas’ vision of turning Brucemore into a country estate and prominent Prairie Style landscape architect O.C. Simonds’ involvement in the process. Admission: $10/adult and free to Brucemore members. Call (319) 362-7375 for reservations or register online: www.brucemore.org

Thurs., June 11, 9 a.m., Invasive Species Field Day, Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center, 10260 Morris Hills Rd., Toddville. Learn about non-native invasive plants, typically transplants from distant places, that threaten native habitats in Iowa. Free program, lunch provided. Register by noon June 9 at www.LinnCountyParks.com by clicking on the “Events” area or call (319) 892-6450.

Sat., June 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Linn County Master Gardener garden walk. Explore five diverse Linn County Master Gardener gardens in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Gardens will include ornamental grasses, conifers, vegetables, perennials, containers, ponds and more. Master Gardeners will be at all of the gardens to answer your horticulture-related questions.  Admission: $5 per Adult; $10 per Family. Start at any of the five gardens. See: www.extension.iastate.edu/linn/news/Garden+Walk.htm

Sat., June 13, 1 p.m., Wetland dedication and walk, Indian Creek Nature Center. A half-mile walk where the Nature Center and Cargill have restored a forested wetland along the Cedar River. Free. See: http://indiancreeknaturecenter.org

Sat., June 20, 1 p.m.,  Green and Simple: Greens from the Yard, Indian Creek Nature Center. Join director Rich Patterson to learn how to identify and prepare nettles, dandelions, lambsquarter and other plants for food.  Members, $5; non-members, $8; children, $1. See:  http://indiancreeknaturecenter.org

Sat., June 20, 6:30-8 p.m., Summer Solstice Celebration, Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Road, Hiawatha. Show appreciation for your dad and the summer season. Join us for a special Father’s Day/Summer Solstice Celebration. The evening will include poetry, prayer, festivities and end the night with a bonfire and s’mores. Free-will offering. Call (319)395-6700 and see: www.prairiewoods.org

 Sat., June 20- Sat., June 27, Project AWARE, Volunteer River Cleanup on the Cedar River. See: www.iowaprojectaware.com

Sun., June 21, 7-10 p.m., “Nature Rocks – The Concert,” Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids. A green benefit for the Indian Creek Nature Center and SPT Theatre Company. Featuring Mexican food; chair massages; lessons on recycling and a live music concert by SPT’s Doug Elliott, Gerard Estella, Janelle Lauer, Jane Pini and guest artist Dave Moore. Bring lawn chairs. Tickets are $25 for adults, children 16 and under are free. Call the Nature Center at (319) 362-0664 or pay at the gate. See: www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org

 Tues.,  June 23, 6 p.m., Summer Landscape Hike, Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids. Welcome in summer by joining the Brucemore gardeners on a 90-minute hike that will emphasize the spirit of summer through the sights and sounds of the Brucemore estate. Experience the vivid colors of the formal gardens in full bloom, the lush rose bushes, and the fruits of the orchard while listening to stories of the Brucemore families. Admission is $10.00 per person and $7 per Brucemore member. Registration required. Space is limited, call (319) 362-7375 or register online: www.brucemore.org

Thurs., June 25, 7 p.m., Backyard Composting, Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St. Learn about converting yard and kitchen waste into valuable soil for your yard and garden. Presented by Risa Dotson Eicke, Master Gardener Intern. Information on ECO Iowa City compost bin subsidy will also be available. ECO Iowa City is a grant-funded initiative to improve environmental sustainability in Iowa City. Call (319) 887-6004.

Sat., June 27, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., ECO Iowa City Landfill and Compost Facility tour, 3900 Hebl Ave. SW. Learn about how compost is made on a large scale, the environmental benefits of composting as a waste reduction tool and how you can use compost to improve your yard or gardens. Parking is limited. Register by calling the Library Reference Desk at (319)356 -5200, option 5.

If you know of other events, send an email to: cindy.hadish@gazcomm.com or add a comment below.

Okay, so I was driving to the library-all of a sudden-it happened: Millions of dandelion seeds, invading us like aliens! They were downtown, they were across the bridge, they were in my backyard! My father quickly rolled up the windows to prevent us from attack. I don’t believe that these little pests were just pieces of weeds, but tiny alien spaceships!! Aah!! Maybe there here to steal our natural recorces, or destroy the Earth, or worst of all-harvest our brains and sip the juice out at their annual Galatic Cookout(which is on Saturday, 10:30 am, on Neptune. BYOB ‘bring your own brain-juice) So beware! If you don’t like pollen, or aliens, roll up those windows!