Movable Type Move

When Edlef from Lueneburg (see the comment from the last post) tells you something needs to be fixed on your blog, you tend to get right down to it. When you have a tech/web junkie friend like KB you tend to get him to help you out. Kris generously continues to assist me in the publication of libraryman.com and for that I am continually grateful. I think I'm going to send him an e-card. It'll have a puppy animation and a MIDI version of "Wind beneath My Wings" and it will make him truly and deeply happy.
Anyway, if the formatting seems off, fear not. It shall return more mighty and powerful than ever before!

netbib weblog comes out of

netbib weblog comes out of Germany. There, on “27 Juni 2003” we find the following:
''Ein Artikel des Libraryman Michael Porter über seine Zeit als ''public access computing trainer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Public Library Program''. Er arbeitete in dieser Zeit in 294 amerikanischen Bibliotheken und hat sich ein paar Gedanken gemacht...''Librarians need community. Like-minded, interested librarians regularly need to get together to share ideas and inspirations, and also to discuss issues and professional trends.'' ''

Wonder where you can see who is linking to your blog? This is where I found the German blog citation and also the link from Spain that you may have seen from a few days ago:Technocrati: Web Services for bloggers. There are other ways to find this out with search tools, but this is very bloggy so it's here.

Also, you might notice that the perma-links on the right were adjusted this afternoon. Check 'em out if you are into the whole ''Library Thing''.

A few months ago I

A few months ago I started writing an article for my Library School Alumni Magazine about the waning days of my life on the road with the Gates Foundation US Library Program. Writing the article was a good tool for review and also helped to organize my thoughts nicely. That article was just published today and I would love to share it with you all. Here is the link.

Also, in case anyone wonders, I am just now starting to look for another job. After four years on the road I have spent the last two months relaxing and enjoying Seattle. Now I’m feeling quite rested and I am excited to get back to my Library, wherever that Library may be.

When I begin work at my next Library or Library related organization, you can see some of what I hope to work on by reading the article.

My very first Spanish language

My very first Spanish language blog shout out. Thanks, Deaklalli Docu Mental. The quick plug says libraryman.com/blog is "muy curioso". He also mentions Male Librarian Centerfold. Yeah, that's a fun Library blog. But it's just not in Spanish. !Que trajadia!

Oh Supreme Court, does it

Oh Supreme Court, does it have to be like this? Can't we go back to the way it used to be?

ALA says: ''Eww, that's an icky decision!''

These folks don't like it either: Supreme Court Supports Library Internet Blocking Law

This guy was also very upset when he heard the news. He was just inconsolable, poor guy!

Librarian tired of fixing computers?

Librarian tired of fixing computers? Library tech sick of repairing seemingly obvious problems? Gates trainer or tech support person? You are not alone! In fact, you are in good company. These are the best ''broken'' computer pictures I've ever seen! See 'em all here.

An interesting read from Tuesday’s

An interesting read from Tuesday’s CS Monitor titled ''Librarians' last stand: They fight back to preserve stacks''. The consistent support for our Public Libraries by the public at large is one of the biggest things that gives me continued faith in this county and in humanity.

I imagine this may have been said with a very ticked off New Jersey accent:
''If they gave us some of the money we needed over the years, we'd have been able to accomplish what we needed to do over the years,''
- Passaic Public library director Kathleen Mollica
Well you go girl!

Here is the newspapers version of the full story. -Link

A fun link for any

A fun link for any YA Librarians or old school/beatbox fans reading. It'll keep those little hipsters in the Library busy for a few minutes (just make sure they have headphones). Plus, they will think you are "chilly fresh" for finding the site for them in the first place. Thanks for the link that linked to this site, Erin!

Via KB and typorganism we

Via KB and typorganism we proudly bring you Library Man and his ASCII alter-ego. You too can go there and make an ASCII picture of your kitty. Or your Libary mascot. Or Lisa Simpson. The possibilities are just endless. Can you smell the potential?

So everybody knows about the

So everybody knows about the ALA Conference in Toronto this week, right? Well, did you know about the Texas Library Association Conference coming up in San Antonio April 8-12 of...2013! And who knew you could have spent June 2nd-6th in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Conference of the International Association of Technological University Libraries? Well now you never have to miss one of these gems again!

Check out The Librarians Datebook to learn how you can spend every day of your professional life at some sort of Library conference. So does anybody think if I came as Library Man that people would pay me to attend their conferences? No, really, I'm serious here!

I meant to go to

I meant to go to the Library Sunday, but ended up watching whales instead. Yeah, it's rough all over, I know. These are some of the the Orcas of J Pod. Even without the Library, what a beautiful day it was!
Oh, they swam right up to the boat. It was beyond excellent.
Look at all them big fishies, maw!
Good orca, good orca.
Best for last. I really did take this picture!

