CAMIO

Slow day today at the library.... Snow and blizzard warnings are keeping our patrons home, so I've been able to spend the morning investigating CAMIO.  I've had fun with this database:  it's sort of like a virtual tour of the top museums in the country!

Paul Revere was a silversmith, and a variety of museums own his works.  Looking at the tea pots, sugar bowls, etc. reminds me of times past when my mother would get out her fancy silver for special guests.  (Me - well I just plop a tea bag in a mug, pour in the hot water and go from there....)  I did notice that some records have more detailed descriptions than others.  I also thought it was interesting and sort of ironic that the museum in Williamstown, Massachusetts has a sugar basket that it lists as a forgery!  I guess it's true what they say - "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!"

The "Sioux" search also turned up a variety of items (clothing, drawings, paintings, photographs, etc.) from many different museums.  Most of the items are from the 1800's, but I did notice the star quilt from 1991.  One odd item was the French writing table, included because one of the creators was a man named Jean-Charles Sioux....

For my artist search I looked up Norman Rockwell.  I thought there would be many records, but there were only six!  I also looked up Matthew Brady, the Civil War photographer.  Only one photograph was listed, from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

One of my favorite art forms is a quilt, so that's what I did for a subject search.  I especially like antique and vintage quilts, and have quite a lot of reproduction fabrics in my stash.  There were 50 records to look at.  I saved several of the quilts in "Favorites."  The goal will be to study them and maybe try to see if I can achieve a similar look in one of my own quilts.  (What did I say about imitation?!)

How will patrons use CAMIO?  Teachers could use the images in presentations to classes, and students could use them as well.  Having to access CAMIO from a library or school may be a negative for some, as it means planning ahead and not waiting until midnight the night before an assignment is due....  I don't think this database will be as popular as some of the others, but it's there for when we are asked just the right question!