NYTimes: The Dutch Pioneer an Airport Library

One of the very sad trends of today is that fewer people seem to be reading, what with all the other forms of entertainment readily available. Some of the recent e-book innovations (like the Kindle) and blockbuster franchises (like Harry Potter) have helped, but overall, libraries are noting a downturn in patronage and bookstores a decrease in sales. We have to come up with new ways to get people to read, much as many other aspects of life have evolved. One previously underexploited population is the commuter -- not the daily commuter who spends half-an-hour on the train, but the distance commuter who often has plenty of time to kill in the airport. Enter the airport library:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/arts/16iht-library.html?ref=global-home

It's a really good idea, methinks. Of course, we shall have to see whether the net loss of books becomes a problem. Two things to consider:

1. A lending library system with locations at many major international airports. People going on longer journeys may forget about a book entirely during their trip, and probably wouldn't remember to return it at their airport of departure when they finally made it back there. But most people, I think, can finish a paperback of reasonable length during an international flight, and it would be much more convenient if they could drop off the book at a different branch when they get off the plane, rather than bring it with them on their return trip.

2. A system for e-book lending. A lot of people have e-book readers nowadays, and a lot of people bring their readers when they travel, because it's easier than carting around a stack of books in their luggage. Such systems already exist in many library systems; it shouldn't be too hard to adapt that technology to an airport library. I can imagine some system of lending periods corresponding to the duration of flights or trips.

I think this is an excellent concept, and I can't wait to see a library in JFK or SFO one of these days!

Paul the Psychic Octopus Predicts Spain over the Netherlands to Win the World Cup

Update: Paul is vindicated! No calamari after all.

I don't normally follow sports -- even the World Cup -- but this is pretty cool. Paul the Octopus has predicted the correct winner of seven out of seven World Cup matches thus far, and is apparently something of a celebrity in Europe. Here he is foretelling the result of tomorrow's game:



The Dutch are probably shaking in their cleats!

(My father told me about this one. He also suggested eating Paul if the Dutch end up winning. Go figure.)