Mark Troknya - Public Libraries Online

Women’s Liberation Movement Archives and More at The Feminist Library

Mark Troknya — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 19:26:55 +0000

Dating back to 1975, The Feminist Library (located in London, England) holds a large collection of Women’s Liberation movement literature. The library, which run entirely by volunteers has established itself as one of the leading resources for feminist material. With over forty years running, the library acts not only as an archival collection but also as an entity of activism. The collection is robust in the expanses of the arts, politics and the Women’s Liberation Movement, women’s history, and mental and physical health. The nonfiction collection is comprised of about 5,000 books dating from 1900 to the present day. It also has over 2,500 works of fiction from all around the world, the bulk of which are in English. The poetry collection is comprised of some five hundred publications alone. Approximately 1,500 periodicals titles are available, dating back to the 1960 up to present day. The general division is maintained by a wide-ranging bibliography section and three bequests: the Matriarchy Collection, the Marie Stopes/Birth Control Collection, and the recently acquired collection of the Women’s Health Library.

Originally known as the Women’s Research and Resources Centre, the library was established during the 1970s when many women were becoming more socially and politically active in the struggle against sexual oppression and mistreatment. This is commonly referred to the beginning of the second wave of feminism. The idea was to provide a space for women to commune, learn, create, think, network, and organize together. This nonprofit library has existed on the shoulders of many volunteers over the years and they also publish a newsletter and organize events.

“The Feminist Library wants to be a force for good, a living breathing space with a growing collection of work that reflects the diversity of the movement we serve. We want feminists to support the library, and use it, thereby contributing to a movement as determined as ever to bring about total liberation from the forces of oppression, exploitation and hierarchy. We want feminists to send us their work so that ideas can be shared freely with the whole movement; and to use our space. We need feminists to rally behind the library and actively support us, so that together we can ensure that the Feminist Library continues to thrive, and so that we can preserve a vibrant network of feminist publishing and activism long into the future.”¹

The library is located at Mutipurpose Resource Centre, 5 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7XW. There are many ways you can support this institution, including donations of materials, volunteering, and monetary donations to support a move they are hoping to make. They are hoping to secure a new space and move in 2019. Click here for an A-Z list of periodicals held or here for a list of periodicals by subject.

References

The Feminist LIbrary. n.d. Our Manifesta. Accessed August 17, 2018. http://feministlibrary.co.uk/about/manifesta/

The post Women’s Liberation Movement Archives and More at The Feminist Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Great Books about Strong Girls and Women -A Short List

Mark Troknya — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 20:55:54 +0000

There are many great books featuring strong female main characters. Here we’ve selected a few, though we’d love to hear your selections too. Please share your favorite in the comments.

*Grace for President – When Grace finds that there has never been a female president of the United States, she decides right then and there that she will be the first. Her first foray into politics will be the school’s mock election. (Kelley DiPucchio; Disney-Hyperion)

*Rosie Revere, Engineer – Rosie is a budding engineer and inventor and when she is visited by her famous aunt Rosie the Riveter, she sets out to build a machine that will fly. (Andrea Beaty; Harry N. Abrams)

*Not All Princesses Dress in Pink – this book of rhymes offers alternatives to the cloying stereotypes many princess books offer and instead focus on girls riding bikes, doing carpentry, and getting muddy while dancing with dogs in the rain. (Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple; Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

*Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist -this biography tells the story of Clark who loved sharks as a kid and helps inspire girls to go into science studies and careers. (Jess Keating; Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)

*She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World-this book features stories of inspirational women in history such as Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Ruby Bridges, Margaret Chase Smith, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, Oprah Winfrey, and Sonia Sotomayor. (Chelsea Clinton; Philomel Books)

*I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark-this picture book tells the story of Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She has spent a lifetime disagreeing-with inequality, social injustice, and unfair treatment. Through this book, girls can learn that disagreeing doesn’t mean you are disagreeable. (Debbie Levy; Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

The post Great Books about Strong Girls and Women -A Short List first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Comics at the Library of Congress

Mark Troknya — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 18:03:26 +0000

When I volunteered at the University of Toledo Carlson Library, Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, one of the main things I worked on was organizing a huge donation of Pete Hoffman “Jeff Cobb” cartoon storyboards. Pete was born in Toledo, and attended the University of Toledo. When he died in 2013, his family donated the storyboards to the university. Jeff Cobb was a daily cartoon from the 1950s through the 1978, so the donation was quite sizable.

