May 2001

Librarians and Moss

Guy writes \”The guy who runs centralbooking.com said nation\’s librarians, a group that gets riled up about as often as a tray of peat moss in this article

Funny! He obviously doesn\’t know any librarians! \”

It\’s from another review of \”Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper\”


Claudia Bennett writes:\”Nicholson argues that the American people have been \”tricked\” into thinking that newsprint and books turn to dust, and librarians have unconsciously destroyed priceless information, including some off-the-record remarks Richard Nixon once made. Nicholson tells McHenry: \”There are so many bizarre contradictions in all of this. . .I found myself kind of moaning and saying–typing–\’It\’s worse than you thought.
Entire Interview\”

May 21, 2001 by Librarians Libraries

Apocryphal e-mails

Lee Hadden Writes:\”We should all be aware of the danger of passing along apocryphal
e-mails, whether they are about exaggerated stories or myths or urban
legends. A healthy dose of skepticism is necessary to prevent the spread of
some seriously incorrect stories.

An excellent example of what harm can happen when an e-mail is
believed and sent out without checking the truth of the story can be found
in an article in yesterday\’s Washington Post. A woman had forwarded a story
that people were sabotaging gasoline pumps in an attempt to spread AIDS,
and she has seriously regretted ever since her forwarding the e-mail
message to others. Read about her Many Travails at the Washington Post
site: or read her story in a paper version: Leef Smith, \”Apocryphal E-mail
Bedevils Va. Sender.\” Thursday, May 17, 2001, page B01.\”

I\’ve always been a huge fan of
Urban Legends, and hope to start my own someday… something about me and Shania Twain or some such thing.

May 18, 2001 by Uncategorized

Great Library of Alexandria

Lee Hadden writes:\”Erling Hoh has an article in today\’s (May 16, 2001) Washington Times
about the re-creation of the \”Great Library\” of Alexandria in Egypt. This
article describes the history of the ancient library, and how the new one
is built and how it will be run.


For more information about the Great Library of Alexandria project,
read more about it at The Washington Times

May 18, 2001 by Librarians Libraries

Happy Birthday WWW

17 May 1991

10 years ago today was the first General release of the WWW on central CERN machines.

Check out w3.org for more, including the original Presentation to \”C5\” Committee.

It\’s such a cute age, isn\’t it?

May 17, 2001 by Internet

Freedom of Weird Expression in Libraries?

BJ Hampton writes \”Who wants to stand up for the “civil rights” of the anonymous toe-sucker who recently made an appearance at the Antelope Valley Community College Library?
The current debates about internet filtering are apropos here. Do professional librarians truly want to abandon their role as trusted sources of information for their communities to become dumping grounds for any view, irrespective of its accuracy, honesty, appropriateness, and values?
Regrettably, many have confused the first amendment’s prohibition against government regulation of speech and expression with a guarantee of an audience or a tax-payer funded forum. If such is the case, then the toe-sucker deserves praise and support as a “bold presenter of a minority view”, rather than prosecution.

Libraries must not allow the glitter of new technology to blind them to the need for safety, security, and judgment exercised for the benefit of their community. This story obviously highlights problems of standard crime prevention, but should also raise issues regarding the role of the librarian’s judgment in setting standards for the allocation of library resources.\”


Full Story

May 17, 2001 by Internet Libraries

Future of the Internet

Margaret was nice enough to send along This
Story on a brave new plan to start \”splinternets\”.

The author says the current one Internet Is Not
Enough because the Internet is subject to substantial
regulation. The solution is more Internets, not more
regulations.

Future networks could offer porn-free
surfing—others, porn-only, perhaps with privacy
guarantees. Maybe a library only internet too?

May 17, 2001 by Internet Libraries

Library & Information Week in Australia

Jane Edinger
writes \”This week is Library and Information Week in
Australia. If you would like information about the week
visit alia.org.au/alw

If you would like to participate in an online quiz
that is part of the activities organised for LIW, please
visit
www.illogical.com.au/alia/ \”


And Desly Ryan adds:
\”
Next week downunder in God\’s great country of
Australia we will be celebrating \’Australian Library and
Information Week\’ the theme this year is
\”Libraries Knowledge Outlook\”.

At our branch here we are having Author/Sailor Lesley
Black come on Wednesday morning and tell us about
her adventures sailing around the Pacific Ocean.
On Thursday Aboriginal Artists, brother and sister Clive
and Hazel Cowburn will be here explaining the motifs of
their artwork and demonstrating how unique aboriginal
art is. Both events are open to the public and we hope
the locals will come and enjoy them. Some school and
kindergarten classes will be coming to the art
workshop and we will be doing a mural to hang in the
library.

Jane Edinger
writes \”This week is Library and Information Week in
Australia. If you would like information about the week
visit alia.org.au/alw

If you would like to participate in an online quiz
that is part of the activities organised for LIW, please
visit
www.illogical.com.au/alia/ \”


And Desly Ryan adds:
\”
Next week downunder in God\’s great country of
Australia we will be celebrating \’Australian Library and
Information Week\’ the theme this year is
\”Libraries Knowledge Outlook\”.

At our branch here we are having Author/Sailor Lesley
Black come on Wednesday morning and tell us about
her adventures sailing around the Pacific Ocean.
On Thursday Aboriginal Artists, brother and sister Clive
and Hazel Cowburn will be here explaining the motifs of
their artwork and demonstrating how unique aboriginal
art is. Both events are open to the public and we hope
the locals will come and enjoy them. Some school and
kindergarten classes will be coming to the art
workshop and we will be doing a mural to hang in the
library.

There is a simultaneous storytime for children at
2.15pm on Thursday afternoon when all libraries will be
reading a book titled \’Edward the Emu\’.
I am sure the kids will enjoy that.

On Friday all libraries across the country are offering
free
internet all day and free introductory training sessions
in the morning.\”

May 17, 2001 by Internet Librarians Libraries School Libraries

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