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The Register reports that Sue Gardner of the Wikimedia Foundation issued a statement noting that cash is going to fund bureaucrats in chapter organizations instead of individual editors modifying Wikipedia. Apparently three particular chapter organizations dominate the process of receiving funds.

Mentor Public Library in Ohio has contracted with Hoopla to provide streaming rich media to patrons in addition to other electronic content on offer from Zinio, Overdrive, and other vendors.

WJW Fox 8 News in Cleveland reports that a teen was shot in the parking lot behind the Eastman branch of Cleveland Public Library who then later died after transport to MetroHealth Medical Center. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the Cleveland Division of Police. WEWS News Channel 5 reported on the incident as well.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Andy Ihnatko has an initial reaction posted to the death on 4 April 2013 of Roger Ebert.

Fabian Scherschel at The H Online presents a feature comparing alternatives to Google Reader for those looking to replace it in their daily lives.

READER'S DIGEST FILES BANKRUPTCY

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) February 18, 2013

DEVELOPING...

Bloomberg: Reader’s Digest Files Bankruptcy to Cut $465 Mln Debt

Horrible Histories author Terry Deary has said libraries have had their day. Deary referred to libraries as being a Victorian idea that does not fit in contemporary times.

(h/t Public Libraries News)

The News-Herald reports librarians claiming increased activity at their agencies in Ohio's Lake and Geauga counties due to ebooks and ereaders as well as other technologies.

Apparently over 40 phone calls or so to your local public library that are harassing in nature may lead to charges being filed against you, according to WOIO news in Cleveland. Further details are available from The Akron Beacon-Journal.

Agence France-Presse via France24 reports that the Washington Post is reviewing erecting a paywall to its online edition in 2013.

Reporters Without Borders takes a look at new frontiers in carrying out censorship being undertaken in response to an infamous YouTube video.

France24 reports that an appellate court has suspended the Google Books lawsuit proceedings.

See also this literary piece...

Mark Todd writing in The Star Beacon notes that the Conneaut Public Library in extreme northeastern Ohio has purchased an inflatable movie screen for showing films. Test runs have taken place away from the library's location.

Along with the July 18th evening news broadcast on WOIO-TV reporting that Cleveland has a population where 69% of residents are illiterate, word was also posted to the station's website about a book burning held in the suburb of Westlake relative to Fifty Shades of Grey.

Caveat lector

Roger L. Simon, writing at PJ Media, speaks about his memories of Nora Ephron. Reuters reports that Ephron died of leukemia aged 71.

The Office of Communications at the Library of Congress announced that Mississippi Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey was named 19th US Poet Laureate. Trethwey will hold the positions concurrently. Poets.org has a profile posted of the new appointee. Huffington Post and the New York Times have more on the appointment as well.

CNN's online presence is carrying a piece by Amy Gahran that comments on a recent Pew Internet and American Life Project report that notes a lack of interest in the Internet itself by that 20% of the population among other findings.

The full report is available PDF download.

The question that does arise is how the Internet can be irrelevant to a particular part of the American population and why.

Most of us learned about the significance of April 23rd back in high school (the Bard's birthday), but now there's another reason to celebrate. April 23, 2012 is the first US World Book Night, when publishers will donate and volunteers will distribute free books to anyone who wants them. Want to be a part of it? Sign up as a volunteer on their site before February 1.

World Book Night premiers this year in the US. Bookstores & libraries will be distribution points. Did you sign up? What book do you want to distribute? I did (for Poisonwood Bible). Here are the book options, thirty in all.

Internet grandee Dave Winer has posted at his blog a call to push for more decentralization of the Internet.

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, the British counterpart to the American Library Association, issued jointly with the UK's National Literacy Trust a press release condemning the announced 2012 closure of Hertfordshire Schools Library Services.