LISNews: Librarian News

In among the dozens of hard and paperback books donated for the library's fund-raising book sale, the Friends of the Batavia (IL) Library found an autographed first-edition copy of Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged' . After a bit of research on the value, they auctioned it off for a tidy sum, $6,500, which they're now debating on how to spend for the library.

The auction (a total of 45 seconds long)was conducted by PBA Associates of San Francisco, who will keep a percentage of the profits. They want to spend this "chunk" of money on one large purchase for the library...here's the story on their find.

A Neat Story out of California on the Fortuna Library. Just a good out-reach article.
"There is something about having a book in your hand, being able to turn back a few pages and check some information. You can't do that very easily with a computer. Plus, you can't take a computer to the beach, you can't sit in your bathtub and read from a computer screen, you can't take a computer to bed and read."

Northeast Philadelphia News reports the Friends of Fox Chase Library fighting for their local libraries.
Instead of librarians, which are professionals with a four year college degree and a master's degree in library service, the 20 half-day branches will be manned by a number of librarian assistants, who are not trained to find books.
"I don't think it's a very good idea," Behrend said. "We don't get paid to be a librarian. You're never compensated for it and the responsibility of running a branch is very big."
Therefore, "if you have a reference question, if it can't be answered by a library assistant, you will be directed to a full-service branch or given a number to call," Huntzberry said.
Which, to the Friends of Fox Chase, is ridiculous. "Communities all over should be up in arms," Handelman said.

At least on January 27th, Alex Trebek does not have the only trivia game in the town of Malden, Massachusetts. That evening, the Malden Public Library will hold their 7th Annual Triple Threat Trivia Contest at a nearby restaurant to raise funds for restoration of the lovely old Converse Memorial Building , built in 1885.

Teams of ten people can register by paying a fee of $250; fourteen teams have already signed up and are gearing up to prove their superior knowledge of miscellany. Story from Town On-Line.