American City and County magazine

American City and County magazine has a very interesting article here by Steve Coffman about Library funding. He suggests that just as public broadcasting companies and museums now must do, that Public Libraries tap into major funding resources other than taxes. The brief historical background he provides in this regard is interesting, but with thought, may give you pause and may even be a tad scary.

While I totally agree that we should pursue alternate forms of additional funding for our Public Libraries, the key word here is *additional*. If a Library receives a grant from a local business or from a fund drive, it must be clear to those participating in the donation that the monies collected are to be used for a specific project (new furniture, computers, bookmobile, etc) rather than regular operating costs.

Encouraging Libraries to seek creative, non-traditional *additional* funding opportunities is very practical and definitely something Libraries would be wise to consider doing (those that aren’t already). Sadly, this additional money is often already a necessity in order to simply offer the services the public needs when it comes to expansion or service. However, this is the case mostly when it comes to new, unique projects.

Here’s the counterpoint to Mr. Coffman’s article: the societal benefits provided by our Public Libraries outweigh even those of our goodly institutions like museums and public broadcasting organizations. Simply stated, that is why the idea of moving from the traditional Public Library funding base of taxes is unwise. Steve is very accurate in asserting that Libraries needs more monies in order to keep up and *gasp* even grow. His suggested methods for obtaining additional funding are also exciting and worth pursuing. However, losing a more stable, traditional funding base that is highly supported as such would be a big mistake.

Jenny over at The Shifted Librarian writes along the funding/budget cuts theme in this very thoughtful post. I agree with her about not getting political in my blog, but you never know when Laura Bush is going to stop by and be inspired by one of our posts. *snicker*

It's is contuniually amazing the

It's is contuniually amazing the things that a person can find on the Internet about Libraries. Now if only there were a way to swap files like this. *ahem*

‘’Despite the often incorrect rep of libraries being quiet places, there are dozens of songs written about them.’’
http://www.blisspix.net/library/songs.html

The new Webby Awards are

The new Webby Awards are out! What a perfect way to spend an hour or two or three. Hey, it's our job to stay on top of this kind of thing, right? And in case you wondered, here is a history of the Webbys.

To augment KB's post and to be certain we remain ''down with the lingo'' and parlance of our times, here is something to read. Fo' rizzeale, y'all. Link
Did I use ''parlance of our times'' correctly?

Yo, Librarians! Dig this: Male

Yo, Librarians! Dig this:
Male Librarian Centerfold
Now that is a blog title that gets attention! I found this site while checking to see who was linking to me. Monday, June 2nd finds a most excellent post. The short work of Internet terminal related fiction is ever so much fun to read.

Dig this too, Chicky-Baby:
“Rob Reid, youth and special needs consultant with the Indianhead Federated Library System, serves on the ALA Great Website selection committee. He recently gave Wisconsin librarians a preview of the 21 new sites that will be added this year to the ALA web page.”
-Here's the link

My favorite is the Food Timeline. Facts like these are what you most commonly hear Librarians spouting over dinner. Now that is good date conversation!
Whoopty Doo! Via Little Clickers it’s The Bubble Cam! Feel the power as you remotely command the bubbles to fly. Bubbles make happy. <--No, that wasn’t a typo.

Finally, libraryman.com brings you one of the funniest quotes we've ever seen on a (Librarian’s) blog:
“Who knew that pomade would make my mustache glitter like that in the bar lights?” A dollar to whoever figures out where this came from!

Enough already about Italy! A

Enough already about Italy!
A short while back our good buddy Michael over at Tame the Web uncovered an article about how "the Italian government is putting in place some laws to encourage public wifi". He logically wonders who will foot the bill and then suggests that libraries should get free access. It’s a very good question and a good idea too. While I am far from an expert on the situation, my recent experience in country indicates that there is little chance of free wifi in PLs there. You can't even get in the public library unless they buzz you in. In addition I heard story after story about kick backs and levels of unnecessary governmental bureaucracy and middle men.

Even here in the states it has been my experience that the way most Public Libraries come to offer non-traditional (but important) services like this is to have innovative, forward thinking staff member(s) initiate the plan themselves. I seem to recall hearing of a state or two out east requiring wifi access for patrons of their Public Libraries, but that may have just been wishful thinking. Does this sound familiar to anybody or was it just a sweet, sweet dream?

Some days you might imagine reporting Library news like this would provide more solid answers than comments like, “You can't even get in the public library unless they buzz you in“ or “I seem to recall hearing…” . Questions like these make me want to work in a big academic library to have ready access to all of their databases and records. Hmmm, maybe I should go get a PhD?

Along this line:
blogging vs. writing

In other news:
http://www.librarygeek.com/ is kaput.

An Interview With Super Cool "Activist Librarian Jessamyn West"