Libros Schmibros

Libros Schmibros:
a lending library/used bookstore for Boyle Heights
2000 E. 1st St.Los Angeles, CA 90033
accessible from the Metro Gold line /Mariachi Plaza exit

Check their Blog for events and needs: http://librosschmibros.wordpress.com/

Our Partial Catalog: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/kipen
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173562995996562

Interested in supporting Libros Schmibros?
Consider making a donation. You can do so through our parent organization, The Arroyo Project .
Your donation of $10, $25, or $50 helps us bring books and literary programming to Boyle Heights.

Questions? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at librosschmibros@gmail.com.

More information:

Reed Johnson. "Libros Schmibros is part library, part used-book seller, totally chill." LA Times Nov 9, 2010

International Literacy Day

Did you know that September 8 is International Literacy Day? Neither did I till very recently. One may think literacy isn't that huge of an issue but according to the International Reading Association, " More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education." Without literacy, simple things as such reading a label, filling out a job application, even getting around can be virtually impossible.

Want to get more involved? Check out the International Reading Association, ProLiteracy or even your local library. Often times libraries have literacy programs which they can always use volunteers for. See the Southern California Library Literacy Program website for a list of libraries. Even if you don't see a library listed near you, it's still possible there may be a literacy program there, so ask. For example, I live in Monrovia and even though they are not on the SCLLP list, I know they have a literacy program from looking on their website in the past. Last but not least, ALA (American Library Association) has lots of information on literacy from children's to adult literacy. Check out the Office for Literacy and Outreach.

Feel you just don't have the time, then take the time to sign the ProLiteracy and Literacy Powerline's Declaration for the Right to Literacy scroll which will be presented to President Obama.

ProQuest Example Video from Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson is an Assistant Librarian at Bloomquest College in New Jersey. He created an easy to understand demonstration video on using ProQuest to find a specific topic in a specific journal article.

Screencasts and videos online

Mike is using a free online program called ScreenToaster. One of the features of that service is that it makes it easier to add subtitles and captions to videos.

Anyway, this is a really clear, quick instruction on how to get the most of ProQuest.

Son of Citation Machine - Cite Your Sources

I know I used to have rivers of red ink when I created reports in high school. A dropped comma, underline one source but not the other. Mistyping the proper citation format has cost me a grade or two.


Unfortunately, I have no excuse anymore. Son of Citation Machine has been help folks out of the pain of constructing MLA, APA, Turabian and Chicago styles of proper citation since 2000.

Caution - always check your schools or publication preferred citation format. You might have to make adjustments or adapt what your school requires as the proper format.

Now this might not help you on a pop quiz or the final. You are still responsible for knowing how to cite a newspaper, book, recording or web page. But if it is 3 a.m. and your paper is due at 8 a.m. you are gonna needs a little help.

Web Search Strategies In Plain English - Subtitled

This is another winner from the good folks at Common Craft. This video explains basic web search strategies and short cuts on how to find what you need from web search engines. This is the open captioned English version from DotSub.



DotSub is a web based tool that allows video creators to add subtitles to videos in almost any language. There are hundreds of subtitled videos on the site and more being added everyday.

University of Idaho - Information Literacy Modules

There are rumblings from academia and high tone thinkers that state that bloggers, wiki participants and twitters are not equipment with the skills of evaluating information, let alone deciding to create content.

That we do not (collectively) possess the information or critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate the torrent of information that is being produced.

They argue, in the classic sense, that there needs to be gatekeepers such as the traditional news media, intellectuals and professionals trained to filter and evaluate content. These folks would have a certain level of educational background to properly present the information to the teeming masses. I think these people may be called librarians but I'm part of the great unwashed so you didn't hear it from me.

And for the record, I have never said to get rid of traditional news media or that bloggers will wipe out traditional news. But I digress.

Let's say the high tone thinkers are right. That information literacy skills have not been transmitted from academia to the teeming masses. I'm just a blogger but I've locate an on-line source to help me learn the skills that the upper crust is so toasted about.

The University of Idaho has an on-line series of modules to learn about information literacy and has a self-test to check your comprehension.

When you get a chance work your way through the modules. They do have a direct application to our coursework and the life outside of school.