Earlier this month, a Tampa newspaper quoted a local County Commissioner’s view that “libraries [are] a place to convey knowledge, to learn things” and “ought to be used for research, not for entertainment.” It made me wonder how embedded the dichotomy between learning and fun remains in the public conciousness and to what degree patrons
◊ Advocacy ◊
Managing the message
On June 11, MSNBC’s TODAY show ran a 4 minute segment on public libraries. It echoed newspaper stories of the past few months by reporting a dual recessionary effect of increased library usage and jeopardized funding. National coverage is a welcome development. It’s time to help the mainstream media realize there’s a compelling story here—and
A critical undercurrent in libraryland
My literature surveillance includes the Annoyed Librarian, written for Library Journal by a pseudonymous blogger. This blog is a careless diatribe and the comments that accompany each post are often worse. I don’t like it.1 Nonetheless, I scan every article and most of the comments—and gather lots of other people do too. In late 2007,
Strange times for library supporters and officials
A beautiful statement by West Boylston’s Library Director, Louise Howland. “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times with no libraries” Natalie Design ALA, 1991 These are strange times for library supporters and officials. Individuals, businesses, and community groups continue to strongly support the library with
Libraries – an international symbol
Freedom Democracy Learning Respect Heritage Knowledge What else?
Books, buildings and bodies
In a May 2008 interview, Jeff Krull, Director of the Allen County Public Library described short-term strategies for addressing the funding crisis. Jeff boiled financial management of the large system he manages down to books, buildings and bodies. Following years of level-funding or budget reductions, saving money for public libraries means cutting collections, deferring building maintenance
In the library with the lead pipe
Over the past few months, I’ve followed more than a dozen library blogs to develop my blogging acumen and learn about libraries. I’ve been hoping to find librarians who use blogs to unleash their curiosity and expression, demonstrate scholarship, critical thinking, library advocacy and activism, and extend the medium. Eureka — I came into the
Doing a 360 in the long room library
Images of the Long Room Library at Trinity College Dublin take my breath away. Check out the 360° panoramic and be sure to go full screen!
Mapping the meaning of library
I just love thinking about things in new ways, and researching today’s article has been particularly enjoyable. In thinking about what I’ll need from libraries 10 or 20 years from now, I began by describing a place where I could relax and rejuvenate myself, intellectually and socially — kind of like a spa, I thought.
Vision needed asap
I’ve come to believe the library industry is profoundly fragmented and suffers from a lack of vision. Helene Blowers’ comments strengthened this impression and emphatic calls this month from Carl Grant, president of Ex Libris North America have validated it, sadly. In Libraries; A Silence That Is Deafening, Grant writes I think we librarians are
