April 2003

Fred D. writes “The WHO lifted its warning against non-essential travel to Toronto today, though it still considers the city an “affected area”. The NYT has the story (free registration required) at The NYTimes “

Mark writes “The chief librarian at the Ottawa Public Library
is issuing order to the Library Board made of many city councillors to keep quiet quiet over the porn issue.


How can you shut up politicians?


Trustees defy library chief’s order to keep quiet on Net porn issue
Canada.com Story.


Editorial —
End library gag order
“

Michael Moore has contributed $25,000 to the ALA Spectrum initiative and has plans to donate 1000 videos of his work to libraries who cannot afford to purchase them, nearly a year after pledging to help out America\’s libraries at last year\’s annual convention, according to this announcement on LJ\’s Breaking News. ALA President Mitch Freedman commented that Moore, despite his delayed follow-up due to personal issues, \”has come through beautifully.\”

SomeOne noticed Librarians writing their own chapter on guarding rights, editorial in today’s San Jose Mercury News.

It says librarians are firmly defending civil rights — particularly, patrons’ right to privacy. and if we didn’t believe so unequivocally in universal access to information, they’d likely block the door when FBI agents and others seek to snoop upon patrons.

Gary Deane noticed Canadian Library Association Brief to the Executive Board, American Library Association, regarding the Toronto 2003 Joint Annual Conference.

They say CLA’s position is that Toronto continues to be a safe and attractive venue to host the joint Annual Conference June 19-25, 2003. I agree with them, not that anyone asked.

Gary Price wrote in from over at resourceshelf.com to let us know Denver’s new African-American library opened this weekend.
The 40,000-square-foot, full-service library replaces the smaller branch in the Five Points Community Center.


“This library was designed with the neighborhood in mind,” said library manager Gwendolyn Crenshaw. “We wanted a building that fit in.”

Lee Hadden spotted an odd story Over at Ananova that says A Croatian teacher has been trapped under a pile of books in his bedroom for three days before police rescued him.


Police found the 60-year-old math teacher, named only as DK, after his wife phoned neighbours to find out why he had not visited her in hospital for so long.

Bob Cox spotted This Book Review of Casino Royale, the birthplace of Bond, written 50 years ago.

They say he does introduce himself as “Bond – James, Bond”; the car is not an Aston Martin or a BMW – it’s a Bentley; and the drink is not a vodka martini (shaken, not stirred) – it is: three measures of Gordon’s Gin, one of vodka, and half a measure of Kina Lillet (vermouth).

Lee Hadden writes: “The American Library Association is working with other members of the Heritage
Emergency National Task Force, which includes the Library of Congress, the Institute
for Museum and Library Services and various cultural organizations, to coordinate with
efforts of the IFLA and UNESCO to respond to requests for assistance from colleagues
in Iraq to help restore the National Library and Archive, Iraq’s principal Islamic
library, and other important centers of learning in the cradle of civilization.ALA
will be requesting funds from USAID for reconstruction in Iraq to be allocated for the
reestablishment of the National Library and Archives, and other cultural institutions.
ALA is gathering names of experts knowledgeable on Iraqi libraries, Middle Eastern
collections, preservation, rare books and manuscripts, and others who can assist in
assessment, restoration, and rebuilding efforts. This site will provide you an update
on efforts. At this early stage the coordination efforts are just beginning”

read more about it at http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Offices/International_Relations2/Iraq.htm

From Reuters:

Looking at the shallow, muddy waters of the River Arno as it flows through Florence, it is hard to believe that it ravaged the city in 1966, inflicting inestimable damage on its buildings and art.

Complete article.