Recently, the Library of Congress received its largest donation of comic books and pop-culture memorabilia. The donation came from a Baltimore-based collector named Stephen A. Geppi and totaled more than 3,000 items. The items include Mickey Mouse storyboards, Beatles memorabilia, an old brownie camera model F, and many other items. The library estimates the value of the entire collection somewhere in the millions. They describe their Comic book collection as follows:

“The largest publicly available collection of comic books in the United States is housed in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room.The collection includes U.S. and foreign comic books–over 12,000 titles in all, totaling more than 140,000 issues. Primarily composed of the original print issues, the collection includes color microfiche of selected early comic book titles (such as Superman, More Fun, and Action Comics), bound volumes of comic books submitted by the publishers and special reprints.The collection is most comprehensive from the mid-1940s on; however, many titles date back to the 1930s. For some of the earliest modern comic books (those which began publishing in the 1930s), the collection holdings begin with the early 1940s.” (Library of Congress 2017)

Some of the highlights of the collection include translated reissues of Japanese manga, other foreign language titles including German, Spanish and French comics, and a smaller sub collection of underground comic books, which are mainly geared toward adult readers. Some titles include Akira, Gunsmith Cat, and Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan.

Due to the age and fragility of these items the comic books are available to researchers under special conditions only. Essentially access is granted to serious collectors and researchers of specific issues in order to disseminate the information to the public via radio, film, dissertation, etc.

Geppi feels that his decision to donate makes sense because the collection deserves to be in a place that can preserve it forever. For that, there may be no better place than the Library of Congress.

Resources
Library of Congress. 2017. Library of Congress-Researchers. September 12. Accessed June 20, 2018.

The Washington Post. “The Library of Congress Acquires Its Largest Collection of Comic Books Ever,” by Michael Cavna, posted on May 30, 2018. Accessed July 12, 2018.

The post Comics at the Library of Congress first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Five Recommended Pop-Culture Podcasts

Mark Troknya — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 16:40:31 +0000

I am surprised how much I like podcasts. I was never a fan of audiobooks, and therefore thought I would never get into podcasts either. And, if you are anything like me, constantly short on time, podcasts will keep you up to date and informed, all on your schedule.

Here I offer five podcasts that will help librarians to keep abreast of trends in the culture. You can use the information presented by these podcasts to improve user experience and help keep the library relevant to your community’s needs and interests.

Filmspotting

Each episode starts with a discussion of a recently reviewed film and then the two hosts, Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen, will discuss their top 5 lists in a particular genre or by a particular filmmaker. Discussions have included: Classic Westerns, Musicals, Ingmar Bergman films, Billy Wilder films, Screwball Comedies, and Akira Kurosawa films. Certain films are not allowed to be picked for being too obvious a choice, such as The Godfather or Citizen Kane, and each host is allowed to put a favorite of the other in a penalty box if he mentions it too often. As we all know, libraries are about more than books and this podcast is a great way to learn about the different genres, keep informed about a variety of movies to recommend to patrons, as well as understand where there might be gaps in the collection.

Pop Rocket

This podcast is dedicated to covering pop culture. Each week, the hosts discuss the news in pop culture, which is usually a recommendation of a TV show, or coverage of an awards ceremony, or perhaps a political situation. They then move to a topic up for discussion. Past topics include: Bad Moms in Pop Culture, Westworld, Cults in Pop Culture, and Red Carpet Awards Season. This panel discusses everything from books to Netflix, to the latest blockbuster movies. The episodes cover a wide variety of media and culture and librarians will find the information presented useful in keeping up with trends in the cultural zeitgeist.

