The face of public libraries in the US is changing, according to this story from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. New library buildings are designed for this new role.
\”People view libraries today more as \”information brokers,\” he said. Visitors expect a wider range of services, which includes access to computers, educational programs for children and places to meet and exchange ideas.\”
Celine
Indian state campaigns to keep British library
The decision of the British government to close the British Council library in the Indian state of Bihar has led to widespread protests and the creation of an Association to Save the British Library. Bihar has the lowest literary rate of all Indian states (47.53 per cent) and the library\’s supporters feel the loss of the library would only make things worse. However, the British government argue that the library is not viable. The the full story from the Khaleej Times.
Libraries are the next Napster?
Time has this article on the conflict between publishers and libraries over issues of copyright in the electronic age. Not an in-depth look, but an interesting overview all the same.
Libraries in the Ancient World
The International Herald Tribune today has this review of the book \”Libraries in the Ancient World\” by Lionel Casson. It includes a look at the history of the original library of Alexandria as well as descriptions of \”curses invoked by different cultures to protect their libraries from thieves\”. Now, that might be quite useful!
Gates gives $4.2 million to UK libraries
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $4.2 million to British libraries, reports this story from the Times (UK). The money will be used to provide information technology learning centres in 350 libraries serving some of the most deprived areas in the UK. It will be very welcome as the government wants all 4,300 of Britain\’s libraries to be online by next year, no easy task.
The Warrior Librarian gets makeover
Earlier this month, there was a story about the very funny site of Biblia, the Warrior Librarian, written by a school librarian and full of good stuff. Now, \”in an effort to compete with sites that look nicer than Biblia\’s old site\” Biblia is getting a major makeover and the site is now called Warrior Librarian Weekly. It\’s well worth a look, there\’s some great new content there too. Following Biblia\’s example…(there is no more to read).
Couple caught having sex in British Library
Cementing my reputation as the tabloid editor of library news, here\’s a story from Ananova about a couple who got caught in flagrante in the men\’s toilets at the British Library. This story includes some classic quotes from the library spokesperson:
\”A couple were apprehended in what could be described as a high state of excitation in a cubicle of the men\’s toilets… [They] were already in the throes of an exchange about philosophical matters, judging by the cries emanating from the cubicle.\”
Harry Potter and the censors
This thoughtful opinion piece from Sunspot takes a look at all the problems the Harry Potter books have faced with censorship because of their connection to \”witchcraft\”.
We all know that\’s ridiculous, I mean he doesn\’t even know how to ride his broomstick the right way round.
Afghanistan bans internet
The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan have implemented a country-wide ban on using the Internet as it seeks to control \”those things that are wrong, obscene, immoral and against Islam\”. The full, sad story from Newsfactor.
Anchorage gay pride exhibit: the sequel
The gay pride display that caused all the fuss when the
mayor of Anchorage ordered it to be removed is now back up
in the Z.J. Loussac Public Library, after the Alaska Civil
Liberties Union took the case to court and a federal judge
overturned the mayor\’s decision. However, the whole sorry
tale might not end there, as this story from the Anchorage Daily News reports.
It\’s possible that the money to pay the AkCLU\’s attorneys
may come from the library rather than from the mayor.
For the background to this whole business, see the original posting.
Recent Comments