Librarians are Weird

January 3, 2010

Video Treat: Neil Gaiman’s Statuesque

Posted by veile under Fantasy, Film | Tags: Neil Gaiman, short films, Statuesque, video |
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**As Neil predicted, the video is no longer available. However, it was wonderful of Mr. Gaiman to share with us the link to his latest creative endeavor! I hope it is available from Sky soon.**

Happy New Year! When my friend, and fellow librarian, Jennifer Lu’Becke sent me this link to Neil Gaiman’s short film Statuesque I knew I had to share it with you fine folks.

Statuesque is the tale of a man that falls in love with a living statue. It is a beautiful story told completely without words. I certainly have a soft spot for both Neil Gaiman and for the short movie format. Here is an excellent example how a story can be told in less than ten minutes, with no dialog, and can be more amazing than most full-length films currently being produced and sold to the public. Also, I am slightly biased in my affection for this piece since it is similar to a script I wrote years ago that never got around to producing. Perhaps I will have to tweak it a bit and give it a go in 2010.

Bravo, Neil! You have done it again! Cheers to you all and here is to a new decade and plenty more librarian geeky goodness!

January 3, 2010

Independent Media Center Zine Library

Posted by veile under Libraries | Tags: GSLIS, IMC, independent media, Independent Media Center, indie media, indymedia, library volunteers, UC-IMC, Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center, zine, zine library |
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Last month I started volunteering at the Independent Media Center in Urbana, IL at the organization’s tenth anniversary celebration. I have wanted to for a long time, but time was always a factor. There is a lot to offer at the UC-IMC, and one of the coolest things is the zine library. In the new year, I am planning on taking pictures of all the zines in the collection for the catalog. Last time we worked on organizing the zines physically, while other volunteers from GSLIS worked on cataloging them. You can learn more about the collection at the FAQ page: http://library.ucimc.org/content/faq

If you are unfamiliar with zines (pronounced zeens), they are self-published magazines that have small runs. Often they are cut and pasted together and photo-copied. The purpose of zines is not to make money, but rather expression. Be it politics, sex, body-image, or pop-culture; zines are often highly personal in nature and are truly labors of love.

Volunteers from GSLIS are organizing the UC-IMC Zine Library

December 29, 2009

Vintage Chicago Holiday Classics

Posted by veile under Holiday, Television | Tags: Frosty the Snowman, Hardrock Coco and Joe, Holiday classics, holiday video, Suzy Snowflake, video, Vintage Chicago holiday |
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Everyone should know who Hardrock, Coco, and Joe are — Santa’s helpers! You also should realize not only how awesome Frosty is, but also how we owe it all to Suzy Snowflake. So, I decided that for my holiday treat to all of you I would share three classics that I grew up with and watch every year. It wouldn’t be the holiday season without them!

Hardrock, Coco, and Joe (my favorite!)

Suzy Snowflake

Frosty the Snowman

December 11, 2009

Make a Bibliography the Easy Way! Zotero Tutorial

Posted by veile under Tutorials, Video Librarian | Tags: bibliography, citation styles, Eric Sizemore, Firefox add-on, Jenny Veile, tutorial, Video Librarian, work cited, Zotero |
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It is that time of year. Yes, of course it is the time for the holidays and general merriment, but it is also the time of final papers being due. If you want to have less stress in completing your papers use Zotero. With Zotero, a Firefox add-on, doing your bibliography or works cited page is a snap. You can use Zotero for both your print and electronic resources to create a bibliography in the citation style of your choice. Watch this video to see how librarian Eric Sizemore demonstrates how to use this great tool for students.

November 23, 2009

Librarian Storm Trooper Aerobics

Posted by veile under Comedy, Video Librarian | Tags: Aerobics, Bob Sinclair, Dina Allen, Eric Sizemore, Gym Tonic, Jenny Veile, Sam Lester, Star Wars, Storm Trooper, video, Video Librarian |
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Storm Trooper + Lesbian Aerobics Instructor = Halloween Party Librarian Style

November 19, 2009

Library Jeopardy Video — Staff Development Day

Posted by veile under Other, Video Librarian | Tags: Champaign Public Library, Eric Sizemore, Jenny Veile, Library Jeopardy, Staff Development Day, video, Video Librarian |
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Over the past month I have been working on helping Eric Sizemore here and there with the Library Jeopardy video for Staff Development Day at Champaign Public Library. I was unable to be there on the day that the skit was performed, but I’m very happy that it was a hit.

