LISNews: Librarian News

A couple of strike updates:
Teamsters back library workers
Teamsters will march in downtown Canton today in support of striking library workers.
The Solidarity March, as it’s being called, is to begin at 2 p.m. at the Hilton on Market Avenue S.
Between 300 and 350 people are expected, said Paul Bair, city safety director.

Teachers union tells students to avoid librarySam Dorto, president of the 1,000-member Canton Professional Educators Association, said he hopes teachers will forgo giving library-based assignments while District 925 of the Service Employees International Union is on strike.“The library is a tremendous resource, but we won’t put the kids in a position where they have to cross the picket line.”Dorto said he is concerned about the kind of service that nonunion library workers will provide to students. He also questioned whether they would be safe, citing the library’s decision to hire security guards from Troy, Mich.-based Huffmaster Cos.

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R Hadden Writes :Nicholson Baker has written another article criticizing past and
current library decisions. \"Deadline.\" New Yorker, July 24, 2000, pages
42-62, describes how libraries disposed of original copies of newspapers
when they microfilmed them.
Finally, in disgust at their bad decisions about money, staff, space
and acid decomposition, Mr. Baker has purchased his own collection of 19th
and early 20th century newspapers and has started his own private newspaper
library. It will be interesting to see how he will handle the many
management decisions needed in running a library. Money, staff, space and
preservation needs led to this library problem- I am dying of curiosity to
find out how he can run a library without these problems affecting him.

Mark C. Rosenzweig has written quite a response that is also making the rounds on the lists. Read on to check that one out, it\'s worth a read. -- Read More

A couple of libraries down in Long Island are having some trouble with asbestos. Library trustees ordered the buildings closed indefinitely until the outdated fire retardant-now considered a carcinogen-is completely removed. But since the work might not be completed until November, town officials ordered on Tuesday the libraries be reopened. So apparently the librarians are now working in an asbestos filled library!

\"Why is it suitable for our library employees to enter these contaminated areas on a regular basis, and yet it is unsafe for the public to enter them only occasionally?\" Thomas Conoscenti, chairman of the library board of trustees, said in a written statement

The Story is at Newsday.com -- Read More