Category: Observations

  • Passive Agressive Shushing

    Don’t you hate a loud library? I can’t say I do, as I’m currently listening to Sido at the circulation desk. Wired Campus is reporting of an alarm that will go off when it gets too loud in the library. Behold the Deluxe Yacker Tracker! Perfect for controlling sound levels in libraries and classrooms! Set…

  • 916 Kickbacks

    LIS News reports about three former library workers from Sacramento Public Library being arrested for over billing the library and receiving kickbacks to the tune of $90,000. I’m happy that my beloved Carmichael branch played no role in the scheme. I’ll also note at this time that the Carmichael branch is across the street from…

  • Science Fiction and Qualifications

    Today my partner, Joe Gebis (future Ph.D.), received a box of science fiction novels from his brother in the mail. I asked him why didn’t his brother give the books to a library, rather than pay for shipping to send them here. Apparently public libraries don’t need lots of science fiction. I told him that…

  • Settling.

    I was listening to NPR this weekend, and Cambridge Forum had the authors of The Missing Class: Portraits of the Near Poor in America to discuss their research and their solutions for making the class just above the poverty line more stable. One line stuck with me when they said that teachers are not respected…

  • Library in the living room?

    LIS News linked to an article describing how libraries are more about community activity than hosting books: “Libraries today are like your extra living room,” said Christy Ragle, public relations coordinator for the New Castle-Henry County Public Library. “They’re community centers, meeting places, the places where anyone can go — for free — to hang…