Education

TheStar.com had a great article on the role of libraries today AND the future of libraries.  The article, ‘A tale of two countries’ libraries’, looked at public libraries in Canada and the U.S.A. to see what is working.  Here is an excerpt:
‘In a 2006 poll, 78 per cent of Americans said if their local library [...]

Continue Reading “Libraries are back big-time, they’re having a renaissance.”

Organize Your Digital Life: How to Store Your Photographs, Music, Videos, and Personal Documents in a Digital World
I ran across the book, Organize Your Digital Life: How to Store Your Photogaphs, Music, Videos, and Personal Documents in a Digital World, in the bookstore and thought, “Aha!”.   This is the book for any libarian or media [...]

Continue Reading Organize Your Digital Life

Strategy+Business magazine (www.Strategy-Business.com) had an excellent article in their 54th issue, Spring 2009.  The article was entitled, “The Library Rebooted“.  Here is a brief quote:
“Their world has changed–a lot.  The library’s underlying promise hasn’t changed; the library is still a way for us to break beyond the immediate boundaries of our world, to…But the environment [...]

Continue Reading “The Library Rebooted” - a comprehensive article on the state of libraries

The best in books, videos and audiobooks for children and young adults were announced on Monday.  The awards include the Caldecott, the Coretta Scott King, the Newbery, Printz Awards.
Check out the winners…http://www.ala.org

Continue Reading Literary Award Winners announced by ALA

Kimberly Miller of the Palm Beach Post wrote a good article, State university officials take aim at slashing book prices examining the issue and seeking solutions.  Some excerpts:
“The rising cost of textbooks has long been a sore spot for students and parents. And for good reason. Textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of [...]

Continue Reading Soaring Textbook Prices and Solutions

The Internet and the news are full of reports of how libraries are meeting the needs of hurting patrons.  Here are a few examples:
Libraries are bustling with job huntersHouston Chronicle - United States
Hard times are boom times for public libraries, experts say, noting
that scanning computerized job banks and filing résumés via the
Internet largely have [...]

Continue Reading Recession and Public Libraries

Jen Matsick wrote a thoughtful and insightful article comparing advertising and marketing of books as compared to other forms of media:
“Books are a bit of a unique element of the world of entertainment. Unlike movies and music, which can be heard, seen, and advertised using just about every aspect of the media - television, radio, [...]

Continue Reading ‘Blockbuster Books’

Ironically one of the best passages about the value of libraries I’ve ever read came from an article about library cutbacks and closings in Pennsylvania:
“In Franklin’s and Carnegie’s times, the library offered access to encyclopedias and books. It gave everyone a chance to educate himself during a time when access to education, especially higher education, [...]

Continue Reading Library Cutbacks in Pennsylvania and Lower Income Citizens

Fallon, NV’s Lahontan Valley News reports in “Libraries thrive in poor economies” that
“People’s wallets are getting lighter and are going out less unless it is to their local library.  As the economy continues to slide, local libraries are experiencing a sudden influx in clientele using their free services.”
Read on…http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com

Continue Reading “Libraries thrive in poor economies”

The Bend (Oregon) Bulletin reported in “Books fly off shelves as library use soars: Phenomenon may be a chapter in story of nation’s economy”:
“People are flocking to Deschutes County libraries, and officials say the slumping economy may be bringing them business. From July through November, patrons checked out about 10 percent more books and other [...]

Continue Reading Public Library Funding in this Economy? It’s a ‘no brainer’!