The Bookshelf

June 16 is Bloomsday, the date at the center of James Joyce’s masterpiece, Ulysses. Joyce fans in Ireland and around the world are celebrating, as is writer Colum McCann, who in today’s New York Times shares how he connected with his grandfather through the novel. (Joyce reportedly chose June 16  for the action of the work because it was the anniversary of his first date with his future wife, Nora.) Among the activities in Dublin are readings, lectures, walking tours and an annual charity bike rally complete with Edwardian costumes. So raise a pint to Leo Bloom, Stephen Dedalus and Molly, and check out our collection of Joyce’s works. (Not necessarily at the same time, of course!)

Perhaps you’ve heard about some of these new-fangled technologies geared toward putting you in touch with all of your favorite books. Between eBook readers, digital downloads, and a whole host of MP3 players, there are now more ways to read a book than ever.

But maybe you haven’t taken the leap into the digital book world just yet. Come July 9th, you’ll get a risk-free chance to try out some of these technologies on your own.

From 10-4, we’re getting a visit from the Digital Bookmobile, an traveling interactive exhibit offering hands-on access to a number of virtual materials. You can try out many of the newest advances in hardware and software, and get a first-hand look at what’s new at the Library!

In the meantime, you can check out some of our e-reading resources on your own. Browse our digital collection, including popular titles, computer guides, children’s books, and much more, all in a variety of formats. We also have first and second generation Kindles available for you to try out in the Library. Look for me at the Readers’ Services desk, and we’ll see you on the Digital Bookmobile!