Karl

Mesa, AZ public libraries in trouble following election.

Publib pundit Joe Schallan has been reporting on recent developments in Mesa, Arizona. As reported in LISNews a couple months ago, the city of Mesa has been under a hiring freeze for some time, forced to cut back on library open hours and other services. A new property tax measure failed in the most recent election, and the city has decided to reduce staff at many departments, including the libraries.

Update: Joe has sent me links to two more articles on the situation, both from the Arizona Republic newspaper.
Article 1
Article 2

May 20, 2006 by Libraries

Florida’s Library of the Year

Susan Dillinger writes: The New Port Richey Library, named “Library of the Year” by the Florida Library Assn, is the subject of a feature on WTSP-TV, Tampa Bay’s Channel 10.

Florida’s Library of the Year
New Port Richey, Florida – Can you actually enjoy yourself at the library? Believe it or not, at the New Port Richey Library, a belly dancing veil class is just one of many programs offered to area residents. In fact, creative programming for adults and kids is one of the main reasons the New Port Richey Library has been named Florida’s Library of the Year.
Susan Dillinger, Library Director
“It’s a community place where you can gather, you can make friends, form relationships and find the items that you need, find the answers
to your questions. It’s just a very welcoming place.”
May 17, 2006 by Librarians Libraries

DK’s formula for science success

Pete writes: Publisher Dorling Kindersley’s astounding streak of prize winning publications is profiled in this BBC story.

Publisher Dorling Kindersley (DK) appears to be on a winning streak when it comes to the Aventis Junior Prize for science books.

The annual award marks the very best in popular science writing for children under the age of 14 – and DK has managed to grab the top prize an unprecedented five times in the last six years.

Miriam Farbey is children’s publisher at DK and has been responsible for commissioning and publishing all of the winning books.

She believes the answer lies in the books’ visual-appeal: “DK children’s books started in about 1987, and its aim was, and still is, to show you things that other books only tell you.”

May 16, 2006 by Uncategorized

Libraries in a digital world

Libraries in a digital world is from GreaterKashmir.com, Srinigar, India. The author is working as Semi-Professional Assistant in College of Teacher Education, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Raj Bagh, Srinagar.

Librarians have a role to play in this era of technology. Muzamil Shafi comments on the sweeping change caused by a technological revolution and the responsibility it means for the book lovers.

She looks at various roles for the digital librarian, including the Librarian as a Teacher and a Consultant, The Librarian as a Knowledge Intermediator, The Librarian as an Organizer and a Publisher, And The Librarian as a Digital Preserver.

April 25, 2006 by Libraries

Librarians to sever ties with scouts?

Story at World Net Daily by Walter Skold:

A renewed effort by several members of the American Library Association’s governing council would sever all ties with the Boy Scouts of America until the youth organization stops “discriminating” against avowed atheists and homosexuals.

In 1998, the governing council of the ALA, the world’s largest library organization, condemned the Boy Scouts over its policies, but a WorldNetDaily investigation reveals activists quietly are planning to take action at the association’s annual convention in June.

April 23, 2006 by American Library Association Librarians Libraries

OPAC SNAFU (PSU)

cjovalle writes: “Here’s a scary story I first encountered at librarian.net… Apparently, either code or human error caused one copy of every item in a PSU library ordered since May 2001 to be reordered when someone attempted to update the system to daylight savings time. I hear stories about ILS’s fairly often (not allowing deleting without losing everything, using different keys to do the same thing depending on the screen, other usability issues), but nothing like this! Are there other troubling stories out there?”

April 23, 2006 by Libraries Technology

Pew: Internet increasingly used in important life decisions

Search Engines Web wants to share the results of the latest Pew Internet Survey: Major Moments. The survey showed the following increases from a 2002 study:

  • 54% more respondents said the internet played a major role as they helped another person cope with a major illness. And the number of those who said the internet played a major role as they coped themselves with a major illness increased 40%.
  • 50% more said the internet played a major role as they pursued more training for their careers.
  • 45% more said the internet played a major role as they made major investment or financial decisions.
  • 43% more said the internet played a major role when they looked for a new place to live.
  • 42% more said the internet played a major role as they decided about a school or a college for themselves or their children.
  • 23% more said the internet played a major role when they bought a car.
  • 14% more said the internet played a major role as they switched jobs.
April 20, 2006 by Internet School Libraries

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