Tuesday, May 13, 2003

What's a Library? What's a Librarian?: An articl .... What's a Library? What's a Librarian?:  An article at First Monday takes on these questions and their evolving answers. The thesis: "Libraries in the future will undertake local control, especially for long-term preservation and accessibility of digital as well as analog collections. Failure to embrace that role would cause libraries and librarians rapidly to lose relevance and value as Internet and other digital resources develop. Local control of collections is critical both to assure permanence and to provide a key degree of selectivity, which -- contrary to the irrational exuberance of making everything available to everybody -- is vital to providing service to communities of readers." via Library Link of the Day [WPL: waterboro lib blog] 10:36:59 AM    comments? [] Libraries are cool again [LISNews.com] dkowalcz shared This One from the May 12th Edmonton Journal that says The Internet was actually supposed to make libraries obsolete. It didn't Wendy Newman, president of the Canadian Library Association, blames seniors, kids and everyone in between. Modern retirees, says Newman, are healthy, energetic and actively engaged in the pursuit of hobbies, many of which require considerable knowledge. The library, says Newman, is where many do their research.   10:28:33 AM    comments? []

Monday, March 03, 2003

So Far - So Good ---  Let's hope this passes in the House and Senate.  Libraries across the country depend on this money to provide a wide variety of servies to their patrons.  LSTA Bill Passes House Committee [LISNews.com]   "The reauthorization of federal Library Services and Technology Act funding, contained in the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003, has moved a step closer to reality with the passage of the bill in House Education and the Workforce Committee. H.R. 13 would reauthorize the 1996 bill that provides federal support to libraries. The bill authorizes $215 million for libraries in fiscal year 2004, and "such sums" for fiscal years 2005-2009." (from Library Journal) 2:28:54 PM    comments? []

Friday, February 21, 2003

Bill Gates pushes investing in libraries [LISNews.com] Ron Force writes "In a guest editorial in the Seattle Times, Bill Gates says, "Investing in libraries connects us to the future. "America's public libraries are making a tremendous difference. Today, more than 95 percent of community libraries offer free Internet access, up from 73 percent just four years ago. For many people who cannot afford computers or do not have Internet access at school or at work, the public library is the only place to go. "Here in Seattle, the public library offers classes on computer basics, e-mail and using the Internet for job searches. The main library also provides Spanish-language courses and several tailored for senior citizens. The library's traveling laptop lab offers training in the branch libraries in as many as nine foreign languages, including Chinese and Vietnamese. "I am excited about what's happening in my hometown and in libraries across the country. But I worry about whether our society will support public libraries so they can sustain this critical community service. In my view, investing in public libraries is an investment in the nation's future." 4:40:26 PM    comments? []

Friday, January 31, 2003

Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 Introduced in Senate on January 29. The Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (S. 238) would re-authorize the Library Services and Technology Act. The bill includes state library grant programs and national leadership grants (with the same basic four purposes, education and recruitment; research and demonstration projects relating to library improvement; preservation or digitization of library materials and resources; and model programs demonstration cooperative efforts between museums and libraries). ALA asks you to call your senators and ask them to sign on to S. 238 by contacting Elyse Wasch, staff to Senator Jack Reed, at (202) 224-4642. [nsls.info] This is the source of the grants La Grange Park Library receives through the Illinois State Library.  In past years, we have used grant funds to  present programming for our residents, such as e-readersâ, last year's "You and Your Government" series of programs and this year's "Enriching Livesä with Ancestral Ties" genealogy programs.  Please help keep this extra source of funds available to all libraries by contacting your senator.    2:09:02 PM    comments? []

Friday, January 24, 2003

- "President Bush will ask Congress for 15 percent .... - "President Bush will ask Congress for 15 percent more federal money for libraries and museums next year than he requested for this year." "Bush's federal spending request, to be presented to lawmakers next month, will include $242 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which dispenses federal dollars to the nation's 122,000 libraries and 15,000 museums." "The announcement was made Thursday by first lady Laura Bush, a former librarian who has made books and reading her special cause. (from AP) [Library Stuff - Updated daily by Steven M. Cohen] 3:04:36 PM    comments? []

Saturday, January 18, 2003

Libraries Preserving Our Past. "The New York Public Library's Image Gate is currently in Beta. However 80,000 images so far out of 600,000 isn't too shabby. Of remarkable interest are the collections (also some here) they have put up so far for your browsing pleasure. Anna Atkins cyanotypes are beautiful, and the Art of the Cigarette Card is joyously quirky. Be sure to check back in 2004 when its all done."[MetaFilter] Photographs from the Chicago Daily News: 1902-1933 "The Library of Congress in collaboration with the Chicago Historical Society has added to their American Memory Web site over 55,000 images of urban life taken between 1902 and 1933 by photographers employed by the Chicago Daily News. Search by keyword or browse by subject." [What's GNU] [The Shifted Librarian] 11:11:07 AM    comments? []

Thursday, January 02, 2003

- Dear Abby and her readers have some nice things .... - Dear Abby and her readers have some nice things to say about libraries... [Library Stuff - Updated daily by Steven M. Cohen] 3:06:26 PM    comments? []

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