Of obelisks and libraries

I was delighted to see pink ice-cream rose support obelisks on Gardener's World a couple of nights ago - I just did a slightly more sober black one for this lovely Sunday's Well garden.

They are great to give a bit of height and structure to a garden, as well support against wind damage for the roses. Isn't the "Nelly Moser" clematis looking fantastic here? A blowsy lady but spectacular.

I had great fun talking to the librarians in UCC about social media and education a couple of weeks ago - there is some wonderful stuff going on in the US with mobile libraries, gamification (New York Public Library "Finding the future" project),  YouMedia centres (Chicago Public Library), Hi-tech and groupwork rooms (Michigan State). I never enjoyed libraries much myself until I got to college and discovered that librarians did more than go sssh or tell you they didn't have the book you wanted...  but then I was lucky enough to be brought up in a house full of books....

Slideshare presentation Social media: fad or future?  Do follow the wonderful Gerry McKiernan of Iowa State library on twitter @GMcKBlogs for inspiring but voluminous posts on things library. I also like Eli Neiberger of Ann Arbor District Library @ulotrichous on YouTube...