LISNews: Librarian News

Here's an op-ed piece from someone who decries the state of higher ed libraries and learning in Yemen. In particular he talks about how higher ed libraries are filled with young women who are more interested in socializing than learning. He also acknowledges that the women gather at the library because they are not allowed to gather elsewhere in public.

It is interesting to think, then, about this amusing irony: that only when women in this society feel comfortable in other public places, and when libraries can be treated with the respect they deserve, will we be on the path to true cultural greatness.

More from the Yemen Observer.

Some kids prepare for a spelling bee by studying the dictionary. Others have their parents quiz them from lists of long and tricky words. Thirteen-year-old Jason Liao, whose native language is Cantonese, has a unique strategy: He watches television — especially “The Simpsons,� with the captions on.

Jason's technique of TV as teacher helped him learn English as a toddler (Sesame Street), and now he hopes it will help him to make it through the semi-finals to compete in the 78th National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, DC in May. Here's the Portland Tribune story.

Anonymous Patron writes "allAfrica.com Has This Report on the Swazi government's efforts to increase literacy. They just announced new measures to revive school and public libraries, with improved training for teachers and librarians. The education ministry estimates that 70 percent of Swazis are literate, but the degree of literacy is under debate. The high number of secondary school students who failed English in recent exams was attributed to poor reading skills: three-quarters of students failing Standard 5 exams could not pass the English test."

Anonymous Patron writes "New York State Library's Statewide Summer Reading Program has 2 new license plates to benefit the Summer Reading Program. They decided to pass on the @ Your Library them and went with "Love Your Library" and "Read-Learn-Explore"
Sadly, LISNews logos were also overlooked."