February 7th

What's more important? The Beatles first day in America, or Charles Dickens' birth? Who changed the world more? Who will still be important, or relevant in another 100 years - either of them, or neither of them?

The first untethered astronaut walked in space on this day in 1984. Swiss women got the vote on this day in 1971. Modern New Zealand was one day old on February 7th, 1840.

I read Dickens, occasionally. I sing Revolution in the shower. I don't vote, but love being able to; I don't walk in space, but I love the stars. When I visit New Zealand I stand on the beach at night and look up, and I swear there are satellites and meteors and shooting stars, bright Venus and dull, red Mars.

Meaning - celebrate Dickens' birthday by reading. Not Great Expectations, if it is too old fashioned for you; or Oliver Twist, if it reminds you cruelly of the third form. But Dickens if you want to. Or Austen, or the Alex Rider books, or Tintin, or Mr Gum or Mr Stink, or the Hemingway you haven't read for twenty years - if you want to.

Or like me, Bud, Not Buddy: a YA classic, celebrated, minor, new to me, but part of the fibre and weave that begins with Dickens and what came before him, and the amazing path that followed, a shared history of rock music and new frontiers, space and democracy, and millions of wonderful words.

Harrow's favourite books

What is your favourite book? We want to know!
We're making a list of Harrow Bangkok's most popular books.
Just like Santa Claus, we'll be checking it twice to make sure you can borrow them from the library.

You can vote for any kind of book you want - children's, Thai, adult... whatever you like.

Vote now for your favourite.
The results will be announced during Book week 2012.

If you don't have time to vote now, we will put up a QR code in the library so you can complete the survey on your mobile device.

Book Amnesty

The amnesty for books damaged or lost in the floods of late 2011 will expire at the end of this half term. Until then, anyone who has a damaged book can see a librarian and the book will be deleted from their record. There is no charge for these books.

However, anyone who still has long term overdue books at the beginning of the next half term will be sent a bill. So, please either return your books as soon as possible, or see a librarian today!

Google tips and search help

For an interesting take on how to search Google, check out Hack College's Get more out of Google post.

This entry also includes other helpful tips like keyboard shortcuts especially for Mac users. You can even find out how to use Google as a calculator.