You Must Remember This

Yes, you should remember this podcast! It is usually regarded in the top 100 podcasts on iTunes for a reason, it is a great podcast. As opposed to the others I have mentioned, which function as talk shows, this is a seasonal exploration of a particular topic. The tagline is “The podcast about the secret and/or forgotten history of Hollywood’s first century.” The creator, writer, and narrator Karina Longworth began this passion project in April 2014.

Last season explored the careers of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Past episodes include: The careers of Jean Seberg and Jane Fonda; Dead Blondes; Six Degrees of Joan Crawford; and The Hollywood Blacklist. The show is also known for its intense exploration of the Manson Family in the multi-part episode “Charles Manson’s Hollywood.” Aside from being a very interesting and entertaining podcast, the level of research Karina does for each episode is amazing and she provides sources on the website for the podcast. Librarians will find much useful material in the in-depth coverage of topics and people, as well as the resources lists.

KCRW’s Bookworm

This radio show/podcast has been discussing books since 1989, with Michael Silverblatt as host and interviewer (although he prefers to think of them as conversations). Silverblatt’s childhood ambition was to become “king of the books” and one might conclude after thirty years doing this show, he may have achieved just that. Some of his recent interviews have included Andre Aciman on Call Me by Your Name; Mokhtar Alkhanshali and Dave Eggers on The Monk of Mokha; Joyce Carol Oates on A Book of America Martyrs; and Isabel Allende on In the Midst of Winter. Use this podcast to learn more about books and authors, to order new material for the library’s catalog, or perhaps find inspiration for a book club.

New Yorker Fiction Podcast

In this monthly podcast hosted by New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Treisman, authors joins Treisman to discuss a fictional short story found in the past archives of the New Yorker. A sample of past episodes, Hari Kunzru reads Robert Cooker; David Sedaris reads Wells Tower; Akhil Sharma reads Jeffrey Eugenides; and Salman Rushdie reads Italo Calvino.

What are your can’t miss podcasts? Share in the comments.

The post Five Recommended Pop-Culture Podcasts first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Finding Facts at the Library

Mark Troknya — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 15:09:25 +0000

What part will libraries play in 2018? Many people believe libraries will continue to serve as the place for responsible information and fact-finding about the world we live in. After 2017 and the spread of fake news, libraries may in fact supply the instruction and truthful guidance we are looking for.

All too often, these days people seem to accept Tweets and Facebook posts as real news. Just to be clear, even though you like your friends, that does not mean everything they share on social media is credible. It has become increasingly more difficult to rely on the internet as a source for news and counsel about what is going on in the world.

Thankfully, statistics have found that people are turning to libraries to gather information and educate themselves. An admittedly limited but important example can be found at The New York Public Library. In 2017, they saw a 7% increase in circulation and a 150% increase in early literacy program attendance. Their 92 branches are packed full of people and their top checkout of the year was “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.” (Marx 2018) This book, written by the author to his teenage son about being black in the United States, is a prime example of people searching for real answers as opposed to relying on a hashtag to inform them. This is not a cry for people to only read nonfiction, political news. Getting engulfed in a great work of fiction can do just as much to help shape and inform people.

Many libraries are following suit, as an example, Brooklyn Public Library’s 2017 initiative to waive all fines that may be blocking patrons from using the library. This fresh start may be just what is needed in order to help people stay informed. As a community, we need to use our libraries to promote awareness of issues concerning social justice and racial justice and help our patrons find facts related to current events.

References

Marx, Tony. 2018. “In 2018, libraries to the rescue: Why Americans are right to crave facts, and books.” New York Daily News, January 01.

