September 2013

A Sly Cutter in Oak Grove

Someone is cutting random pages out of books at the Oak Lodge Library in Oak Grove, OR.

Clackamas County deputies say the vandal has targeted 122 books so far, costing taxpayers more than $2,700.
Over the past few weeks, library employees noticed pages had been torn and/or cut out of numerous books, mainly from the mystery and science fiction collections, deputies said.

Library employees conducted an internal investigation by viewing who had been checking out the vandalized books. They believe the damage was done while the books were still in the library, deputies said. Only the center pages are being ripped or torn out.

The mystery and science fiction books are in an area that is far away from the main desk and more difficult to monitor by staff.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office’s confidential tip line by telephone at 503-723-4949.

200 Years Later, George Washington Gets A Presidential Library

George Washington, the country’s first president, finally will have a dedicated place where scholars can study his legacy and that of the founding fathers.

Today, at his estate in Mount Vernon, Va., the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, a $106 million project, opened its doors.

USA Today reports that the library fulfills one of Washington’s wishes. In April 1787, he told a friend that he needed a place to accommodate his “military, civil and private papers, which are voluminous and may be interesting.”

Full article

Do School Children Really Need Librarians?

Yes and no, according to your perspective.

City Limits, a NYC blog reports that earlier this summer, the Department of Education requested a variance from the state, asking official permission to offer fewer librarians in schools. While the DOE says it recognizes librarians’ value, in the face of fiscal challenges and technological changes the department is looking for alternative ways to provide students with library services. In place of hiring certified librarians, schools could train teachers to offer the same services, bring in parent volunteers or have librarians circulate between schools.

Meanwhile, elementary schools are exempt from the regulation altogether. Some elementary school libraries are staffed by teachers or librarians without certification. Some even go without.

And from the librarians’ POV: “The idea that a shelf full of a books somehow replaces a librarian is wrong,” says Christian Zabriskie, Executive Director of Urban Librarians Unite, a professional group that supports librarianship in urban settings. “If I’m exploring things about, say, my sexuality, drug issues, health issues, I can’t grab those books in front of my peers,” he adds. Zabriskie’s own middle school librarian had a significant impact on his life by supporting him when he was being bullied and teaching him how to stand up for others.

Google unveils major upgrade to search algorithm

Google has unveiled an upgrade to the way it interprets users’ search requests.
The new algorithm, codenamed Hummingbird, is the first major upgrade for three years.
It has already been in use for about a month, and affects about 90% of Google searches.

At a presentation on Thursday, the search giant was short on specifics but said Hummingbird is especially useful for longer and more complex queries.

Google stressed that a new algorithm is important as users expect more natural and conversational interactions with a search engine – for example, using their voice to speak requests into mobile phones, smart watches and other wearable technology.

Full article here.

Reference Question – President doing research for child in school

Trying to verify a story.

Synopsis: President of United States with school age child is asked for help doing school report on a country. President calls Secretary of State (maybe another position but think it was SOS) and says “I need to know about country X.” Secretary of State does not know why question is being asked. Secretary gathers staff and they work all night compiling detailed dossier on the country.

In the morning the Secretary of State has the thick detailed report on the President’s desk. The president realizes that he should have clarified what the assignment was about and explains research was for school report for his child.

Questions:

1) Did this happen?
2) If so, what President?
3) What country was being researched?
4) Citation to verifiable source?

The Hulk draws a crowd at Northlake Library

One doesn’t usually see library related stories at Comic Book Resources, but here you go:
The Northlake Public Library in suburban Chicago unveiled its Hulk statue earlier this month to a crowd of more than 300. Trustee Tom Mukite, who joined the board specifically to spearhead the statue campaign, called the event the “largest turnout at the library ever.”

The Franklin Park Herald-Journal also covered the story,
“The lobby filled with local residents such as Amanda Efta, who carried her nephew Aiden Kolanizios. A library trustee offered green cupcakes to visitors.
“This is the biggest crowd the library’s seen in a while,” Northlake Mayor Jeff Sherwin said.
As the sheet was removed from the statue, people applauded, cameras clicked and little kids gazed up or rubbed the big toe — about the size of a grapefruit.”