November 18, 2009

IFV 49 Hour 2009

Posted by veile under Video Librarian | Tags: Eric Sizemore, film race, Jenny Veile, Michael Bach, short films, Victor Abson, Video Librarian, writers, writers' block |
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I participated in a 49-hour film competition in which each team was given one line of dialog, one shot, and one prop to make a 5-minute movie. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, my final 49-hour edit was not used in the competition this past Friday. However, it is here for all of you to watch. The line is “Don’t go in there,” the prop is a mousetrap, and the shot is a low-angle shot.

The experience was great. I enjoyed working with my teammates librarian Eric Sizemore, and non-librarians Michael Bach and Victor Abson. I hope you enjoy the video and this selection of photographs from the shooting of The Indecisive Writer (photos by Eric Sizemore and Jenny Veile).

: 49 hour teamwork

: Michael Bach shoots video of Eric Sizemore, librarian actor

: Jenny Veile, video librarian, in between shots

: Victor Abson sets up lighting

: Editing the video

: A rat and an egg

November 11, 2009

Celebrity Librarian DeathMatch

Posted by veile under Celebrity Librarian DeathMatch, Other, Video Librarian | Tags: celebrity librarian deathmatch, Eric Sizemore, game show, Jason A. Brown, Jenny Veile, librarian, library, Mardis Bagley, multimedia, reference, reference librarian, video, web 2.0 |
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**CLDM will no longer start in January 2010. The first game has been postponed.**

Today is the release of the much anticipated first trailer for the upcoming multimedia librarian game show Celebrity Librarian DeathMatch. You can watch the trailer here and check back for more CLDM updates!

The graphics for CLDM are by Mardis Bagley and the sound is by Jason A. Brown.

Eric Sizemore and myself, Jenny Veile, have been working on the concept and creation of the game together for some time now, so I am very happy to finally be ready to talk about it on Librarians Are Weird. The basic reason for the game is to shake off the stereotypes of librarians, while at the same time creating a fun and informative game that can be played at home. Two sets of reference librarians will go head to head using various technologies to answer reference questions sent down from Command Central. The audience at home can listen in to the live podcast show as well as try to beat the librarians to the answers by typing in their responses. Every 5 minutes our teams of librarians will get another reference question. If they answer before the 5 minutes passes up than they will get a time bonus. Answers will be scored on correctness, sources, time, and politeness by a team of judges made up of reference librarian faculty at library graduate school programs. Please check out librariandeathmatch.com/about for more details on this new and exciting game – Due 2010.

October 30, 2009

Tonight Devil’s Night — Tomorrow Halloween!

Posted by veile under Film, Horror, Reviews
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Ah! The air smells of pumpkin and wet leaves. It is time for Halloween parties! So, what to watch at these parties. Well, there are some great choices for movies to watch this weekend. Specifically some movies led themselves well to being on in the background. This will be very brief! Eep!

Black & White Classics

Psycho

This film is easily the scariest movie I have seen…ever. That is especially impressive considering that the first time I saw it was on a big screen with a bunch of other people.

The Brain That Wouldn’t Die

Doctor take future wife on a trip. Car wreck. Severed head. Saves head. Doctor looks at strip clubs for new body to attach to head.

Night of the Living Dead

You know the drill. Zombies, zombies, everywhere! Assortment of people try to hold off zombies. Good stuff. **Watch the Entire Movie Online — Click Here**

Devil’s Night Favorites

The Crow

Eric Draven and his girlfriend Shelley are murdered on Devil’s Night. Eric comes back a year later to exact revenge/justice. One of the best movies ever (and surely will get an actual real review soon).

The Exorcist

Did these people on The Paranormal Hour learn nothing from The Exorcist. Little girl plays with a talking board and becomes possessed. Priest tries to save girl. Apparently, a guy I know was an extra sitting under one of the trees.

October 29, 2009

tomorrow, tomorrow!

Posted by veile under Horror, Other
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So, I am horrible and am sending this out far too late, but to be fair I had plans with actual real live people and so I figured you wouldn’t mind me having a social life. I am happy to report that this month I’ve had 1,666 blog views. Maybe that isn’t a lot, or maybe it is, but either way I love it! Almost Halloween and I have reached 1,666 for the month of October. Brilliant. So, tomorrow, I will write for both 2 days and for 1 day to Halloween! Then I think we all should enjoy Halloween!!! Brilliant.