Intellectual Freedom advocacy in a Huxleyan world
A favorite debate of pessimistic sophomores, or perhaps sophomoric pessimists, is as to whether our society and its future is more like George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New … Read more Intellectual Freedom advocacy in a Huxleyan world
Library Journal reviews Questioning Library Neutrality
If you’d like to purchase Questioning Library Neutrality for your library but need to supply a review from a mainstream source in order to justify it, the answer is here. … Read more Library Journal reviews Questioning Library Neutrality
SRRT Councilor’s Report on ALA Council
ALA Council Report to SRRT, Anaheim, June 2008 ALA met at Disneyland, whoops, I mean Anaheim, June 27th to July 2nd. The ALA and APA Councils passed several resolutions that … Read more SRRT Councilor’s Report on ALA Council
ALA IFC’s Fostering Media Diversity in Libraries, and ALA’s grey literature in general
In my view, one of the most important documents and position statements that ALA has produced in the last few years was its June 2007 report, “Fostering Media Diversity in … Read more ALA IFC’s Fostering Media Diversity in Libraries, and ALA’s grey literature in general
Call for papers on critical pedagogy and library instruction
Critical Pedagogy and Library Instruction: An Edited Collection Critical pedagogy seeks to identify, critique, and disrupt the inequalities of the dominant culture, thus equipping learners to transform oppressive social, cultural, … Read more Call for papers on critical pedagogy and library instruction
Book: The Dumbest Generation
A book of interest: Mark Bauerlein’s The Dumbest Generation. What it says is that the under-30 generation is so removed from books and reading that it is shockingly ignorant, and … Read more Book: The Dumbest Generation
Librarian ejected from ostensibly public McCain rally for holding a sign
Carol Kreck, a librarian, was arrested and removed from a public campaign event for John McCain in Denver yesterday. She was in front of the Denver Center for Performing Arts, … Read more Librarian ejected from ostensibly public McCain rally for holding a sign
Jim Casey’s report on ALA Council meetings, Annual 2008
ALA Councilor James Casey writes an excellent report on Council business after each conference. His report on the conference that just happened in Anaheim has been posted to the ALA … Read more Jim Casey’s report on ALA Council meetings, Annual 2008
Sherrill Cheda
Obituary for Sherrill Cheda, Canadian activist, librarian, and publisher. I wish I had known about her while she was alive…
Forthcoming books
I’d like to share news about a few forthcoming books. There are others, but these are the ones I’m ready to announce: From Library Juice Press: Information and Liberation: Writings … Read more Forthcoming books
OIF’s Privacy Revolution
ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom is engaged in a research project about privacy and libraries. There is a survey to fill out at privacyrevolution.org. I’m not sure where they’re going … Read more OIF’s Privacy Revolution
Scattered thoughts post-conference
Just some scattered thoughts post-Anaheim, potential essays that will for the moment remain seeds…. It is surprising that ALA, being what it is, doesn’t have better control of its own … Read more Scattered thoughts post-conference
John Miedema reviews Questioning Library Neutrality
John Miedema of Slow Reading has posted a brief review of Questioning Library Neutrality. Thanks, John!
Flyer
I’m bringing this double-sided flyer with me to ALA tomorrow to hand out to people who visit my reception on Saturday night, and to guests at the Alternative Press Reception … Read more Flyer
Saad Eskander’s open letter to the Hoover Institution
Open letter from Saad Eskander, Director of the Iraq National Library and Archives, June 21, 2008 An Open Letter to the Director of Hoover Institute I have read Mr. Sousa’s … Read more Saad Eskander’s open letter to the Hoover Institution
Democratizing Public Services
John Ronald sent me a link to a review of a British pamphlet titled Rethinking Public Service Reform: The Public Value Alternative, from the Trade Union Congress (UK). The review … Read more Democratizing Public Services
LJP Standing Orders
You (or your library) can now place a standing order for books published by Library Juice Press or Litwin Books. Standing orders will get a 25% discount from the cover … Read more LJP Standing Orders
ISC Call for Papers
INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (ISC) ISSN 1364-694X (print) ISSN 1756-901X (online) CALL FOR PAPERS — The Summer 2009 issue of the journal Information for Social Change (ISC) will focus on … Read more ISC Call for Papers
Cuba Update from the International Relations Committee
The ALA International Relations Committee has just released a very nice, detailed history of the “independent library” movement, Friends of Cuban Libraries, and ALA and IFLA’s activities in relation to … Read more Cuba Update from the International Relations Committee