Lyndsay's CILIP blog

censorship and politics

2008-09-26T10:35:00Z

I suppose it must be some sort of claim to fame, to have so irritated and galvanised librarians that they set up a blog specifically to resist you getting high political office! The Librarians Against Palin! blog " is for library staff, library lovers, and anyone who cares about public libraries and freedom to read!". As one poster says "Good for you! Whether they're on the far right or far left, those who would censor libraries are to be feared and VOTED AGAINST!"

As with many stories that surface on the net, messages distort, things snowball and truths become harder to pin down, but even reading between the lines it makes disturbing reading. I was particularly interested to read a post dated 8^th Sep, by the writer Tess Gerritsen (she produces a good thriller) as guest writer in the "What fresh hell is this" blog by J D Rhoades. The post, entitled "The Librarian who said no to Sarah Palin", mentions that:

"This story has also been covered by a number of other sources, including Time Magazine, the Boston Herald, and School Library Journal. It's been picked up by library blogs. The Frontiersman, the Alaska newspaper covering Wasilla, has provided an article from its 1996 archives detailing the clash."

and also:

"Librarians have always stood up for writers; now it's time for writers to stand up for librarians - even though there will almost certainly be repercussions. No doubt there are some people who will never buy another one of my books because of what I've just written. Perhaps they'll demand that my books be banned from libraries. Perhaps they don't think that censorship is that big a deal. Or they don't mind being told what they can and cannot read. Or they want a woman in the White House so badly that they're willing to take the first one who comes along.

So let me offer an alternative candidate for the White House, a woman who's already proven her courage. A woman who's taken a principled stand against powerful political forces. She even hails from Alaska.

I nominate Mary Ellen Emmons for President."

So maybe... when pigs fly and there is a blue moon...... we will go from having a librarian first lady to having a librarian president?

Lyndsay

BTW - Cilip Update will report in the next issue (due next week).

King County style district libraries ......

2008-07-25T10:19:00Z

More on Washington State public libraries. Before attending the conference I spent a week based in Kent County just south of Seattle itself (staying in an Extended Stay America Hotel - which was fine as a base for touring the area).

On a particularly rainy day (apparently unseasonally so for June?) I hit the mall, to discover a public library nestled amongst the retail therapy on offer.

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1. Front entrance (?) 2. Side entrance (?)

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3. Side entrance with view of mall exit with one of the anchor stores names very evident 4. View from inside to the side exit via the racks of magazines and the comfortably esconced readers.

I introduced myself to the librarian on duty (sorry that I don't have her name) as a "visiting from the UK librarian". I did wonder at the same time whether this made me sad, very sad, or extremely sad? - answers on a postcard... not really! She explained that the branch had been open for about 4 years and was popular with shoppers. She also told me that it was a nice library to work in. All age ranges were evident on my quick tour around including the 'becoming typical' terminal-user profile of young males.

Kindly the nice library lady came after me with a welcome pack for the library. It consisted of an envelope with a cheery "Hello" on the cover and included an application form plus leaflets entitled: Welcome, Open, Safety, Connect, Courtesy and Comment.

I thought people might like to see what can be done.....

Supporting public libraries

2008-07-22T16:05:00Z

Following my previous post I have had a pleasant email exchange with Christine Haskell of Seattle Public Libraries Friends Board. She pointed me to the ‘Friends of Seattle Public Library blog’ (sub title ‘the goings on of the Seattle Public Library’) which is really informative and not only because of the links to other interesting sites that hadn’t appeared on my radar previously.

Having long wanted one, I actually bought my librarian action figure of Nancy Pearl in Seattle PL (and it comes with “authentic shushing action” I’ll have you know!) but I had never realised that there was a full-blown site I could visit. Ok... I can see that it’s obvious when you think about it! Well on the ‘real’ Nancy Pearl’s site the focus is on the written word and her ‘lust for books’. In fact to the bottom left of each page on her site it says “Live a little. Lust a lot.” What a great philosophy for life? She has publised a series of ”Book Lust” titles which provided recommended readings, and is all the rage at events that she attends all over the USA.

