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10 minutes 38 seconds in Istanbul

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In my last post I described my reading goal for 2020: each month, read a book about something foreign, and then translate some aspect of what I read into real life. I was so excited about getting started with this challenge that I began reading Elif Shafak's 10 minutes 38 seconds in this Strange World  on January 1st.  I knew I wanted to try some different Turkish foods during the month, so I also checked out several cookbooks which included Turkish cuisine.  And so, for much of this past month I have immersed myself in this foreign world. The Book: 10 minutes 38 seconds in this Strange World 10 minutes is the story of a woman--Tequila Leila--whose body has died, but whose mind continues reviewing her life for 10 minutes and 38 seconds after her death.  It was written in Turkish; I read the English translation. As I began reading, I didn't expect to connect with the main character.  The book flap describes her as a sex worker.  I'm ashamed to admit that with tha
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New Year, New Reading Adventure

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Last month the community engagement department at my library put together a blog post about the reading goals of the library staff.  I had never come up with reading resolutions, but after a bit of thought, I decided to push myself to translate what I was reading into real life: A few years ago I read  Marcus Samuelsson’s memoir  Yes, Chef . His whole life was foreign to me, from his upbringing in Sweden to the anxiety-inducing competitive atmosphere of his workplace. One aspect of the book I could relate to was his appreciation for traditional foods from around the world. After I finished the book, I had the opportunity to visit his restaurant in Harlem, which was another exciting foreign experience: navigating the subways of New York alone, being seated at a table alongside strangers, and ordering the prix fixe.    This year my goal is to recreate that experience 12 times over. I want to read a book each month about something foreign, and then somehow find a way to live the exp
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A System to Memorize the Library of Congress Classification

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Having the Library of Congress Classification memorized can be really helpful for anyone who wants to easily browse books on their favorite topics in an academic library.  I used mnemonic devices--the peg list and the method of loci--to create a system to easily memorize all of the main Library of Congress classes. Start with this video, which describes how to use the system. Then  print out the full system  (PDF) or access the slideshow presentation  (Google Slides).  Use the print-out to help you mentally place each image along a set route in your favorite academic library.  This will help you strengthen your memory by providing a set place to store the memory in your memory (the method of loci).  Please also feel free to download the Google Slides & handout to teach your own students the system.  I'd love to hear how you use the materials--so please leave a comment or send me an email! 
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