LISNews: Librarian News

It's cool! It's hot! It's happening!! From The Beat of Young Los Angeles:

Sure, everyone's always preaching about how we should save our public libraries, and obviously there's really no reason not to want to save your local library -- free books, entertainment, childhood memories, those poor librarians. But admittedly, it can be difficult to think of something that you could do that would actually help out the public spaces.

But now there's this: the Library Foundation of Los Angeles is taking steps to make the library cool again by hosting "This is Your Library." It's supposed to be the beginning of a new series of "late-night talk show-like events," featuring discussions with prominent people from and about the wonderful city of Los Angeles. There'll also be live music, DJs, food trucks and a bar, and overall just a good time hanging out at the library at night, appreciating L.A. Supporting the library can be pretty easy, right? -- Read More

The popular pursuit of library sex
According to the latest Best of Craigslist, stack-nookie is a recurring dream for many. If only it were just a dream.

International Literacy Day, traditionally observed annually on September 8, focuses attention on worldwide literacy needs. More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.

Celebrate International Literacy Day by joining IRA on either September 7 or September 8 for webinars on Building Support for Effective Reading Instruction featuring IRA President Patricia Edwards, Richard Carson (Rotary Representative to the OAS) and Instructor Judy Backlund (IRA member and Rotary Club President). The webinar will be held twice, so choose the time that works best for you!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. EST
This is a virtual event. Go to this URL to join the Tuesday webinar...or

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. EST
This is a virtual event. Go to this URL to join the Wednesday webinar.

Other live events, fact sheets, celebration ideas and award certificates can be found at the IRA Website.

On a warm, summer afternoon, a father and son strode onto the lawn in front of the Cesar Chavez Library in Salinas, dressed resplendently in traditional Mexico charro costumes.

The pair entertained the crowd of 55 community members who gathered outside the library with lasso and rope tricks. Celerino Esparza, 17, spoke about learning the 400-year-old Mexican art from his father, Jesús Esparza, and how "we all have options in life here in Salinas, and his never involved gangs or violence, but the traditions of his family," said Carissa Purnell, a librarian at Cesar Chavez Library.

Like many of his countrymen, Jesús earns a living by working in landscaping and general construction. Still, he works hard to pass on his Mexican culture to Celerino and his four older daughters.
Jesús and Celerino are organizing charro classes for the children in neighborhood surrounding Cesar Chavez Library, and hope to teach them how to mount and ride a horse, and use a lasso.

"It's a beautiful sport," Celerino. "It's important to carry on the customs and tradition of your culture."