LISNews: Librarian News

The Curmudgeony Librarian writes "The people of Kansas have a new State Librarian as Christie Brandau was appointed to the position this week. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement Tuesday December 8th.
Ms. Brandau was previously the state librarian of Michigan. She replaces Duane Johnson, who recently retired from the position. The Kansas State Library is located in Topeka and serves the citizens of the state."

On behalf of library web-surfer Carlos Hernandez, the ACLU of Hawaii has filed a lawsuit against the State of Hawaii--its governor and attorney general, for prohibiting Mr. Hernandez from reentering the library for one year.

Hernandez said he was using a computer at the Hawaii State Library on May 18 when a security guard issued a written warning telling him he was being banned for one year because he was viewing a pornographic Web site, according to the lawsuit. He said the Web site, Gay Hawaii, is a resource with information on events, travel, real estate and other services for the gay community.

Story at 365 Gay.

{UPDATE]...and more complete coverage from the ACLU (thanks AshtabulaGuy).

Nothing against Arnold, the state of California or the state librarian, but this just plain reads funny, for obvious reasons. Who'd have ever thought...?

"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday named a new state librarian to replace Kevin Starr, who stepped down April 1 to become state librarian emeritus after 10 years.

Susan Hildreth has more than 30 years' experience as a librarian, most recently as chief librarian for the City and County of San Francisco, managing 650 employees and a $59 million budget. She currently is president of the California Library Association.

Schwarzenegger, in his announcement, said Hildreth, 53, "shares my commitment to education and to preserving our state's rich cultural heritage and I know she will use her tremendous experience as a librarian to enhance and strengthen California's public libraries." Read all about it.

Search-engines-web.com submitted:

The high number of outdated books found in libraries across the country is a shocking state of affairs, says the Chairperson of the Namibia Library and Information Council, Elia Kaiyamo.

Speaking at the official opening of an American Corner in the Walvis Bay public library, Kaiyamo - who is a Swapo MP - said a countrywide tour of libraries by members of the council had found books dating as far back as 1948.

Kaiyamo said that the Minister for Basic Education, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, had pleaded a shortage of Budget funds to replace all these books.

"That is why we need to demand more money for books," Kaiyamo told the gathering. Read some more on this here.