Playing Games in the Library? Wii May Be On to Something!

In the past, allowing music, games….even children in the library has caused controversy.  With the introduction of electronic games to a very small number of libraries, patrons continue to question the “true” purpose of libraries and the lengths that libraries go to attract users.  According to an article in The Columbus Dispatch, a great deal of money ($40,000) is being spent on electronic games to attract teens to the library.

Children Petition Alabama Library About Supervision Rules

Two 12 year old boys presented a petition to an Alabama library board in an effort to get supervision rules changed.  The current rules require children 12 and younger to be accompanied by a person 17 or older.  The library, according to an article in the Press Register, is not going to change their policy due to a number of concerns, including sexual offenders.

Vermont Librarian Demands Search Warrant

Police in Vermont, searching for a missing girl, demanded access to the computers in a Kimball Public Library in Randolph.  According to an Associated Press article, the librarian refused to allow them to take the computers until they obtained a search warrant.

Fred H. Cate, a law professor at Indiana University and a cybersecurity expert , sided with the librarian.

“If you’ve told all your patrons `We won’t hand over your records unless we’re ordered to by a court,’ and then you turn them over voluntarily, you’re liable for anything that goes wrong,” he said.

“A Day in the Life of a Library”

Something interesting from today’s “American Libraries Direct” email:

Librarians and other library staff are encouraged to participate in this project: “A Day in the Life of a Library.” Simply blog about what you do every day, then post the URL of your blog to the project’s wiki (so everyone can find your blog.) As the organizers say, “it’s a great way for students who are interested in the library profession to see what we really do.”

I think it would be great if we all participated. Let the world see what “paraprofessionals” or “nonprofessional” library staff do all day! After all, we vastly outnumber the “real librarians.”

At the time I checked the wiki, there were 28 people signed up — and only 2 with job titles that don’t sound like MLS-holders. So we should all throw in our 2 cents worth!

-Michelle

World’s Oldest Blogger Dies

Olive Riley passed away on July 12, 2008 at age 108. The World’s Oldest Blogger maintained her Life of Riley blog with stories of the past, plans for the future, and general stories of interest. Included in the blog are videos to see and hear her speak.

One of her frequent visitors, Eric Shackle, maintains the World’s Oldest Blogger blog that is also devoted to Olive Riley. He writes for Oh My News International, and has written a tribute to Olive.

What an amazing woman and a true inspiration.

Las Vegas Mother Fights Porn in Library

A Las Vegas Review-Journal article from July 14, 2008 entitled Sex in the Library! Say it Ain’t So, discusses one woman’s attempt to get adult computers filtered to remove access to porn.

Mesa, Arizona Schools to Phase Out Librarians

In an effort to save a little over a million dollars in a twenty million dollar deficit, Mesa, AZ school district plans on eliminating teacher librarian positions over a three year period.  School Library Journal’s article also mentions the successful group known as the Spokane Moms, who were able to convince the state of Washington to continue to financially support school libraries.  The Spokane Moms article on the ALA website points out the fact that Arizona Revised Statute 15-362 evidently doesn’t require libraries to be manned by a librarian…go figure.