Torture
In literature and film, we are drawn into a story and care about it because we believe, at some level, in the truth of the narrative. This requires what’s called … Read more Torture
Are you proud of our “National Book Festival?”
There’s a brief article in Counterpunch about the National Book Festival, which features our very non-warlike First Lady. It is intended as a happier source of news than the complete … Read more Are you proud of our “National Book Festival?”
Aga Khan: Not a clash of civilizations, but a conflict of ignorance…
Today the Reuters news service is reporting on the message of Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, delivered to a group of journalists … Read more Aga Khan: Not a clash of civilizations, but a conflict of ignorance…
International Day of Peace
Today is the International Day of Peace, as declared in United Nations General Assembly Resolution UN/A/RES/36/67 in 1981. It is meant to be a global day of ceasefire as well … Read more International Day of Peace
Laura Bush appropriates title of IMLS grant for librarians
For years the IMLS has been offering grants for LIS research and the education of librarians not appreciably different the one announced today on the IMLS website, except that this … Read more Laura Bush appropriates title of IMLS grant for librarians
FCC study on media ownership ordered destroyed
From the AP story: WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission ordered its staff to destroy all copies of a draft study that suggested greater concentration of media ownership would hurt … Read more FCC study on media ownership ordered destroyed
Myspace: the business of Spam 2.0
Really interesting reading about myspace at Valleywag: Myspace: The Business of Spam 2.0 (Exhaustive Edition). This article points out a number of things about myspace that I wish I had … Read more Myspace: the business of Spam 2.0
Library Juice Press website
I’ve replaced the simple one-page placeholder with a true website for Library Juice Press, LLC. Explore the site for an idea of what we’ll be publishing in the next few … Read more Library Juice Press website
10 Miami Herald journalists on US gov’t payroll
In a way I think it is unfortunate that this story is about Cuba, because being about Cuba means that a lot of people just aren’t going to want to … Read more 10 Miami Herald journalists on US gov’t payroll
Fiction and Fact about the “Independent Librarians” of Cuba: ONCE AGAIN
Fiction and Fact about the “Independent Librarians” of Cuba: ONCE AGAIN Prepared by Ann Sparanese, MLS ALA Councilor August 6, 2006 THE ISSUE: A version of this paper was prepared … Read more Fiction and Fact about the “Independent Librarians” of Cuba: ONCE AGAIN
Lie by Lie – the Bush War Timeline
Very impressive piece of work by Mother Jones Magazine – a continually growing database/timeline documenting the lies that led up to the current war in Iraq. The creators of this … Read more Lie by Lie – the Bush War Timeline
Lithuanian librarians apologize for being duped by Robert Kent over Cuba
This may be old news to some, but it hasn’t gotten a lot of play. At IFLA, the Lithuanian and Latvian delegations were planning to present a resolution condemning Cuba … Read more Lithuanian librarians apologize for being duped by Robert Kent over Cuba
Arabic writing on your t-shirt? Good luck getting on a plane.
I’ve got a t-shirt that says “Peace” in Arabic. If I attempt to board a flight while wearing it, at least a JetBlue flight, apparently I will not be allowed … Read more Arabic writing on your t-shirt? Good luck getting on a plane.
Showtiming our libraries (if:book)
Ben Vershobow in if:book just now posted a brief discussion of the University of California’s just-released contract with Google to digitize its library holdings. The contract reveals that Google has … Read more Showtiming our libraries (if:book)
Data Smog
Kim Leeder at Envirolibrarian has a brief review of the 1997 book by David Shenk, Data Smog: Surviving the Information Glut, which says that the amount of information easily available … Read more Data Smog
EPA begins library closures in advance of Congressional action
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have announced that the EPA has begun the process of closing its libraries, in advance of Congress’s decisions on Bush’s budget recommendations. See the news … Read more EPA begins library closures in advance of Congressional action
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…
Un blog pour les biblioth?ɬ®ques du Liban
Le blog bibliban is a French language blog by French and Lebanese librarians to discuss the situation of libraries in Lebanon and the Lebanese cultural infrastructure in general. Currently on … Read more Un blog pour les biblioth?ɬ®ques du Liban
The politics of openness
First Monday’s current issue is about the openness movement, including open access publishing, open source software development, and information projects with distributed authorship. One article is especially interesting: Sandra Braman’s … Read more The politics of openness