LISNews Librarian And Information Science News

Libraries remain the primary repository of a huge portion of the world’s knowledge, ready to be uncovered by seekers of all kinds. But there are libraries…and then there are libraries. One very common form of library required patrons to pay monthly or annual dues in exchange for access (which may or may not have included borrowing rights). When public libraries began to catch on, these membership libraries (also called subscription libraries) began to dwindle rapidly; there are now just 18 still functioning in the U.S.

And there’s something else: reference librarians who are positively itching to help you find information. I always have to avert my eyes when I walk by the reference desk. If I make eye contact, I invariably get this guilt-inducing “why-aren’t-you-asking-me-where-to-find-old-periodicals” look, and I just can’t bear it.

Here are 10 myths about libraries and librarians, by Carol Petrowski is a La Crosse County Library System staff member at the Onalaska Public Library.

1. Librarians have lots of time to read on the job. FALSE. Our while-at-work reading is usually job related n publisher’s catalogs, professional journals, software manuals, work-related e-mails, etc. We do, however, have to know what’s going on in the world in order to provide better serve you, so I consider People magazine an essential tool for good reference service.

Found over at Stephen's Lighthouse.

When library professionals get together and talk internet filtering, we often forget something vitally important. Sure we talk about freedom of access, how filtering supposedly coincides with collection development policies, and how to protect our patrons and such like.

One thing that seldom gets brought up, at least in conversations I've been privy to is "So, what do our patrons actually think about our filtering?" And it's kind of rare to see any input from the outside, you know, from the people we're actually supposed to be serving.

Twanna Hines is not a librarian. She's a Funky Brown Chick. She's a writer, an occupation I think we can all say we know something about. She lives in New York City and writes about dating, sex, and relationships. And as a patron, she was appalled to find out that the New York Public Library filters her site.

I have to wonder, how many of us can access the above links at work? And does it say anything about filtering when some of us might have to go home to read about what people think about filtering?

There was a story on NPR about hands-on children's museums and how they use technology. The whole piece was interesting but there was a mention how some children's museums are teaming with libraries.

A public library kiosk in Dinosphere lets kids from anywhere in Indiana check out library books and send them back through the state's interlibrary loan system.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A collection of letters and sketches penned by a Civil War soldier has been acquired by Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

The correspondence was purchased from the Union soldier's family for $25,000.

Born in Scotland in 1823, William Wyllie became a corporal with the 58th Illinois Infantry after enlisting from St. Charles.

Library officials say his letters are extremely detailed. (Wyllie) was very literate and made very astute observations.” “He explains things,” said Glenna Schroeder-Lein, with the library’s manuscripts department. “What being on guard duty is, how long the shifts are, how things were cooked.”

Wyllie, a stonemason with a fourth-grade education, was born in Scotland in 1823. He enlisted from St. Charles when he was about 40 years old. His entries reveal a devoutly religious man. He comments on sermons and was scornful of officers who drank and gambled. The letters include accounts of a whiskey riot and the Red River Campaign of 1864. He was guard at a Confederate prison.

He almost always was writing, sometimes stopping abruptly and, after a day or two, picking up where he left off. But he also spent his free time during the war knitting gloves and socks he sent back to his three children, one of whom, a young daughter named Lillie, died while he was away.

No holiday cookies from the public: That's the rule a Louisiana ethics panel is enforcing this season.

Some librarians used to receiving thank-you gifts are feeling frustrated. Janice Butler, the director of the St. Tammany Parish Library, says she has been told that even accepting a Coca-Cola will lead to prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.

"It's a hard cookie to bite and I really can't believe that we've come down to this," she tells NPR's Robert Siegel. "If you've lived in Louisiana or know Louisiana, you know it's about the food."

Full story on NPR

California State Librarian Susan Hildreth likes the idea of putting a school inside a new downtown San Diego central library, which may bode well for the city's effort to keep a $20 million state grant.

But downtown San Diego parents aren't sure they need a high school, as is being proposed in a new plan to save the $185 million library project that has fallen short of its fundraising goal.

Hildreth will be leaving her position as the CA State Librarian to become Director of the Seattle Public Library. She will assume her new post early next year.

The Penticton (BC) Public Library has served the community for almost a century and in these changing times, it needs to grow.

Established in 1909 with a stock of 500 books, its collection now totals about 120,000 including DVDs and audio books.“People like their books,” says chief librarian Larry Little. “People like their public libraries. Libraries are the one democratic institution that is freely available for everybody. We have 17,000 people registered.”

BC Local News reports: “The real key for us is building for the future,” said Little, and plans have been in the works for a long time. “Ten years ago, the library approached city council about expansions to this facility. At that time the museum was included. We had a meeting here in November 1998 to show council just how desperate the library and museum were for space,” said Little.

From that, council agreed to put money towards development of a concept plan, the first draft of which was completed in November 2003.
“Where we are at right now in 2008, we’re asking council for funds to do detailed planning — about $125,000 for the library and museum complex.” “This will be the fourth year we’re asking,” said Little. “This is an old building and the infrastructure is in need of revitalization.”

The Fitchburg (Mass.) Public Library is being used as an emergency animal shelter for the pets of residents who have been displaced by the recent ice storm and lingering power outages.

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_11261048

On Tuesday, December 16, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit established important restrictions on the power of the federal government to impose gag orders on recipients of National Security Letters (NSLs). Currently, the recipient of an NSL cannot challenge a gag order for one year, and the chances for success are limited by a provision of the law that requires judges to regard as "conclusive" government assertions that secrecy is necessary to protect national security. The Second Circuit ruled that these provisions limit First Amendment rights.

More from Bookweb and on pdf, Doe v. Mukasey (ACLU) Suit.