10.21.06

Houston libraries offer free wireless Internet

Posted in News at 8:02 am by Paloma Cruz

Harris County Public Library has been offering free wireless Internet access for a while. Now, the Houston Public Library has it too, at all library locations. This means that any library in the greater Houston area can get you logged on, for free:

Free Wireless Internet Access Now Available at the Houston Public Library

Houston - The Houston Public Library now offers customers free wireless Internet access at all of its 36 neighborhood library locations. Access is also available at the HPL Express Downtown in the Julia Ideson Building and the Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research located in the museum district. Customers can access the Internet with their wireless-ready laptop or PDAs. They can access the library’s electronic resources and have materials available at their fingertips. If they do not own a laptop, some neighborhood libraries have wireless-enabled laptops for customers to check out for use within the library. Customers can find the neighborhood library location near them by calling 832-393-1313 or by visiting www.houstonlibrary.org.

Director of Libraries Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson said, “The Houston Public Library is pleased to offer free wireless Internet access to all its customers. Wireless service helps our customers have equitable access to information. In today’s world, global communication is important. It makes a difference in peoples lives. The Library is embracing changes in innovative technology in response to our customers needs and as one more of its exceptional services. We also want to make sure everyone in our community has access to the necessary technology for his or her personal and professional growth.”

“We want to provide our customers with the best technology and the services they require to be productive in our library,” said Roosevelt Weeks, assistant director of information technology at the Houston Public Library.

To access the free wireless Internet service, customers will need a Houston Public Library Power Card in good standing to be able to check out a laptop for 2 hours at a time. Instructions on how to enable the wireless access on the equipment are also available at the library. In addition, the staff have been trained to provide some support in using the service or can connect you with the library’s IT helpdesk for advanced technical assistance. For more information, please call the Houston Public Library at 832.393.1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

10.20.06

Texas Historical Commission State-of-the-Art 50th Anniversary Exhibit

Posted in News at 7:59 am by Paloma Cruz

From the Houston Public Library:

The Houston Public Library’s Park Place Regional Library Hosts a Texas Historical Commission State-of-the-Art 50th Anniversary Exhibit

Houston: The Houston Public Library’s Park Place Regional Library is pleased to be hosting the Texas Historical Commission (THC) State-of-the-Art 50th Anniversary Exhibit. The community is invited to visit the library and view this historical exhibit; it is free and open to the public.

THC celebrated 50 year as the state agency for historic preservation in 2003. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the THC developed a special exhibit featuring colorful images relating to the agency’s many projects and programs, including: the LaSalle Archeological Project, the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, the Texas Main Street Program, and the Historical Marker Program. Thanks to the generous donation of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, Inc., the exhibit debuted at the Texas State Capitol in 2003 and now travels the state as a tribute to the agency and the preservation efforts being worked on statewide. For more information visit www.thc.state.tx.us.

The Texas Historical Commission is the state agency for historic preservation. The agency administers a variety of programs to preserve the archeological, historical and cultural resources of Texas.

WHAT:Texas Historical Commission 50th Anniversary Exhibit
WHEN:September 14, 2006 - December 7, 2006
WHERE:
Park Place Regional Library
Houston Public Library
8145 Park Place Blvd.
Houston, TX 77017
832-393-1970

To find more Texas and local history information, library customers are invited to visit the Houston Public Library’s Julia Ideson Building’s Texas Room. The Julia Ideson Building is located at 500 McKinney, downtown, 832-393-1313.

For more information, please call the Houston Public Library at 832.393.1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

10.19.06

Mike Jones at Houston Public Library

Posted in News at 7:57 am by Paloma Cruz

From the Houston Public Library:

HIP HOP CAFE

Teen Program Debuts at the Houston Public Library

Special Guests Include Young Adult Author Alex Flinn and Houston’s Own Rap Artist Mike Jones

Houston: In celebration of National Teen Read Week, the Houston Public Library, H-E-B, and 97.9 The Box Radio have partnered to present a week-long Hip Hop Cafe: Dancin’ in the Streets program series for our community’s teens. All programs are free to the public and take place October 16 through October 21, 2006 at the Smith Neighborhood Library, located at 3624 Scott Street. Hip Hop Cafe: Dancin’ in the Streets programs were created to promote teen literacy and the use of library resources. During the week teens can participate in daily educational and fun activities culminating in a free day-long Hip Hop Cafe Festival, featuring rap artist Mike Jones, on Saturday, October 21.

Young adult author Alex Flinn kicks off the Houston Public Library’s Teen Read Week Monday, October 16 with a teen meet and greet at 3:30 p.m., followed by an adult session at 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday, October 17 teens will have another opportunity to meet the author at 3:30 p.m.

Alex Flinn is the author of Breathing Underwater, which received honors as a Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Flinn’s second novel, Breaking Point, deals with school violence and peer pressure. Her third book, titled Nothing to Lose, is about a teen who joins a traveling carnival after his mother is charged with the murder of her abusive husband. Nothing to Lose is a 2005 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association (ALA) and a 2005 Quick Picks for Young Adult Readers (ALA). Her newest novel, Diva, debuts this month.