The post Finding Facts at the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Architecture of Libraries in Contemporary Times

Mark Troknya — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 02:41:16 +0000

Ask baby boomers to describe their mental picture of a library, and ask a millennial to do the same and see how the answers differ. The library of yesteryear was more of a knowledge and information center that catered to the academic and the studious, and now libraries are designed to be places to hang out with friends or to host programming similar to community centers. With 82 building projects, completed between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, academic and public institutions are seen as places where the community can gather and collaborate.¹ “They are new facilities finding a place within an established setting and saviors of materials and legacies while offering constituents the state-of-the-art. They comprise the core of campus life and the hub of neighborhoods nationwide. Libraries today are like coming home.”²

As a child, I remember going to the library for story time, and for checking out books. Currently, my local library offers classes on cooking, computer software, doing your taxes, and also movie nights. There are food trucks outside and coffee baristas inside, and in the summer months there are concerts on the front lawn featuring local musicians.

Other libraries this past year have changed their architecture and grounds to keep up with the current trend of communalism.

Harvard University’s Science Center and its Cabot Science Library connects a plaza with a fountain and skateboarding venue.
The Irwin Library at Butler University in Indianapolis incorporates furniture for many activities. This includes individual study pods with acoustical panels, collaborative booths, mobile whiteboards, café tables and chairs, comfortable lounge chairs with pull-up tablet tables, and mobile tables and task chairs with locking casters.
The Bel Air Library of Harford County, Maryland, installed a replica Ma & Pa Railroad and a “Baby Garden” with seats for nursing mothers and areas for babies and caregivers to explore.
Caestecker Public Library, Wisconsin, has added a stove for cooking classes, live animal shows, magic shows, and concerts.
The new Sterling Library in Loudoun County, Virginia, has installed a professional grade recording booth and offers instruments to play while recording. In addition, they offer sewing machines and classes.

What sort of upgrades has your library done in the past year to keep up with this trend? Share your story in the comments section below.

References

Fox, Bette-Lee. 2017. “LJ’s Top Trends in Library Architecture | Year in Architecture 2017.” Library Journal, November 28.
Ibid.

The post The Architecture of Libraries in Contemporary Times first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

National Library of China Makes Audiobooks Available to Beijing’s Subway Riders

Mark Troknya — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 04:22:42 +0000

Picture yourself on a subway ride from Point A to Point B. Many use this time to catch up on phone calls, listen to music, or check their email if the underground has WiFi. However, in Beijing there is now another choice. With the scan of a QR code inside the car, passengers can now access a collection of free audiobooks made available by the National Library of China (NLC).

The NLC is hoping this will promote reading and library use. The initiative was launched in 2017, with the NLC working in tandem with the subway operator Beijing MTR. The idea came from an early initiative where passengers could meet with the library representatives at the train station to swap out old books for new ones. The NLC thought it made sense to create a permanent situation.

The subway car prominently features images of various Chinese novels, with the titles clearly listed on the cover of the books. Currently, only selected trains that run on Line 4 and Line 10 of Beijing’s subways feature the audiobooks. To listen to them, you’ll just have to take out your phone and scan the QR code, and once scanned, it brings you to an app where you’re able to listen to the audio books for free. Once the QR code has been scanned it will default you to an app which is named “Get”.

The Beijing subway isn’t the first to add a library. A metro station in Bucharest temporarily plastered station walls with a giant print of library shelves, complete with QR codes on book spines. On a metro line in Shanghai, a bookstore launched an unofficial library of actual books that passengers could pick up at one station and drop off at the next.”¹

Would you and your patrons approve of public library access via the public transportation in your town? Sound off in the comments section below.

References

Peters, Adele. 2015. “This Beijing Subway Now Has A Library Of Free E-Books For Passengers.” Fast Company. March 06. Accessed November 27, 2017. https://www.fastcompany.com/3043197/this-beijing-subway-now-has-a-library-of-free-e-books-for-passengers.

The post National Library of China Makes Audiobooks Available to Beijing’s Subway Riders first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Hurricane Harvey Did Not Spare Texas Libraries

Mark Troknya — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 16:05:35 +0000

Hurricane Harvey caused record-breaking rainfall to the Houston-Galveston area the last week of August 2017, as tens of thousands of Texas residents evacuated their homes for emergency shelters. Stores closed and school doors shut, as the people of Texas buckled down to make it, not only through the storm, but also through the aftermath and cleanup. “By Tuesday, August 29 more than 3,500 Houston residents had been rescued, but with rain still falling at press time, the extent of the damage was still to be determined.”[1]

Nothing was spared from the wrath of Harvey, including area libraries. Most libraries had so much floodwater that it was initially impossible to determine the extent of damage. Houston Public Library (HPL) director Rhea Lawson said it was hard to even try to reopen because many of staff members were displaced from their homes and living in shelters.

