LISNews: Librarian News

Another crazy shooter, this time in Tulsa, OK. Fortunately no one was killed this time.

(CBS/AP/KOTV) - A gunman who opened fire outside the Tulsa County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon is now in custody after being shot by police.

Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies told CBS affiliate KOTV that a man on the plaza between the courthouse and the library started shooting a gun into the air. Deputies on duty at the courthouse confronted the man and shot him. Photo taken by a library worker:

"During the course of exchange of gunfire, an innocent bystander was hit," police spokesman Leland Ashley said. He said the injuries to the deputy and the bystander did not appear life-threatening.

Library Chief Executive Officer Gary Shaffer told The Associated Press he was returning from lunch when he saw emergency vehicles. A man who appeared to have been shot in the leg was wheeled out of the library by paramedics.

Shaffer said it was unclear if the man, who he said was unconscious, ran into the library after getting shot or if he was shot in the library. There was broken glass in the library from an apparent bullet.

More photos here

Creating the public library of the future
For several years, Martin Gomez has been actively promoting the Digital Public Library of America – a campaign to digitize inventories of cultural and scientific records and make them available to everyone, online – in effect, creating the public library of the future. Until this month, he served as general manager of Los Angeles’ public library system, overseeing 72 branches, 1,100 employees, and an annual budget of $129-million. He resigned recently to take a new job as vice-dean of libraries at the University of Southern California. Mr. Gomez was in Toronto this week to appear at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Before his address, he spoke to the Globe and Mail’s Michael Posner.

Staff at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library create a nasty yet funny public blog about (mostly) their frustration with the library system. Needless to say that the administration doesn't like it and is trying to shut it down, at least to the public. So much for free speech in this context:

http://secretliblog.wordpress.com/

disillusioned public librarian

Library Workers request No Board report to spur negotiations
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) Workers Union (CUPE Local 4948) has requested the Ministry of Labour issue a "no board" report on its contract negotiations with the Toronto Public Library Board.

Maureen O'Reilly, President of Local 4948, said the union made the no board request because negotiations had reached an impasse. Despite the presence of a conciliator, the employer has not shown any interest in substantive negotiations leading to a collective agreement that would ensure stability and protect the library services Toronto residents depend on. "It's our members who deliver those services. And our members value the services they deliver just as much as the public does," said O'Reilly. "But it's also our members being cut from budgets, and now the Library Board is seeking massive concessions from their contract.