Teens are invited to show off their dancing moves on Wednesday, October 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the Dance Dance Revolution Tournament. A Poetry Coffeehouse event encouraging teens to express themselves by reciting their own poetry is scheduled for Thursday, October 19 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Winners of these events receive gift certificates from Barnes & Nobel Booksellers.

On Friday, October 20 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Urgeworks will facilitate a dance workshop. Urgeworks dancers use street dance, rhythm poetry, and drama to teach the positive aspects and history of the hip-hop culture. The inspirational young men of Urgeworks–formerly considered at risk themselves–found focus through hip-hop dance and now work as professional artists. The group’s mission is to lead students on an exciting journey that promotes individuality, self-confidence and building self-esteem through dance.

The Hip Hop Cafe Festival wraps up Teen Read Week Saturday, October 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rap Artist Mike Jones and 97.9 The Box Radio will make an appearance Noon to 2 p.m. along with performances by the Yates High School Band, Five Doza, Caddy Kartel, and Soul Street. Teens will also have an opportunity to participate in an Open Mic Battle and win an iPOD Nano donated by Best Buy, or a Street Dance by Urgeworks. Free refreshments will be available Noon to 2 p.m., donated by Pepsi.

Rap Artist and avid reader Michael “Mike” Jones is from the north side of Houston. Well-known for the repetition of his own name throughout his songs, Jones signed a major record deal with Warner Bros. record company then released his first album “Who Is Mike Jones?” in April 2005. The album has since gone double Platinum in the United States. The album debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album charts in 2005, later peaking at No. 1. His production team has been noted for their use of audio samples of artists ranging from yodelers to Tchaikovsky. Jones worked with Elton John in 2005 on a number of remixes. He has also guest starred on the Fox Television series “Prison Brea”. Mike Jones will release his next album, “The American Dream,” in late November 2006.

All Hip Hop Cafe: Dancin’ in the Streets events are free and open to the public.

For more information, please call the Houston Public Library at 832.393.1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

10.10.06

the ethics of downloading at the library

Posted in News at 11:12 pm by Paloma Cruz

Is it ethical to download music from CDs at the Library? Is it legal? A possible answer, from the Houston Chronicle:

[snip]

This guideline strives to balance the right of a creator to be paid for his work (and thus encourage his creativity) and the interest of the larger society in the dissemination of ideas. The fundamental goal of copyright is not to secure profits but to inspire thought — “to promote the progress of science and useful arts,” as Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution puts it.

Although copying an entire work is seldom legal, it is sometimes ethical — for example, if the work is unavailable for purchase (most books ever published are now out of print); if it is available only in an archaic format (a 78 rpm recording, a Betamax tape, a clay tablet); if you already own a copy and want another in a more usable format (less scratchy, fewer coffee stains). But such reasonable situations might not inoculate you against lawsuits. The law is an expression not just of ethics but of power.

[snip]

Good to know.

10.09.06

the most challenged books

Posted in News at 10:41 pm by Paloma Cruz

What are the most challenged books in the country (in addition to Harry Potter)? From the Houston Chronicle:

The 10 most challenged books of the 21st Century (2000-05) are:

1. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

3. Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

4. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

6. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

7. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

8. Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz

9. Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

10. Forever by Judy Blume

Not only is Harry Potter on the list, it tops it.

Harry Potter isn’t welcome in Georgia

Posted in News at 10:38 pm by Paloma Cruz

I love Harry Potter, both the character and the book series. My 10-year-old niece loves Harry Potter, the books and the movies. My 7-year-old nephew loves Harry Potter, though he’s asked me to get him the audiobooks because the books are so long.

Every year around banned books week I see Harry Potter listed among the top 100 most banned books. Here’s another attempt to pull them out of schools:

Mom seeks a ban on Harry Potter in schools
– reported by the Houston Chronicle

[snip]

Laura Mallory, a mother of four, told a hearing officer for the Gwinnett County Board of Education last week that the popular fiction series is an “evil” attempt to indoctrinate children in the Wicca religion.

Board of Education attorney Victoria Sweeny said that if schools were to remove all books containing reference to witches, they would have to ban such works as Macbeth and Cinderella.

[snip]

The Chronicle’s John Whiteside adds:

If you don’t want your kid to read Harry Potter, don’t let your kid read Harry Potter. (Though telling your kid is off limits is probably the best way to send him or her scurrying off to a library to track down a copy.) But don’t try to make that decision for every other parent, who might not share your terror of the printed word.

Wow! What a concept! Expecting parents to take responsibility for what their children are doing, reading, watching instead of making schools, libraries and television make those decisions for them. That’s almost… logical.

10.05.06

celebrate Teen Read Week

Posted in Resources at 12:19 am by Paloma Cruz

Need inspiration and help putting together a Teen Read Week celebration? Try the American Library Association’s Web site. Of particular note:

Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries,has recorded two PSAs for Teen Read Week, both of them 30 seconds long, and can be used to raise awareness about Teen Read Week. The PSAs can be played over school announcements or on a local radio station and were made possible by Listening Library. For more information, including tips on how to ensure the PSA is played, click here.

Need more ideas? Check out the post at Alternative Teen Services to find out what they’re doing. When in doubt, copy! :-)