The Ballad of Old Man Peters
A non-librarian friend recommended this story to me recently, and on reading it I felt surprised never to have seen it before. It’s an inspiring story about literacy and learning. … Read more The Ballad of Old Man Peters
Category: The Profession
Information for Social Change #23
The new issue of Information for Social Change, issue 23, is now online. It is a bigger-than-usual issue with some provocative and interesting articles. Information for Social Change is a … Read more Information for Social Change #23
Al Kagan’s IFLA report
IFLA and SCECSAL Report to SRRT September 29, 2006 By Al Kagan Diverging from my usual report, this time I am reporting on two meetings held in the summer of … Read more Al Kagan’s IFLA report
The Nation takes an admiring look at librarians
The Nation magazine posted a web-only article yesterday by Joseph Huff-Hannon titled, “Librarians at the Gates,” which takes an admiring look at American librarians. It discusses librarians’ responses to anti-immigration … Read more The Nation takes an admiring look at librarians
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Board OKs Union Vote
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Board OKs Union Vote. (That’s the headline from the Indianapolis Star.) Read about it at the Union Librarian blog…
PLG supports Indianapolis librarians
RESOLVED, that the Progressive Librarians Guild support sister and fellow librarians in Indianapolis, Indiana in gaining union representation. Below is PLG’s position and letter of support: Progressive Librarians Guild Rider … Read more PLG supports Indianapolis librarians
New Orleans Public Library Wish List at Alibris
I found this on the Librarian 2 blog: New Orleans Public Library has set up a wish list through the online book vendor Alibris, to help channel people’s desire to … Read more New Orleans Public Library Wish List at Alibris
The “Love Libraries” campaign (UK)
Libraries in the UK have been in a state of crisis for the last decade or more far beyond the degree of troubles we’ve seen in the U.S. Library use … Read more The “Love Libraries” campaign (UK)
Conference reports coming up
Over the next few days I’ll be reporting on aspects of the ALA Conference that just took place in New Orleans, and talking about some of the things that ALA … Read more Conference reports coming up
Conservative campaign forces Georgia librarian from post
Jo Ann Pinder, a completely mainstream librarian and longtime head of the Gwinnett County, Georgia, library system, was recently fired from her job by the library board, with no explanation … Read more Conservative campaign forces Georgia librarian from post
Kathleen McCook thrown off HE-SL discussion list for addressing disinformation
Here is a bit of depressing but not surprising news. Kathleen de la Peña McCook was thrown off of the Higher Education Service Learning discussion list for addressing a bit … Read more Kathleen McCook thrown off HE-SL discussion list for addressing disinformation
Open letter from Patricia Polacco RE: International Reading Association Conference
This open letter has been circulating elsewhere, but deserves the widest circulation possible, in my opinion…. “I’m sharing this open letter from Patricia Polacco because it raises chilling questions about … Read more Open letter from Patricia Polacco RE: International Reading Association Conference
Three articles for thinking about tech
In some back-and-forth with Rick Anderson in the comments on my posting about him from March 14th, I recommended three articles from Progressive Librarian that I think illustrate how the … Read more Three articles for thinking about tech
Geeks and Nerds Battle for the Soul of Librarianship
Perhaps the most pressing issue facing librarianship is one that is unlikely to receive serious scholarly attention. It is, to put it simply, a battle presently being fought between two … Read more Geeks and Nerds Battle for the Soul of Librarianship
On Not Revising the ALA Code of Ethics: an Alternate Proposal
By John Buschman, Library Philosophy and Practice Vol. 8, No. 2 (Spring 2006) The American Library Association (ALA) Committee on Professional Ethics is undertaking a several-year review of the Code … Read more On Not Revising the ALA Code of Ethics: an Alternate Proposal
“Create humorous awards for the staff”
Today is National Library Workers Day, which is shaping up to be a sort of a Secretary’s Day for library workers, judging from these celebration ideas offered by the sponsoring … Read more “Create humorous awards for the staff”
Questioning the Techie Mission
Now that I’ve officially had my blog for almost month, I can reflect a little bit. Things might still change, but I have to confess that at the moment I … Read more Questioning the Techie Mission
Information Literacy versus “The Librarian’s Stamp of Approval”
Ten years ago, in the Spring of 1996, I was learning of my acceptance to library school and introducing myself to the world-expanding wonders of the internet. (I intend that … Read more Information Literacy versus “The Librarian’s Stamp of Approval”
Not teaching a man to fish
I said earlier that I would comment further on Rick Anderson’s provocative recommendation that we not “teach a man to fish” at the reference desk. What he was saying was … Read more Not teaching a man to fish
The Information Destruction Leadership Circle
We generally have a pretty good idea of the type of person who becomes a librarian and the values that we share. I am wondering, just wondering, what kind of … Read more The Information Destruction Leadership Circle