On September 5, Houston Public Library reopened 18 of its 42 locations. “The Kendall Neighborhood branch may have taken on up to six feet of water; a full assessment is still not possible, Lawson said, because the three-story building is still inaccessible due to surrounding flood waters. (American Libraries Magazine 2017)

To help support the recovery of Houston Public Library please visit here, as they are now taking restricted donations for library recovery.

Reference

Peet, Lisa. 2017. “Texas Libraries Hit Hard by Hurricane Harvey.” Library Journal.

Resources

American Libraries Magazine. 2017. houston library foundation. September 05. Accessed September 20, 2017. https://www.houstonlibraryfoundation.org/hpl-recovery/.

The post Hurricane Harvey Did Not Spare Texas Libraries first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Tattoos are the Newest Form of Algorithm at Denver Public Library

Mark Troknya — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:39:49 +0000

In mid-July 2017, the Denver Public Library invited the public to upload photos of their tattoos to the library’s Facebook page. The idea was to have its librarians see if they could recommend titles to patrons solely based on a person’s tattoos and the back-story of why they got that particular tattoo. “It’s really to connect readers with books in a personal way and recreate the feeling they have from books, and movies, and music that they’ve loved in the past,” said Hana Zittel, one of the librarians who responded to the hundreds of comments users left on the library’s page.” [1]

For example, one patron’s tattoo read, “It’s just a spark, but it’s enough” with a picture of a lit match in the background of the text. This quote comes from a Paramore song and the patron said that it represents her struggle with depression. The librarian recommended she try:

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me: A Graphic Memoir by Ellen Forney
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin.

This got me thinking what I would recommend if I was the librarian assigned to these tattoo recommendations. For this particular example, I might go with:

Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett
Lady Dynamite: Season One starring Maria Bamford
Girl Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

I also wondered what other sort of algorithmic connections we could create in the library in an effort to relate to our patrons. Would it be a stretch to associate pictures of patron’s pets to a reading list for them? If someone had a bulldog would I have made the thread to recommend Damn Good Dogs: The Real Story of Uga, the University of Georgia’s Bulldog Mascots by Sonny Seiler, or A Dog’s Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron? Could librarians connect your favorite television show to a book recommendation? If a patron really likes Twin Peaks, I might recommend The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka or Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

While this may sound like just a fun one-off situation that the library did, in the grander scheme of things, it speaks to making person-to-person connections with our library community. It’s wonderful that computers can algorithmically link one title to another based on data, however having a discussion with the patron may lead you to realize that just because a person liked The Hunger Games doesn’t mean they will also like The Divergent series. There is not any replacement for the human interaction with our patrons.

References

Powell, Erin. 2017. 9News. July 17. Accessed August 14, 2017. http://www.9news.com/news/local/next/denver-public-library-offers-personalized-reading-lists-based-on-tattoos/457480079.

The post Tattoos are the Newest Form of Algorithm at Denver Public Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Library Rebuilding Begins at University of Mosul

Mark Troknya — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 19:26:51 +0000

In 2014, ISIL/ISIS closed the University of Mosul. Eight thousand books and 10,000 manuscripts were destroyed by militants as they looted and ransacked the library. An anonymous blogger, who goes by Mosul Eye, is leading an effort to rebuilt and restock the library. Mosul Eye, a historian and blogger, has chronicled his life under ISIS rule in anonymity, for fear for his life and the life of his family. His mission now is to help this library rise like a phoenix from the literal ashes ISIS has left it in.

