First Amendment Audits

December 13, 2019 200 × 259 Free Speech—or Free-for-All?

Graphic: A sign from Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library prohibiting photographing or videotaping people using the library.

Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library facilities
posted signs to clarify the system’s stance
on filming.

Latest Library Links

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Jessamyn West writes: “My drop-in time work used to be a lot of teaching basic skills. Then for a time it was teaching people about software, [and then] social media, then mobile phones. Lately the major thing I do is something I call ‘How do I connect this to that?’ Each of these things is not just a ‘read the help pages’ situation because it involves multiple interrelated systems. Understanding how these things work together is the main skill that’s required to help people troubleshoot. Here are a few concepts that are useful.”

Librarian.net, Nov. 23
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Abigail Goben writes: “If you have followed me on Mastodon in the past two years, you may have seen a post of Today’s Survey Demographics. I started this one day when yet another survey hit one of the myriad professional listservs I lurk on, in order to be publicly annoyed at how quickly I could be re-identified from the ‘entirely anonymous’ survey that had been distributed. What else is social media for? Then about 15 months ago, I started capturing the survey instruments to see what the demographic question trends really were and the variety of risks surveyors were introducing.”

Hedgehog Librarian, Nov. 20
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“Some public libraries in Japan will trial sales of new books from fiscal 2025 to fill the void caused by a nationwide decline in the number of physical bookstores, industry officials said. The program is aimed at increasing opportunities for people to buy books, particularly the elderly who may be unfamiliar with the process of using online shopping sites. The trial will be conducted in a number of libraries by TRC Library Service Inc., which provides library services for local governments and others, in conjunction with book wholesaler Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc.”

Kyodo News, Nov. 23
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Kathleen Hughes writes: “In this episode of FYI: The Public Libraries Podcast, we share inspiring stories of library joy. Ten stories in under 20 minutes! Inspired by Mychal Threets’ focus on celebrating joy in libraries, this episode highlights moments from library workers across the country that capture the magic, connection, and transformation that happen in libraries every day.”

Public Libraries Online, Nov. 25
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Hannah Ostroff writes: “Library of Congress collections hold some 40,000 cookbooks, plus thousands of recipe booklets, archival recipes and dietary therapy books, that reflect America’s holiday food traditions—a seasonal smorgasbord of ingredients, techniques, technology and culinary viewpoints. McCall’s Book of Merry Eating, published in 1965, offers multiple recipes for [gelatin-based] so-called salads, to be chilled in a mold and served over salad greens. One contains canned corn, a package of frozen peas and carrots and chicken bouillon.”

Library of Congress: Timeless, Nov. 22
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Alison Marcotte writes: “Giving gifts feels great, but shopping for them can be stressful. We’re here to help you reduce the anxiety and bring some of the fun back this holiday season. Our roundup of bookish gifts focuses on presents to entertain, delight, and inspire the family, friends, and colleagues on your list. And to help reduce the pressure on your wallet, items start at $10, and everything is under $50.”
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“So, you saw Wicked on the big screen and you loved it! The soaring vocals of the cast transported you to a land somewhere over the rainbow and you want more. But the next movie installment won’t come out for another 365 days! What’s a fan like you to do until then? Follow the yellow brick road to these reads to grant your wish of escaping into a wonderful world.”

Quincy (Ill.) Public Library, Nov.

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