Maybe “musings” isn’t the right word. Perhaps “head-scratching” would be more apropos, since the spectrum of victories and defeats for Libraryland defy a big-picture understanding (for me at least) the morning after the 2010 Midterm Elections. So, without editorializing, here are the nuggets of information we have as of noon Central time about the outcome … Continue reading Post-Election Musings
In the midst of new outbreaks of violence in Pakistan, the United States Consulate in Karachi has announced plans to reopen its Information Resource Center, which has been closed for four years. Schools and universities in Karachi shut down October 20 and library programs were cancelled after a group of armed men opened fire in … Continue reading Violence Grips Karachi, but U.S. Consulate Announces Plans to Reopen IRC Library
A promptly handled reconsideration request at the Waukee (Iowa) Public Library morphed into a public-relations nightmare for Director Maryann Mori last week when area residents misinterpreted a Des Moines Register story about the relocation of The Notebook Girls from the YA section to adult nonfiction as restricting adolescents’ ability to borrow the title. However, nothing … Continue reading When a Good Deed Meets Bad Press
With the media reporting new threats of terrorism in Pakistan, security was tight as we made our way to the first of many meeting venues in Islamabad. Check points and blockades, inspections and screenings are the norm for foreigners, according to the U.S. State Department, even for a representative from the American Library Association in … Continue reading Pakistan Libraries Struggle with Image, Technology, Politics, and Disaster
What makes younger library users, past or present, so interesting to researchers? At the Library History Seminar XII, September 10–12, many scholarly papers focused on youth services. The ideas in circulation at the Madison conference suggested that two factors ignite academic interest—censorship and new technology. Forces of change make young people visible in the library, … Continue reading Hearts and Minds in Play
In what looks very much like the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández paid a visit to 50 East Huron Street today, accompanied by First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, to talk with American Library Association staff about libraries. Joined by an entourage that included Dominican Consul General Giselle Castillo-Veremis and … Continue reading Dominican Republic President Consults with ALA on Library Development
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that politically the library profession is quite liberal. There may be a lot more conservatives in the profession than I know about but if they exist, they are for the most part quiet and under cover. My experience is that the library profession is not just overwhelmingly … Continue reading The Conservatives Among Us
It’s always an occasion for celebration when a funding authority sees fit to provide additional support to libraries. These days, it’s also a rare occasion. That’s why it was particularly heartening to receive press releases announcing budget increases for the Calcasieu Parish Public Library in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the San Antonio (Tex.) Public Library, … Continue reading Advocacy Gets a Payday
In Stevens County, Washington, public libraries are a fairly new concept. Residents voted to form a library district in 1996, transforming a hodgepodge of donation-based collections run by volunteers into a modern system. Over the past decade library staff have worked hard—not only at providing service but also on shaping perceptions of what exactly a … Continue reading Transforming a Hodgepodge
Libraries around the country and the world are hosting events this month as part of the September Project, a grassroots effort to encourage library programming about freedom during the month of September. The September Project was founded in 2004 by Sarah Washburn, library program manager at TechSoup, and David Silver, associate professor of media studies … Continue reading Libraries Host September Project Programming
With the fall election season gearing up across North America, it seemed that the staff of the Calgary (Alberta) Public Library was doing its part to get out the vote when the Canadian Broadcasting Company reported August 25 that the library had launched a “Don’t Be an Idiot” PR campaign to promote its upcoming mayoral-candidate … Continue reading Canadian Library Squelches Rumors of a “Don’t Be an Idiot” Campaign
Once when I was working the reference desk, a seemingly normal community college student (no exposed underwear, multiple tongue piercings, neck tattoos, or a message shaven into his hair) asked why so many Civil War battles were fought in national parks. He wanted information on the subject because he had decided to write a research … Continue reading Why Librarianship Endures
