Author Archive for Brent

Tuesday, Dec 30, 2014

Often patrons are surprised to find out that we offer free "Tech Help" sessions every week at the library.  This is a great place to learn how to do something new with your laptop or figure out some feature on your new tablet.  We get all levels...

Sunday, Nov 30, 2014

If you have kids that regularly visit the Ellen Buchanan Children's Room, then you have probably met Mabel the Table.  This is a large interactive touch table that immediately draws kids' attention.  The library has been a long-time host of Coder...

Friday, Oct 31, 2014

If you enjoy both sci-fi and mysteries, investigate the Last Policemen Series.  The first two books in the three-part series by Ben H. Winters bagged an Edgar and a PKD award respectively.  The third has just come out.  The books follow the...

Tuesday, Sep 30, 2014

One of our strategic plan goals for us this year is to improve our self-checkout stations.  There are currently six of these stations, four near the main entrance of the library, one on the second floor near the info desk and one in the children's...

Friday, Aug 29, 2014

Mabel the Table, the Children's Room's interactive touch table made her debut at the beginning of the summer and has gotten lots of use since then.  The library recently teamed up with  Dev/Iowa Bootcamp to produce some new games for Mabel. ...

Thursday, Jul 24, 2014

Many of you are fans of Scandinavian crime fiction such as Mankell's Wallander, Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole and the girl with the dragon tattoo.  But if you haven't discovered Martin Beck, it's time.  There is a series of ten crime fiction written in...

Thursday, Jun 5, 2014

Libraries are traditionally strong supporters of intellectual freedom.  From our official confidentiality policy : Confidentiality of library records is central to intellectual freedom and directly related to the ability of citizens to use...

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Want to build something? Have a great idea? The Iowa City Public Library has an interactive touch table for its Children's Room and needs your help bringing it to life. We are looking for games that are: multi-touch multi-player ...

Monday, Mar 31, 2014

I'm always looking for good bedtime reading to share with my son. You know, something that we both can enjoy. Something that doesn't involve bvd-clad superheroes farting their nemesis into submission or snide protagonists complaining about their...

Friday, Feb 28, 2014

I recently made a good find in the Book End : The English Major by Jim Harrison.  Although the title makes it sound like an epic love story set in colonial Africa, it couldn't be farther from the truth. It's a true American travel story. Harrison...

About Brent

I am the IT Coordinator at ICPL.  I mostly read mysteries and science fiction, but sometimes I also delve into evolution or cosmology.  I like to travel although I don't get a chance to do it as much as I used to.  I've spent time in Senegal, Japan, and West Berlin.  I also love to backpack and hiked the entire Appalachian Trail a while back. I...