It strikes me that while the methods librarians use to identify authoritative sources are still sound, the sources themselves have become less credible. The industry influence in medical research described by Physician Mark Hyman is but one example. The library community could help restore authoritative sources, I think, with some organization and coordinated sense of
◊ Participatory Librarianship ◊
Libraries can help bring back authoritative sources
It wasn’t so long ago that a young person’s formal introduction to research and authoritative sources was a teacher or librarian pointing to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the sum of human knowledge. Or the majority of American adults relied on Walter Cronkite to tell them “the way it was” for a given day. Or information about
Libraries as hubs of civic discourse
Oleg Kagan’s comments to my July 7 post and another librarian’s comment on the Lead Pipe blog suggest the idea of public libraries becoming hubs of civic discourse is worth exploring. Do citizens really want it? Oleg described an unsuccessful civic program at the Will & Arial Durant Branch library in Los Angeles: “we invited
Why I give a damn about public libraries
In my formative years, our government waged an unjust war and we compelled our politicians to end it. Black Americans were denied voting rights and equal access to public institutions, and enough people stood up and got legislation passed to ensure basic civil rights for all Americans. We faced up to the inequities of employer-based
Another rich opportunity for participatory librarianship
The world is not changed by those who stand ready. The world is changed by those who act, who shape, who reach — not when asked but when necessary. R. David Lankes, ILEAD U Keynote, February 2010 Last week I promoted a public library initiative of extraordinary consequence: librarians taking the lead to engage the
A patron response to participatory librarianship
This week I featured excerpts (here and here) from recent presentations by R. David Lankes. This passion and these ideas merit conversation and engagement — for if they remain a mere artifact, just another Powerpoint or post or tweet — they become part of a dynamic Lankes urges his audiences to move beyond. So here’s
A strong & sustainable vision for librarians
In a “do or die” decade for public libraries, I shared my hope for positive societal disruption characterized by public engagement. It closed with the notion that public libraries can play a key role in the rejuvenation of our communities and our self-governance. R. David Lankes, Associate Professor at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies
A winning approach for library advocacy
Here’s a shout out for the ALA’s Privacy Revolution. It’s off to a real good start, for it: Puts its cause right out there. Says important stuff clearly and concisely. Makes good resources readily accessible. Works with allies. Issues a call to action. Its focus is privacy and freedom, although this campaign also lights the
My town election/library/school dream
April 7th was election day in West Boylston. Only 11.6% of the town’s 4,758 registered voters cast ballots. My guess is that low awareness, low interest, too many uncontested offices and too many other things to do were behind the low turnout. I dream about doing better next year. And I’m still thinking about stone soup. Imagine residents
