Mock Turtle

Chicagoland branches explore a “Day Without Libraries”

Suburban Chicago’s StarNewspapers.com tells the story of 13 public library branches in the area that are embarking on a project to demonstrate the impact of a “Day Without Libraries.” Staff will spend three days in mid-February counting things they don’t normally count: how many hours patrons use computers or study quietly, and how many make trips to the restroom, make copies, or send faxes. They also will be asking patrons to answer questions and give recorded testimony about how and why they use these libraries and whether they would be willing to get less or pay more. Read about the “Day Without Libraries” project here.

February 5, 2004 by Libraries

Happy Birthday Macintosh

“It was 20 years ago today …”

Actually, it was January 24, 1984 when Apple announced the Macintosh to their Board of Directors and to the world. Two days earlier, the now-famous “1984” commercial had aired during the Super Bowl. MacDailyNews has a little write-up about the historic product launch and the groundbreaking commercial that TV Guide said “did more to change the way ads are created and viewed than any commercial in years.”

Oh, and you can view the commercial here, too.

January 31, 2004 by Uncategorized

Room-To-Read builds and stocks school libraries in Asia

In 1998, Microsoft executive John Wood trekked to Nepal, intending merely to slip on his backpack and get close to real life for a few weeks. After visiting a village library whose collection of no more than 20 books was considered too precious to circulate, Wood was inspired to quit Microsoft and start up the philanthropic organization Room-To-Read. Room-To-Read provides “challenge grants” to communities in India, Nepal, Vietnam and Cambodia for the construction of school libraries (and in some cases the schools themselves), and for the books to go in them. Because the people in these communities must raise at least 50 percent of project funds themselves, schools and their libraries have a greater chance of continued success. Wood’s hometown paper, The Evening Times in Sayre, PA, has a nice profile of him and the organization.

January 31, 2004 by Libraries School Libraries

Blume’s Deenie still controversial after 30 years

Here’s a story from the St. Petersburg [FL] Times in which author Judy Blume defends her novel Deenie against its latest challenge. Blume recommends that the people who want to restrict young people’s access to the book, based on a few passages in which the young adolescent title character explores her sexuality, talk to the children who might read it before making a final decision. She suggests that it’s the adults, not the youngsters, who find something inappropriate about the topics in Deenie. Blume rejects the contention of some Hernando County school board members that she wrote the book, published 30 years ago, to “push buttons.”

January 31, 2004 by School Libraries

Carter to blog from West Africa on the Guinea worm situation

Ascribe – The Public Interest Newswire tells of Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter’s upcoming trip to Togo, Mali, and Ghana, to call international attention to the need to eliminate the world’s last remaining 1 percent of Guinea worm. Members of the general public can accompany Carter virtually by visiting The Carter Center as he blogs from the field. Beginning Feb. 2, the reports on the Carter Center’s website will share the former president’s thoughts and feelings during his journey in West Africa. Here’s the whole wire story.

January 25, 2004 by Uncategorized

Texas librarian organizes candy drop for reading achievers

In Longview, Texas, Pine Tree Middle School students who had read all 20 titles nominated for the state’s Bluebonnet Award were treated to a reenactment of the 1949 Berlin candy drop. “This is something I did to honor them and spur them on,” said Carolyn Basham, Pine Tree’s librarian. A flight instructor from nearby LeTourneau University did the honors, dropping chocolate candy with white handkerchief parachutes over the school stadium, where over 120 student honorees watched and waited. One of the books on this year’s Bluebonnet list, Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot, by Margot Theis Raven, was based on the story of the “Berlin candy bomber,” U.S. Air Force Lt. Gail Halvorsen. The Longview News-Journal has the whole story.

January 25, 2004 by Librarians Libraries School Libraries

Kids, parents flock to school library for Tune Out TV Tuesdays

Lisa Cyprian, librarian at Santa Fe Elementary School, instituted a new tradition at the beginning of the school year: Tune Out TV Tuesdays. Once a month, she opens the school library on a Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 7:30, and hosts a night of reading, games, and other activities that get students and their families away from the tube for a while. Refreshments, drawings for free books, and the chance for parents to check out books add to the festivities. Find out more from the Arizona Republic about how this program has brought the school community into the library.

January 25, 2004 by Librarians Libraries School Libraries

Stanford libraries offer cash for coolest book collection

The Stanford Daily reports that the university’s libraries have launched a student book-collecting competition. The Byra J. and William P. Wreden Prize for Collecting Books and Related Materials will award $1,000 to the student whose personal book collection reflects “a creative and innovative approach.” Students entering the competition must submit an annotated bibliography of their selection, accompanied by a short essay describing how they assembled their collections and detailing plans for growth. Lined up to judge the contest is a panel made up of librarians and faculty, as well as a bookseller and a book collector.

January 23, 2004 by Books Libraries

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