Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Federation Square

I visited Federation Square twice over the weekend.  The first visit was at 12:30am Sunday morning to watch Black Caviar racing at Royal Ascot and, subsequently, her 22nd consecutive win.  There were thousands of people comfortably arranged; standing, sitting, huddled, to enjoy the event on the big screen.  The second visit was on Sunday night, on my way to Birrarung Marr, for Circus Oz (which was brilliant and I highly recommend), Fed Square was not so packed and I was able to enjoy the light and art installations scattered about the well used meeting place.  One that caught my keen librarian eye was the "Book-light installation" and I have a few photos of this to share.





Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Digital storytelling


I've just found the Inanimate Alice series: http://www.inanimatealice.com/
I love it that reading a story is no longer simply reading a book and viewing the illustrations.  Digital stories combine watching, reading, contributing, listening, participating and more.  Multiple layers, split screens and variety are all elements of the Inanimate Alice series of digital stories.  
This type of story more accurately reflects the use of technology and personal devices that are a part of our lives.  I'm looking forward to showing the students and sharing feedback.  

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Before I go to sleep

I just wanted to give a quick plug to S.J. Watson's "Before I go to sleep".   The main protagonist has a rare form of amnesia, she remembers nothing from the past 20 years and is retold every day by her husband her life story.  The reader is quick to become suspicious of the husband and the real mystery starts when Christine accesses her journal which begins - Do not trust your husband.
It feels like the movie "50 First Dates" but it's a book which makes it 10 times better.


Gambling in the library

Today at lunchtime a student asked for a set of chess pieces.  I assumed someone else had gathered the board and gave them to him without further thought.  Later I saw him and his mates playing the card game '21' and using the chess pieces as money to play.  I had to laugh at their inventiveness and at least no one lost their lunch money.