06.23.06

the circus at the library

Posted in General at 11:04 pm by Paloma Cruz

Another listing picked up from the Houston Public Library Upcoming Events enewsletter:

Meet a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown

Houston Public Library invites you
to a fun-filled program featuring
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clowns.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006 * 2 PM
Flores Branch Library
110 North Milby • 832-393-1780

One of Ringling’s zaniest clowns will engage in a circus reading party with young readers that includes interactive play, exciting story time sessions and special treats and surprises for participants and suggested reading lists for kids.

Houston hosts an event with author Emily Fox Gordon

Posted in General at 11:02 pm by Paloma Cruz

Picked up from the Houston Public Library Upcoming Events enewsletter:

Join us for an evening with author Emily Fox Gordon

Thursday, June 29, 2006
6:30 PM Reception
7 PM Program

McGovern-Stella Link Branch Library
7405 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77025

Emily Fox Gordon has published personal essays in Boulevard, Salmagundi, and The American Scholar, and her work has won two Pushcart Prizes. An essay about her hospitalization as a teenager at Austen Riggs formed the basis for Mockingbird Years (2000), a memoir named a New York Times Notable Book and was chosen as one of Amazon.com’s top ten memoirs for the year. Gordon has taught workshops at Rice University, Houston’s INPRINT program, and the University of Wyoming. Her new memoir, ARE YOU HAPPY?, began as an essay.

Gwinnett County library board refuses to buy Spanish books

Posted in News at 10:47 pm by Paloma Cruz

The Gwinnett County library board recently voted down a request to spend $3,000 on books in Spanish. A sad thing to say about the Georgia region with the largest Hispanic population.

Spending on Spanish fiction titles is shelved
– reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Gwinnett County library board has put the brakes on purchases of Spanish-language fiction four months after the books hit library shelves.

The board approved the 2007 budget last Monday minus $3,000 that would have paid for new adult fiction in Spanish, signaling a change in direction for the library system serving Georgia’s largest Hispanic population.

The decision comes amid intense national debate about immigration and a shake-up in the Gwinnett library system that last week claimed the director.

Libraries already struggle to buy all the English-language books patrons want, let alone those in Spanish, board Chairman Lloyd Breck said. “Basically, what we’re saying is don’t expand that program,” Breck said. “As long as we’re telling people we can’t purchase books in English, we don’t need to be expanding in other languages.”

[snip]

06.21.06

things you can do at a library

Posted in News at 1:54 pm by Paloma Cruz

MSN Encarta has 7 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do at the Library which I’m proposing to laminate and give to my local library. Some of the things:

  • Surf the Internet with your own laptop.
  • Download free e-books.
  • Download free audio books.
  • Renew books online.
  • Sit on your own couch (maybe even without shoes and a shirt) and still be served.

Other articles:

Found via Superpatron.

06.20.06

Friendswood to get new library

Posted in News at 4:50 pm by Paloma Cruz

Possible Pearland library gets site
– reported by the Houston Chronicle

With a future library in mind, Pearland City Council approved a resolution to accept a 3.2-acre site from the developers of Shadow Creek Ranch as part of a previous development agreement.

[snip]

For now, city officials are content to accept the land, located on the north side of Shadow Creek Parkway, just west of the intersection of Cedar Lake Loop.

[snip]

Under the agreement, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2 will reimburse the developers $377,208 for acquiring the property.

06.19.06

Salt Lake named Library of the Year

Posted in News at 4:46 pm by Paloma Cruz

Salt Lake City Library Named Library of the Year
– reported by KSL.com

Like being the valedictorian of one’s school, the Salt Lake City Library is the top of its class, named the 2006 Library of the Year.

The major distinction comes from the American Library Association and includes 10-thousand dollar in prize money.

[snip]

06.18.06

Flickr at your library

Posted in Resources at 4:05 pm by Paloma Cruz

Tame the Web has a nice post on reasons why you should use Flickr at your library:

I’ll advocate again: get a flickr account at your library! Here’s why:

For no muss no fuss image storage for the library materials processing wiki!

For an easy way to display a rotating set of images on your library home page.

To promote what your teens are doing at the library and a book sale!

To share the library’s history.

To create awareness and promote workshops of a library consortium.

To mash up with some cool toys!

To commemorate the first patron of the new bookmobile!

To promote the state library association’s conference — putting a face on the association.

To promote a way to thank our users with fortunes hidden around the library!

To share images of Staff In-Service Day with the community - that’s transperancy at work!

Her original post, 10 Reasons to Use Flickr at Your Library, included:

How’s this for putting your library out there:

Murder by the Book

A Reminder from the College Dining Room: Historical Document

Library Storytime Van

Gaming Exhibition

Library Holiday Ornament

Author Signing

“Dare to Read” Library Book Displays

Promoting and Sharing a Conference/Workshop*

Showing folks the building!

Harry Potter Day!

Is your library using Flickr? If so, how?

06.17.06

Australian Mom demands libraries ban chat

Posted in News at 2:46 pm by Paloma Cruz

The mother of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a man she met in an internet chatroom is demanding that libraries and schools ban children from chatrooms. While I feel for the mother and the girl (who was victimized) I think that the proposed approach misses the point. If a teenager is set on a particular course of action, then libraries could pull computers completely from their buildings and the teens would still find a way to do it.

Mum demands chatroom crackdown after ‘rape’
– reported by news.com.au

THE mother of a 15-year-old girl allegedly raped by a man she met through an internet chatroom has called on public libraries and schools to ban children from such websites.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said many unsupervised children were using online chatrooms in public libraries and schools.

[snip]

Many public libraries contacted by The Advertiser yesterday said they did not restrict children from using chat sites.

A spokeswoman for Marion council - which operates three libraries - said there were many good chat sites available.

“On balance, it is more important to have access to the good chat rooms and freedom of information than it is to stop the one or two people who will breach it,” she said.

[snip]

06.15.06

Ernie Ingles recognized for leadership

Posted in News at 5:42 am by Paloma Cruz

Innovative head librarian earns national kudos
Ernie Ingles recognized for leadership
– reported by Folio

More than six million titles fill the shelves of University of Alberta libraries, making it the second largest collection in Canada. And with its numerous digital collections and initiatives with partner institutions in Alberta, the U of A library system is cutting edge, thanks in part to the efforts of its chief librarian.

Ernie Ingles was recognized this week by the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) with the 2006 CARL Award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship.

“It’s a great honour. I’ve always thought that peer recognition, particularly within academia and universities, was one of the most important kinds of recognition,” said Ingles, who is also the U of A’s vice-provost.

Among his many achievements, Ingles has taken a leadership role in many initiatives to link libraries from post-secondary institutions province-wide, which provides students with greater access to resources from other institutions. These enterprises include the NEOS Library Consortium, The Health Knowledge Network, and the upcoming Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, a multi-million dollar venture funded by the provincial government.

[snip]

06.14.06

Pasadena Library gets $500,000 to renovate building

Posted in News at 12:48 am by Paloma Cruz

The Library is still looking for additional funds to finish the project.

Pasadena library receives grant
– reported by the Houston Chronicle

The Pasadena Public Library has received notice of a $500,000 grant from the Houston Endowment Inc. to renovate the main library at 1201 Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive. Library officials expect to receive the funding by the end of July.

In mid-March, the Brown Foundation awarded the library $250,000 for renovation and expansion.

Renovation plans include a 9,500-square-foot addition, a new meeting room with after-hours access, a coffee bar and a bookstore to be managed by volunteers, Library Director Sheila Henderson said.

[snip]

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