01.29.07
Posted in Resources at 1:13 am by Paloma Cruz
The Jackson County Library Information blog has listed the 10 Reasons You Need Your Public Library. The shortlist:
- Public libraries are good for the economy.
- Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy.
- Libraries play an important role in helping young children develop reading skills.
- Public libraries provide support to schools and students.
- Libraries are forward- thinking, and play an important role at the cutting edge of information technology.
- Libraries are repositories of the accumulated understanding of mankind.
- Public libraries are a bargain.
- Libraries provide a neutral community gathering place for the free exchange of ideas, culture, and entertainment.
- A vital and attractive library helps define a community, encourages civic pride, and invests residents with a sense of ownership.
- Libraries are the heart and soul of a community and reflect the value residents place on literacy, education, culture, and freedom.
Found at SELCO Librarian, via Tame the Web.
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01.25.07
Posted in News at 12:30 am by Paloma Cruz
Another one found at the Houston Chronicle:
StoryCorps
What: A national project to inspire people to record each others’ stories. One person interviews another in a sound booth. They get a CD copy and the interview is stored in the Library of Congress.
Where: Two permanent booths in New York City and two mobile booths traveling the country.
When: A mobile booth is outside the Museum of Natural History, Houston, until Feb. 3. All reservations are filled. For future schedules, access www.storyCorps.net.
Who: StoryCorps is a creation of New York City-based Sound Portraits Productions, a nonprofit public-radio documentary production company. In Houston, StoryCorps excerpts air on Fridays during National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on KUHF/88.7-FM.
The quote to note:
“We discovered going through our experiences with miscarriage, there is a feeling of being very alone,” said Darcy Casavant, a Houston Public Library librarian. “We want to take away the silence and the loneliness, so others will feel less alone.”
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01.24.07
Posted in News at 11:47 pm by Paloma Cruz
I read this twice and am not really sure what my reaction is. Let’s see what you think:
Witness to the decline of books
A librarian sees readers check out
– Houston Chronicle
I’m a librarian in an independent school in the Washington, D.C., area. We’re doing all the right things. Our class sizes are small. Most graduating seniors gain admission to their college of choice. The facilities are first-rate.
Yet from my vantage point at the reference desk, something is amiss. The books in the library stacks are gathering dust.
When I started in this profession five years ago — I used to teach English — I presumed that librarians were mostly united in their attraction to books. But as I moved along in my library science program, I found that books weren’t really our focus. Information management, database networking and research tools claimed the largest share of the curriculum.
In other words, literacy today is defined less by how English departments or a librarian might teach Wordsworth or Faulkner than by how we find our way through the digital forest of information overload.
Typically, many people in my line of work no longer have the title of librarian. They are called media and information specialists, or sometimes librarian technologists.
The buzzword in the trade is “information literacy,” a misnomer, because what it is really about is mastering computer skills, not promoting a love of reading and books. These days, librarians measure the quality of returns in data-mining stints. We teach students how to maximize a database search, about successful retrieval rates. What usually gets lost in the scramble is a careful reading of the material.
[snip]
A library’s neglected shelves reveal the demise of something important, especially for young readers starved for meaning — for anything profound.
Still, I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. I’m turning the new-arrivals shelf into a main attraction in my school’s library. Recently I stood Charles Dickens’ Bleak House next to the DVD version produced by the BBC. Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson) graced both covers. A senior fingered the DVD for a minute, then turned it over to read the blurb. “The book is too long,” she said. “Is the movie any better?”
“You’re right. The book is long,” I said. “But once you start this one, you won’t be able to put it down, right from that first page about the London fog.”
“I think I’ll watch the DVD,” the student said.
And in my library ledger, I’ll register this as a sale.
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Posted in News at 11:10 pm by Paloma Cruz
Public library seeks local young artists
– reported by The Pasadena Citizen
February is Library Lovers’ Month and the library is asking local children under the age of 13 to share that love through art in a mural contest.
Though a United Way Grant, the library is planning a mural for its youth department and is relying on local youth to provide the imagination and talent.
Local artist/muralist Deborah Legge will determine which entrees make the final project.
“She’s going to choose select pieces and incorporate either the theme that the children have created into her overall vision of the mural,” said PPL technical service manager Lisa Loranc.
The children’s individual pieces will be on display in the library throughout March, which is Youth Art Month, said Loranc.
Submissions for the contest will be accepted between February 14 and 25 and is open to any child with an idea and 11 by 17 inches of canvass space, the maximum size allowed for each piece.
Legge will also be teaching a mural workshop in March where all area children will be able to participate in the mural project, said Loranc.
[snip]
For more information on the Pasadena Public Library mural contest, call 713-475-4985.
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01.18.07
Posted in News at 11:11 pm by Paloma Cruz
Gates Foundation Renews Library Venture
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is renewing its effort to support free access to the Internet in U.S. libraries by providing new computers and high-speed connections to those that have struggled to keep up with technology.
A new series of grants beginning with an $11.5 million investment last month will continue to put millions of dollars into libraries in 32 states, said Jill Nishi, program manager for the foundation’s library initiative. The foundation bought new hardware for libraries in the other 18 states last year.
[snip]
Locally, both Houston and Harris County have benefited from Gates grants.
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01.17.07
Posted in General at 12:22 am by Paloma Cruz
Get Rich Slowly has a list of 10 Ways to Save Money on Books that repeatedly suggests a visit to the library:
I used to spend thousands of dollars a year on books, most of which I never read. Recently I’ve begun to trim my book spending. I spent nearly $3000 on books in 2003, but that number dropped to $700 last year. How did I do it? Through self-discipline and some commonsense tricks.
[snip]
Avoid new releases
New releases sell at a premium. Sometimes you can get them cheap at Costco or Amazon. It’s best to avoid them completely. Put them on hold at the library. If you’re tempted to buy a newly-released book, ask yourself: “Why do I need to own this now? Can I wait?”
[snip]
Search for bargains
I look to buy books cheap at garage sales, thrift stores, and library book sales. If you’re patient and have a general idea of what you want, you can build a fantastic library for cheap. Don’t forget: if you find a nice stash at a garage sale, you can negotiate for a better price.
Make Amazon your all-purpose book tool
Though I buy some books from Amazon, I mainly use the site as a reference. I’m able to check reviews, prices, and related works. For many books, I can preview the first few pages. I can check release dates. My top use for Amazon is to compile a “reading list”. Whenever I spot a book that might be interesting, I add it to my Amazon list. About once a month, I go through this list and put the books on hold at the library…
Frequent your public library
This is the cornerstone to my system. The true revolution came when I discovered my library’s web site. Referencing my Amazon wish list, I place books on hold. When they’re ready, I stop after work to pick up a batch. I keep those books out for what seems like forever. My library system lets me renew for nearly six months! I believe that every smart, frugal person should make active use of her public libary.
[snip]
Good advice. Very good advice.
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01.12.07
Posted in General at 2:51 am by Paloma Cruz
The Men of Texas Libraries Calendar… I just think this is a cool concept. I need to buy one, I think. I can’t wait to see who’s in it.
(Found via cynsations.)
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