The University of Mosul was founded in April 1967, building on the foundations of the 1929 College of Medicine, under the control of the Ministry of Health. It was created to be a center for higher education in the city of Mosul and in Iraq. It offers accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in more than 100 scientific concentrations. It is a public school and one of the leading educational centers in the Middle East. Its library was centrally located on campus and served as a common ground for scholarship and socializing for students and faculty.

“The central library at the university contained hundreds of thousands of books in Arabic and English, historic maps and periodicals from the Ottoman era, and ancient Islamic manuscripts, including a ninth-century Qur’an.”[1] The library also contained thousands of twenty-first-century volumes on science, philosophy, the arts, and many other subjects. During the thirty-two months that the Islamic State controlled the city, the university campus was inaccessible and then reduced to ashes. Quite calculatedly, the library was hardest attacked. ISIS sought to destroy anything contained within the library walls that they found objectionable.

ISIS used the university as a base until Iraqi forces recaptured it in January 2017. Since then Mosul Eye has been organizing events and efforts to repopulate the library. For example, “On May 25th, students organized a book drive outside the gutted library, even as battles between the Iraqi Army and ISIS militants echoed from across the river. Four young musicians performed in front of the library steps. Three students pinned their photographs of people and places and life in Mosul on a long clothesline and recounted the stories behind them. Four painters displayed their work, propped on easels.”[2] The price of admission to the festival was a book to donate to the collection. Other groups around the globe have offered to facilitate in the repopulation. Among them are:

Solidarity and Cooperation in the Mediterranean (Entraide et Coopération en Méditerranée) pledged fifteen tons of books and a container full of tables and chairs.
Iraqi-American Reconciliation Project, headquartered in Minneapolis, has been in contact with Mosul Eye about contributing books.
Boston University has also reached out, as have smaller groups in Great Britain.[3]

Mosul Eye has said they have amassed about 10,000 books so far but still have a long way to go. The hope is that one day the library will revert to its status as a “beacon for knowledge and arts where young, curious minds in Mosul can come to learn about the city and the world’s history.”[4]

References

Kaphle, Anup. 2017. BuzzFeed News. July 4. Accessed July 15, 2017. https://www.buzzfeed.com/anupkaphle/people-from-all-over-the-world-are-sending-books-to-help?utm_term=.gn5YarpXd#.klkJnav56.
2. Wright, Robin. 2017. The New Yorker. June 12. Accessed July 15, 2017. http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/mosuls-library-without-books.
Ibid.
Kaphle, Anup. 2017. BuzzFeed News. July 4. Accessed July 15, 2017. https://www.buzzfeed.com/anupkaphle/people-from-all-over-the-world-are-sending-books-to-help?utm_term=.gn5YarpXd#.klkJnav56.

The post Library Rebuilding Begins at University of Mosul first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Gender Reassignment Surgery and the Library’s Health Plan

Mark Troknya — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 19:27:29 +0000

In 2016, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County library employee Rachel Dovel planned to undergo gender reassignment surgery. When told the surgery was not covered by the library’s health insurer, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Dovel took the library board/insurance company to court.

In December 2016, Dovel took out a personal loan and went through with the surgery. Dovel also hired the law firm Gerhardstein & Branch along with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Law Office of Scott Knox. “Employers across the country should take note that denying medically necessary care for transgender employees is unlawful,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Transgender Youth Project Staff Attorney Asaf Orr.[1] Jennifer Branch, one of the lawyer’s representing Dovel, was optimistic that this lawsuit would validate how important it is to struggle for a resolution that will be unbiased and just for employees.

Shortly after this dispute went public, Anthem announced it would cover the gender reassignment surgery. Dovel had already paid for the surgery privately but considers the new insurance plan a triumph, as does the library. Human resources director at the library, Andrea Kaufman said, “We are glad Anthem ultimately added this coverage to our base plan and glad to have reached a happy resolution with our employee.” [2]

Under terms of the agreement, the library:

Changed its healthcare plan effective Jan. 1 to include transgender surgery and other medical care for transgender people
Agreed to listen to the recommendations of its employees about purchasing and offering LGBT-related materials and events
Will continue its practice of using gender-neutral employment forms and providing gender-neutral restrooms when feasible
Offer employees training on LGBT inclusion.

