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 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 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 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 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.
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”
Today you get two pictures. If this is the blog where PEZ and Libraries collide I suppose there should be at least one Library related PEZ pic up, eh? KB took it for me while he was visiting a library in Rhode Island. It’s tiny, but it is a PEZ collection in a Library. Pshaw! Now HERE is a PEZ collection!
You also get something you should have seen at Easter. Or on Libraryman Day. Anyway, look at the pretty picture.
The New York Times 2003 Librarian Awards
”We are proud to support and honor public librarians across the nation, who do so much to nurture a better-informed society.
The awards honor those librarian who consistently demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, knowledge and public service in the execution of their duties.
Winners will be announced in The Times in December and will each receive $2,500.”
-via Tracey @ Studio Zoe
Being on vacation is a good reason to not post for ten days, right? It has been a while, but you will see here how worth the wait it has all been! You’ll be much relieved to know that I did do more of what might questionably be called library “research” during these missing days. Now just because this research entailed simply walking around various large and small cities and town across Italy doesn’t take away the research value, does it? Nah! So with no further ado I present to you the fruits of my difficult and laborious search for more Library information from Italy:
First, we happily find another “Biblioteca Communale”. No, it’s not just another pic from Assisi. This Library is in the beautiful Umbrian hill town of Spello. Don’t Public Libraries just make you happy too?
On to the Duomo in Sienna where there was a small library called the “Libreria Piccolominea“. This is a very small and highly ornamented library whose collection consisted entirely of illuminated manuscripts. Not your average collection to say the least. I tried to check some out but they weren’t having any of that business. Actually, my Italian is a bit weak and when I tried to ask them about checking things out, you know, to read in the hotel and stuff, I think I asked them where to find the Tang factory with a Pope Mobile. Not speaking the language just makes things harder that way.
The last Library uncovered by my “research” was the Central National Library in Firenze, (Florence to the rest of us). It was under construction and this is the best picture you could get of the place.
I’ll likely post a few more things about the trip over the next week or two, but before I wrap up this big Euro Library post, I have to tell you about a CD that I added to my personal music library. Many of you know I am a huge fan of Prince (yes, he has gone back to using his name again). Anyway, I have so many P CDs it’s crazy. It therefore goes without saying that whenever I see a new P CD I buy it. Well, the airport in Milan had such a CD. Actually, and I knew it when I bought it, it is a CD containing “The Music of Prince- Performed by Rizzo”. As I was writing this post I popped it in and, uh, wow. It is classic. Dig if you will a picture of you and I engaged in listening to someone that doesn’t speak English, know the correct lyrics and plays a cheap keyboard and drum machine. I mean, man, it is baaaad. So bad in fact, that it goooood! The best is “Get (sic) Off”. If you ask me to, I’ll play it for you next time you visit. C’mon, you know you want to hear it and I promise you won?t be sorry.
Here is a picture snapped at the doors of the PL in Assisi. May post one later from Mentelpuciano (and who know where else) but this is enough computer stuff for a bit!