There is also a link to a blog for teens called Push to talk. I really like the tone, and the mix of informal chat around books for teens. I couldn’t find an ‘about section’ so don’t know much more about what/who/why etc. I'm sorry. But I particularly liked the following promise:

“WE HEREBY SWEAR that this blog for teens, written by the librarians who serve them, shall be interesting, worthwhile, entertaining, and peppered with pictures of animal babies. Did we miss anything? Let us know what you think, what you want to read, what's boring you to death, etc here: teenblog@spl.org!”

and the text in one of the boxes on the home page, which reads:

“See what we're up to! A group of Seattle teens make up the Teen Center Advisors, and they've made their own MySpace page for the library, full of reviews and other goodies. Or you can take a look at all of our photos on flickr, below!”

.... I'm impressed with myself at getting excited about public library activity when I focussed my early career in workplace (special) libraries because I loved the direct multi-level connection with my users, and I really enjoyed being a solo.

Public libraries

2008-07-17T10:08:00Z

I ended a previous post ....

"Before I left Seattle I visited the public library. It's a really interesting building architecturally as well as in other ways. I'll upload some photos soonish - but I'm going to be on leave for a few days. Talk soon."

... and then work and life got in the way so I forgot that I said share some photos back in June. So a month later...

Seattle Public Library which opened in March 2004.

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1. View of ground floor bookshelves near the entrance 2. Shelves, study areas and yellow escalators visible from the books spiral (the "world's only

"His [Rem Koolhaas and his Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam, in partnership with the Seattle firm of LMN Architects] 11-floor, 362,987-square-foot library, a dazzling avant-garde symphony of glass and form, has many innovative features, including:

A "Books Spiral" that displays the entire nonfiction collection in a continuous run;

A towering "living room" along Fifth Avenue that reaches 50 feet in height;
A distinctive diamond-shaped exterior skin of glass and steel.

The new Central Library's unorthodox shape, unlike any other building in Seattle, is the result of its use of five platform areas to reflect different aspects of the library's program; its form indeed follows its function. It includes a 275-seat auditorium and parking for 143 vehicles."

See Library History section on Seattle PL website.

I walked the spiral (well you have to don't you?) and wondered what it must be like to work in. Staff are located in the (invisible to visitors) 2nd level so I don't have a feel for that, but as a visitor I was impressed by the sense of light and space, and the gentle flow of people without it feeling hectic. The ground floor was occupied by book issuing and returns, a children's centre and a learning centre. There is also a cafe and a library shop (nice mixture of merchandise and run by the Friends of the library). I loved the floor in the learning centre, which (according to the website)

"is artwork by Ann Hamilton - a 7,200-square-foot maple floor featuring 11 of the languages found in the Library's collection. The letters are backward like the typeface traditionally used to print books. The backward letters recreate the experience of learning to read, where abstract symbols become meaningful."

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3. Maple floor (see above) 4. Cafe area

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5. Open view on level 1 - book issues/returns at rear 6. Fountain at Fourth Avenue entrance

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7. Friendshop bag 8. Multi-language Winnie the Pooh display in the children's area

One of the tourist leaflets that I picked up on arriving in Seattle urged "Visit Seattle's "crown jewel" the spectacular Central Library!" It is certainly a striking building and that it houses the public library is to Seattle's credit. Some great quotes on the architecture exist ("It pleases me that the most exciting new American building I've ever reviewed is a free, downtown public library open to all." David Littlejohn, Wall Street Journal), but I do wonder what the staff feel, as often beautiful and innovative architecture does not translate into practical and workable spaces. However, if the public are enthusiastic that should mean that the staff are at least half-way there to ensuring a valuable service.

What makes a really good homepage?

2008-07-16T15:51:00Z

What are the crucial elements of an effective homepage? What do you find attractive features and what aren't? How does a good homepage reflect the mission of the organisation it introduces to the www?

CILIP's homepage will be undergoing a re-design very soon and for the next few days you have a chance to say what you think by completing the brief questionnaire that is on the website. Deadline for responses to the CILIP Homepage Survey is Friday 25th July, so do spare a few minutes to share your ideas.