LISNews: Librarian News

Libraries have long struggled with a stuffy reputation, but on the UW-Madison campus and in some public branches, librarians are taking a decidedly fresh approach to attracting patrons by using social networking sites.

Sites, like Facebook, MySpace and Friendster, are wildly popular among students as a way to connect with friends and socialize online. People can personalize their own Web page with pictures, notes and music, and link to their friends' pages. Fledgling bands have used MySpace to promote their music.

Morgan Kelly, University of Pittsburgh writes "Projects by students in Pitt's School of Information Sciences work to present libraries as free resources of education and entertainment PITTSBURGH-Students in the University of Pittsburgh's School of Information Sciences (SIS) fanned out across the country and the world to help promote National Library Week, which was held from April 15 to 22. By working with libraries in Pennsylvania, other states, and other countries, students sought to showcase the resources available in a community's respective library and present the library as an entertaining and educational destination. Each year, SIS students in the Marketing and Public Relations for Libraries graduate course plan and implement a promotional campaign to celebrate National Library Week. -- Read More

The Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth,NH - is running a wonderful series of monthly installments of "Heroes of the Library," a column to commemorate the Kennebunk Free Library's Centennial. In 1904, responding to the undeniable need, George Parsons offered to build a library for the town.

Filipino Librarian writes "JM Kearns, the author of Why Mr. Right Can't Find You, recommends that women be more proactive: 'Beyond chance encounters, women should venture into the real world to broaden the net, he says. Kearns suggests hanging out in bookstores and libraries, and if you see a prospect, smile. "Even Mr. Right needs encouragement. Your smile can be any smile. I don't care if it is nervous, pale or twitchy. If it is a smile, he will know he is allowed to interrupt your reading and speak to you' (Macleans, 29 January 2007). More..."