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7 Ways Your Public Library Can Help You During A Bad Economy
1. You can get pretty much any book at the library: A book habit can be expensive. Even second hand books can add up if you read a lot. Even the smallest library can access inter-library loan, Worldcat, OCLC and other library loan services to get you even the most obscure and out of print material.
2. Yes, we have movies: Many libraries charge a nominal (1-2 dollar) fee for renting recent or "popular" titles. It's something of a controversy in the profession, one side arguing all library services should be free, the other saying "We're not a video store!". I tend to fall on the side of free for all. In any case, the fee is often far less than what you'd pay for a rental at a chain video store, and the fees to to cover costs of processing and growing the video collection. If you're looking for a rare film, perhaps older or on an obscure format (Betamax tapes are out there still) libraries can save you a ton compared to buying it on Ebay.
3. Kids Activities: Any library worth it's salt offers a summer reading program for kids. Often with prizes, programs and events all summer long. Libraries also offer storytimes, arts and crafts, computer classes, movie nights and reading clubs for kids of all ages.
4. Save Money and maybe your life!: Libraries offer seminars in home buying, estate planning and even purchasing electronics and other big-ticket items. Libraries also offer free blood pressure screenings, programs about weight loss and exercise.
5. Make new friends: Library book clubs and book discussion groups are great ways to meet people. Some libraries even offer "mingling" events for single patrons.
6. Find a new job!: I can't tell you how many times local employers have come in asking to post job listings or drop off materials about open positions. Many libraries offer resume writing workshops, computer training and even job fairs. College and University library job fairs are often open to the public.
7. Libraries listen to consumers!: We like to call them patrons, but we really do listen. Do you want a storytime for kids after 5pm? Ask for it! Want more books about home finance or budgeting? Just ask! Libraries often go to great pains to suss out what the community wants, letting us know directly is great. The complaint or suggestion of a patron carries a lot of weight with library directors and boards, so you are being heard.
1. You can get pretty much any book at the library: A book habit can be expensive. Even second hand books can add up if you rea... more -
Living Library Loans...People?
A library in London is loaning more than just books. Designed to teach tolerance, the living library features individuals who represent stereotypes that are often the target of prejudice and hatred. Readers borrow the individuals for half an hour to hear their narrative and ask questions. Subjects included a Muslim, an immigrant, an atheist, a transgender individual, and a witch.
I think this sounds like a great idea--I'd love to see someone doing this in the US! A library in London is loaning more than just books. Designed to teach tolerance, the living library features individuals who represen... more -
Motherload of Trophies
In a disposable culture of programmed obsolescence, the owners of the Shack Up Inn set out to salvage some junk and end up preserving Delta history.
Old trophies, boy scout badges and photographs are among the relics scattered throughout the rooms and grounds, off Highway 49 in Hopson, Mississippi.
People journey to the inn from all over the world to troll through things most would discard. Some are there to reconnect with their culture, while others come from afar in search of something authentic. In a disposable culture of programmed obsolescence, the owners of the Shack Up Inn set out to salvage some junk and end up preserving ... more -
Privitizing Libraries
Two towns in Massachusetts, Tewksbury and Dartmouth, are considering the privatization of their libraries. “There is a huge difference between a private, for-profit company and a library which essentially belongs to the community and answers to every resident in the Commonwealth,” said Celeste Bruno a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
These would not be the first two privatized libraries in the country. "Library Systems and Services LLC, called LSSI, runs 65 library branches in four states: Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, and California, according to Dean McCausland, LSSI president."
Check them out at http://www.lssi.com/
What do you think? Should we privatize our libraries? Two towns in Massachusetts, Tewksbury and Dartmouth, are considering the privatization of their libraries. “There is a huge differenc... more -
A New Era of Public Libraries in Amsterdam
While the era of big-box bookstores and amazon.com changed the way people get and browse for their books and media, libraries are not dead. Here in the Netherlands, they are very much alive.
In this video I visit the new crown jewel of all libraries in Amsterdam. It is the largest in Europe; an amazing cultural space with a long list of amenities that are worth checking out, if you ever find yourself in this city. While the era of big-box bookstores and amazon.com changed the way people get and browse for their books and media, libraries are not ... more -
The LIbrary Problem
About 18 months ago I posted the following question to Ask Slashdot: 'How do you organize a home library with 3,500 books?' I have read all the responses, reviewed most of the available software, and come up with a good solution described in the article The Library Problem. This article discusses various cataloging schemes, reviews cheap barcode scanners, and outlines a complete solution for organizing your home library. Now you can see an Ask Slashdot question with a definitive answer. About 18 months ago I posted the following question to Ask Slashdot: 'How do you organize a home library with 3,500 books?' I have rea... more
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There's more to life than google
If you want an unbiased opinion go outside of Google, go to your libraries!
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Poetic shop assistant guilty of building library of terror
.. WTF?! A shop assistant at Heathrow airport who called herself the Lyrical Terrorist has become the first woman to be convicted under the Terrorism Act.
Samina Malik, 22, who wrote poetry in praise of beheadings and the Mujahidin, including a poem called How to Behead, had a wealth of extremist material stored on her home computer. She wept as a jury at the Old Bailey in London found her guilty of possessing records likely to be useful for terrorism.
.. WTF?! A shop assistant at Heathrow airport who called herself the Lyrical Terrorist has become the first woman to be convicted und... more -
Library Of Congress missing 13 percent of collection
About one-sixth of the books, monographs and bound periodicals at the Library of Congress weren't where they were supposed to be because of flaws in the systems for shelving and retrieving materials, according to a survey to be made public at a congressional hearing today.
Officials at the library say they believe most of the missing materials are misplaced, not stolen or lost. About one-sixth of the books, monographs and bound periodicals at the Library of Congress weren't where they were supposed to be becau... more -
See Jane. See Jane read online.
It would appear some libraries are playing coy with Google and MS.
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Ssssh, Silent Library
Bad smell air, slapping machine, hitted hip, old man bites tenderly. What's not to like?
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Living Library
Mariana van Zeller visits a library in Sweden that actually loans out humans of all shapes and sizes as a means of promoting tolerance and understanding. Mariana van Zeller visits a library in Sweden that actually loans out humans of all shapes and sizes as a means of promoting tolerance... more
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Reading Minds
Project Read is an adult literacy program based in San Francisco. This pod gives a further insight into a particular individual's struggle with a problem that deserves attention. Project Read is an adult literacy program based in San Francisco. This pod gives a further insight into a particular individual's stru... more
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Libraries Rock!
1 band 3 guys 50 libraries why? to get teens to read
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