References

Coolidge, Sharon. 2017. Cinicinnati.com. May 15. Accessed June 19, 2017. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/15/library-settles-transgender-lawsuit-now-covers-transgender-surgery/101512662/.
Ibid.

The post Gender Reassignment Surgery and the Library’s Health Plan first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Preventing Overdoses in the Library

Mark Troknya — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:31:22 +0000

As many librarians can attest, libraries, with their public bathrooms and quiet nooks, are often used for purposes of substance abuse. San Francisco Public Library (SFPL)security guards say many users end up in the library stacks shooting up, or in the bathroom when nobody is around. In fact, San Francisco health department spokeswoman Rachael Kagan said, “San Francisco is a city with lots of drug use, and we consider people with drug-use issues part of the population we feel responsible for.” (Ross 2017) Currently the San Francisco Department of Public Health has taken action towards the rising number of drug users in and around the library by assigning a few staff members to patrol the area during peak population times (9-10 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.). These representatives try to talk to users about the risks of heroin and also can administer the opioid-blocking drug Naloxone if needed.

“The library also has a social worker and six formerly homeless health and safety associates who scour the Main Library and its 27 branches and provide outreach to those in need. Plus there are city police officers assigned to work overtime in and around the Main Library.” In addition, SFPL is considering training staff members on how to administer Naloxone if they were to encounter someone overdosing in or around the library. This training and participation will be voluntary, and not mandatory for the staff. Naloxone is administered by leg injection or by nasal spray. If this training/program happens, library staff members will be taught how to use the nasal spray.

“City police and emergency workers have long been trained how to administer naloxone, which has been in use for decades. The overdose prevention project, operating on a $245,000 annual budget, not only provides the drug, but also trains participants to identify signs of overdosing and how to dispense the lifesaving medication.”

References

Ross, Matier &. 2017. “SF library workers may get training to save heroin addicts’ lives.” San Francisco Chronicle, March 19.

The post Preventing Overdoses in the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

ALA Partners with Sarah Jessica Parker on Book Club Central

Mark Troknya — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 19:41:57 +0000

Move over Oprah, Sarah Jessica Parker is the latest news in books clubs. The actress is partnering with ALA to serve as the Honorary Chair of Book Club Central an online reading resources site. The ALA press release states, “As honorary chair, Ms. Parker will provide a selection of recommended titles for Book Club Central throughout the year. She will unveil her inaugural pick at the official launch of Book Club Central, which will take place during the President’s Program at the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. at McCormick Place West.” [1]

Some of the qualifications for choosing Parker as the honorary chair include her:

lifelong love of books
advocation for libraries and literacy issues in the past
service on the Presidential Task Force to integrate literature and drama into schools
recent partnership with Molly Stern (senior vice president and publisher at Crown, Hogarth, Broadway, Crown Archetype, and Three Rivers Press) to launch SJP for Hogarth

The ALA press release further states, “SJP for Hogarth will “selectively publish high-quality works of fiction by both established writers and distinctive emerging voice with critical and commercial promise. In this new role, Parker will be involved in all aspects of the publication process, from their selection and acquisition to cover design and promotion with her vision providing the editorial foundation for each publication.”

For more information, please visit 2017.alaannual.org.

References

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/02/ala-launch-book-club-central-sarah-jessica-parker — Accessed 3/27/17.
Ibid.

The post ALA Partners with Sarah Jessica Parker on Book Club Central first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Library of Congress Digitizes Freud Collection

Mark Troknya — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:24:36 +0000

The Library of Congress has recently digitized the Sigmund Freud Collection. Seventy years after his death, Freud remains one of the most identifiable figures in psychology. He was the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method of treating issues through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Among his most prominent contributions were dream analysis and his theoretical model of the unconscious balance between the id, ego, and superego.

