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Voters in Jackson County and several other Oregon counties voted down tax increases that would have restored or maintained library services. Libraries and other public services, such as fire and police protection, had been supported through a federal timber subsidy that ended last year.

The 15 library branches in Jackson County were closed last month to address a budget shortfall. The levy, defeated 59 percent to 41 percent, would have raised about $24.9 million over the next three years and had the libraries up and running again by next month.

Many residents continue to hope for a last-minute federal bail-out, which appears increasingly unlikely. Save Our Library System, a group organized to advocate for saving the Jackson County libraries, will continue to find a solution to the closures. More from Oregon Live.

PG writes “From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Now a trip to the library is just outside your door”
http://www.startribune.com/384/story/1182809.html

“The big complaint is most libraries have working hours — they typically close at 5 p.m.,” Siddiqui said. And someone may have checked out the book you want.””

Librarian/poet/book person Emily at Posey Galore offers her thoughts on BookSwim.

Stephen Francoeur writes “Baruch College will be hosting an unconference, Library Camp NYC, on August 14, 2007. There is no charge to attend. Details can be found on the conference wiki: http://librarycampnyc.wikispaces.com/.“

Seth Finkelstein writes “For mainstream coverage of the Illinois Librarian Protest, see
Library group looks to pull plug on Internet for a day
and
Demonstration to cut Danville library’s Internet service.
Illinois Library Association executive director, Robert P. Doyle,
“said the filters provide a false sense of security and block important information”.”

Anonymous Patron writes “Trenton (NJ) Public Library has lost 5 directors in a 6-year span:

http://annoyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/05/does- trenton-pl-suck.html“

Patrick Minnock, an adult, a library fan and non-MySpace user, writes a thoughtful letter to the editor of the Raleigh (NC) Chronicle about why he thinks it’s a mistake for the Wake County Public Library to have blocked MySpace from their public internet computers. According to Library Director Thomas L Moore,

“They’ve been bringing up some graphic pornographic sites on our PCs that children have inadvertently seen, and we just can’t tolerate that. It’s become an attractive nuisance.”

Minnock, however, says that “Prohibiting the use of MySpace from all of the people that use it everyday at the Wake County Public Libraries is not keeping with the history of public libraries.” He suggests that MySpace be pressured to prohibit obscene content and that parents pay very close attention to the children’s online activities.

Kelly writes “The year was 1258. Mongol leader Hulegu Khan had invaded Baghdad — a city that was then a pinnacle of civilization and learning. Legend has it that the attackers set their sights on Baghdad’s crown jewel, the Dar al-Hikma library, tossing thousands of manuscripts to a watery doom in the Tigris River.

Sound melodramatic? Kind of like the plot of a comic book? It is. Story continues here: http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0425/p13s01-algn.htm l“

birdie writes “Story about plans to move valuable documents including a copy of the Declaration of Independence at the Maine Historical Society in Portland.”

La Crosse Public Library Archives unveiled what it believed to be the oldest oringinal plat map of the county. The 3 1/2′ x 3 1/2 sq ft map was found stuffed in a bag in a city engineer’s office over a year ago. The map was given to the public library archives, who had it restored by the State Historical Society Conservation Lab. ‘A plat map, which includes the names of landowners, has many uses, (Anita) Doering, (head of Archives), said. “Genealogists love this kind of thing” she said.’

As someone who works at LPL, I can testify that this map is a rock star. We’ve had lots of awestruck visitors this week. More at the La Crosse Tribune.

teaperson writes “May 8, 1873. Amherst College. A junior named Melville Dewey approaches the faculty about reorganizing the library collection. Mass Moments has details, including this letter written a decade later: “Sum day, dear Amherst, may it be my happy lot tu pruv how great iz the love I bear yu. Proud, always, everwher to be counted among yur sonz, I am Very truly, Melvil Dui.””