News
She wrote the book on saving libraries
Feb 23rd
PA Gov. Tom Corbett’s no-new-tax pledge means he has to figure a way to slash billions of dollars across the board from Pennsylvania’s budget, and it’s unlikely libraries will emerge unscathed. Into this breach steps janet jai of Highland Park. (She had her name legally changed to lower-case letters a long time ago, but that’s another story.) Ms. jai (pronounced like the letter J), 65, has rushed out 500 copies of a self-published, 165-page paperback book, “Saving Our Public Libraries: Why We Should. How We Can”.
Read more: in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Roy Tennant: An Open Letter to New Librarians
Feb 18th
Good advice for the freshly-minted and seasoned librarian: http://bit.ly/geCg2X
The Great Librarian Write-Out!!
Feb 11th
Want to save libraries? We’ve got to step outside the libraryland echo chamber*, and talk with to people who don’t live, eat, breath and obsess about libraries most every minute of the day. The ever-awesome Patrick Sweeney has launched a very, very cool project to get us going: http://pcsweeney.com/2011/02/10/the-great-librarian-write-out/
You’ve got nearly a year to participate. Please join in!
*See also
Bobbi Newman’s Thinking Outloud About the Echo Chamber
Ned Potter’s #echolib post
Andy Woodworth’s Dismantling the Echo Chamber
Camden Loses Its Soul for Good…Closes Main Library
Feb 11th
From the AP, sad story of the closing of Camden NJ’s main library.
Jerome Szpila took the job as director of the Camden library less than a year ago, with plans to upgrade a system that has suffered from years of underfunding. Librarians say they haven’t been able to buy a new book in more than a year.
The check-out system still uses paper cards of the type that were retired in most big public libraries by the 1970s. There’s no computerized inventory of the collection and the old card catalog system hasn’t been updated for years.
“We don’t know what we have,” he said. But as he arrived, he realized the challenge was more elemental: He would just try to keep the libraries running.
“It’s a sad day to say the city cannot afford its own library,” he said.
Szpila was one of the 19 employees at the library as it closed. Along with eight others, he’s been hired to staff the new Camden branch of the county library. The others are preparing for unemployment.
Save Libraries Photo Album
Feb 3rd
Check it here, library lovers. Want to contribute? Use the #savelibraries hashtag when you past your library-lovin’ photos to Twitter.
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