LISNews: Hoping To Be Automated Since 1999

Letters to a Young Librarian
" I could talk about other times I pissed off parents with my collection development policy or about the time I told the area homeschool groups about our library's teen programs (which included a paranormal program that contradicted one group's very conservative beliefs) or about the time I quit a library job without a backup plan because the environment was not conducive to making me my best, personally or professionally. The thing is, no matter what role you're in and no matter how much or how little experience you have in the field, your beliefs and values are going to piss someone off somewhere.
To be as good as you want to be and to further your goals in providing the best service and experience as a librarian, you have to suck it up and stick to your beliefs.

This post provides information on how librarians can donate money to help rebuild libraries impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Ms. Skinner's goal is to get as much of the library community involved as possible, and she has created a Twitter hashtag (#sandylibraries) and space in the blog comments for people to share their donations so she can track them. She is also asking for suggestions, so she can build as comprehensive a list as possible.

http://juliacskinner.com/2012/11/06/rebuilding-libraries-after-hurricane-sandy/

Crossdressing Rocker Turned Mormon Librarian: New York Doll Giveaway
The movie begins with Kane as 55 year old, has-been rock star in California. While he was recovering from his fall, however, he encountered two Mormon missionaries and converted to the faith. Yes, Arthur “Killer” Kane became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and ended up working in one of the church’s genealogy libraries – the Family History Center in Los Angeles. Kane’s transformation is emotionally jolting. In one frame he’s a trashy cross dressing punk glam rocker, in the next he’s a librarian in a short sleeved 60/40 blend button up.

But perhaps there is a “thinkplace” after all: the library.

It’s the traditional intersection of huge amounts of information with the silence that enables its assimilation into our minds and values and imaginations. And its shepherded by knowing, caring librarians who can understand where we’re trying to go and point out the most enjoyable paths.

No doubt the “cloud” will continue to rain down information on us in torrents. But, in a world without libraries, and short on silence, much of it may just wash over us to vanish in the sands of noise.