Public Libraries

No Shushing in this Library

birdie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:16:06 -0500

Here's an article from the San Diego Reader that we missed (dateline June 18). Lots of readers wrote in with kudos for author and playwright Alex Finlayson, who hangs out a good deal of the time at her local branch, North Clairemont.

Sad tales fill soaked libraries

Blake — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:30:00 -0500

Two tales emerge in the saga of Iowa's libraries and the floods.

In one story, the majority of facilities escape the murky water that hit about two weeks ago and become important information hubs, where residents can go online and apply for aid, send e-mails or use maps to traverse around closed roads.

The other account details the harrowing losses of a handful of libraries smacked by the surging waters, including in Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city.

Citizens...Speak Up About Library Cuts

birdie — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:29:44 -0500

Column in Hometown Annapolis about increasing budget cuts.

In the Annapolis (Ann Arundel Cty, MD) area, five county public libraries will close on Sundays for the summer; three will reopen in the fall, but the Crofton and Severna Park branches will become six-day operations year-round. The Sunday cuts will save the library system $150,000 in wages. In this system, budget cuts total more than $1.4 million. Nancy Choice, chief of public services and branch management for county libraries, said they're the most severe cuts she's ever seen.

Check out a library book without leaving your car

Blake — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:03:54 -0500

Readers can pick up a mystery at Foothills [AZ] Library much like they would a Big Mac at McDonald's.

The north Glendale library, the newest of the city's three sites, offers a drive-up window. On average, 2,043 people a month have used the convenience so far in 2008. People order items from home and then go to the drive-up window.

The West Branch Library, under design, should have a drive-up window, too.

LexisNexis Moves Into the Public Library Market

Blake — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:56:13 -0500

Paula J. Hane at Info Today Newsbreaks Notes In what has to be viewed as a surprisingly low-key launch for a product in a brand new market, LexisNexis (www.lexisnexis.com ) rather quietly announced its new Library Express service. This is the company’s first product for public libraries. No advance notice on the news was given to the library press or industry analysts, and there’s been almost no mention of it in the blogosphere. It will be officially available as of today, June 30, and is being shown at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference this week in Anaheim, Calif. It is very similar in features and functions to the company’s Academic library product though it offers slightly less content.

Librarians censoring children's reading?

Anonymous Patron — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:17:11 -0500

Ann Giles (the bookwitch) says that 'The censorship I have encountered on behalf of my children has mostly come from librarians' in the Guardian she says "There are lots of conflicting opinions about what children should and shouldn't read. In my experience, the kids themselves are the best judges"

New library for Atlanta Would Reflect a Commitment to Education, Literacy and the City

birdie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:12:10 -0500

John F. Szabo, Director of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System tells us why libraries make good neighbors in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Among his observations:

"Ten years ago, pundits predicted that the Internet boom and bookstore mega-chains would lead to the demise of the nation's 16,000 public libraries. In fact the opposite has proven true —- current data show that U.S. library visits have increased each year, and the demand for new and improved spaces is at a record high. Almost 550 public library construction or renovation projects were completed from 2004 through 2006 —- growth unmatched since Carnegie led an effort to build 1,600 new libraries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fulton County cannot afford to fall behind."

Chicago PL "unveils high-tech library upgrades"

davin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:25:18 -0500

According to an article in today's "Chicago Sun-Times":

"Library patrons can now renew and reserve books from their home computers and download audio books and digital music, thanks to an $11 million technology expansion almost entirely paid for by largesse generated by the Chicago Skyway lease."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1021760,library062408.article

Am I missing something? Is this for real? I honestly thought I was accidentally reading an article from 2002.

The Librarian is Dead...Long Live the Librarian

Anonymous Patron — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:12:51 -0500

The Librarian is Dead...Long Live the Librarian "What libraries need to do now is make it easier for librarians to share their work on the wider web and not just hide them behind a library login. Instead of publishing bookmarks with “cool reading lists for this month” or putting big signs on their shelves indicating good reads, libraries should instead feature librarian online resource lists as their primary offering."

Pick Up Some Dinner, Drop off Your Books

birdie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:31:44 -0500

The Rapid City (SD) Public Library has made it easier for Rapid Valley residents and others on the east side of town to return their library books.

A new drop box was already filling up as library staff cooked and served free hot dogs Saturday outside Don’s Valley Market to celebrate the box's installation. “I went over there and gave it a wiggle, and it’s already half full,” said Jason Walker, circulations supervisor for the library.

At least one commentator asked why the library couldn't build more branches for this type and other types of service, but others were pleased with the addition of the new drop box.