The Polonsky Foundation, a UK registered charity, made a generous donation to the Library of Congress that made the digitization process achievable. The foundation regularly supports various facets of scholarship in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. This grant is not the foundation’s first foray into helping fund the digitization of significant collections at key libraries; they have also supported the New York Public Library, Vatican Apostolic Library, and Cambridge University Library. Dr. Leonard Polonsky, CBE said, “We are delighted to support the Library of Congress in the important project of making Freud’s legacy more widely available, both to researchers and the broader public.

The collection consists of several groups of material. Among them are:

Family Papers (1851-1978): estate records, legal documents, school records, and immigration papers;
General Correspondence (1871-1996): original letters, transcripts, and correspondences with notable figures such as Karl Abraham, C.G. Jung, and Otto Rank;
Subject File (1856-1988): school university and military records, patient case files, wills, and other printed matter;
Writings (1877-1985): holographs of manuscripts, printed publications, and galley proofs;
Interviews and Recollections (1914–1998): interviews with Freud’s associates, patients, and family members conducted by K.R. Eissler; and additional ephemera and oversized artifacts.

The post Library of Congress Digitizes Freud Collection first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Library System to Receive State of the Art Technology Suite

Mark Troknya — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 16:07:51 +0000

The Brooklyn Public Library is undergoing a technology upgrade. New York State Assembly members have secured three million dollars in state funds to provide a suite of technology in every branch. They are hoping this initiative will provide a foundation to develop technology skills that may be missing from many of their patrons. Each branch will be provided with the following items:

Video game console: Xbox, PS4, or Wii
Portable PA system
Five iPad Airs 2
MacBook Pro
Windows Laptop
Flatscreen TV 50–55″
Lego Robotics kits
Little Bits kits

The items will augment the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programming already offered at each branch and librarians will aid patrons in learning to use the items.

Organizers are energized about the opportunities this will bring to the patrons. “There will be a suite of technology in every branch regardless of location, that will help us bridge the digital divide, that will give students, parents, grandparents, and newborns access to technology in a way that will improve their lives,” said Assemblyman Joe Lentol. [1]

References

[1] Joe Lentol, Brooklyn assemblyman, in “Brooklyn Public Library Gets $3 Million for New Technology,” NY1 News, November 29, 2016.

[2] Hannah Frishberg, “Brooklyn Public Library Gets $3 Million Grant To Bring An Xbox To Every Branch,” Sheepshead Bites, November 29, 2016.

The post Library System to Receive State of the Art Technology Suite first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Library Program Combats Winter Blues

Mark Troknya — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 16:36:34 +0000

The Lawrence Public Library (LPL) in Kansas has started a new program for local patrons to help combat those pesky winter blues. LPL recognizes that many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and have scheduled times in their auditorium for patrons to come in and soak up some light from therapy lamps that mimic natural outdoor light. The LPL auditorium is equipped with comfortable seating, and the library staff has made sure to stock the room with books and magazines for those participating, but patrons are also encouraged to bring in their own materials.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a variety of depression that is related to changes in seasons, most manifested in the winter months, starting as early as the end of fall and lasting all the way through mid-spring. Sufferers lack energy and feel moody.

Light therapy lamps (often referred to as light boxes) produce Kelvin UV-free light designed to boost your mood and mimic the effects of a sunny day, thereby fighting off the effects of SAD. The UV blockers help counteract the eye and skin damage that regular sunlight can cause. “Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, easing SAD symptoms. Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression, sleep disorders and other conditions. Light therapy is also known as bright light therapy or phototherapy.”[1]

Light therapy is used for treating SAD by helping to reset the body’s internal clock and circadian rhythm, which is disrupted during winter months, when it is usually darker and without sunlight for most of the day. Some of the benefits of light therapy include fighting off fatigue, excessive sleepiness, and depression. It is often preferred over medicinal therapy because it is safer and easier for the patients.

Kate Gramlich is the organizer of this program for LPL and hopes that part of the therapeutic effects will be a sense of community. People who are suffering from SAD can come in and see that they are not alone. Any questions about this program can be directed to Kate at kgramlich@lplks.org.

Reference

[1] Mayo Clinic staff, “Light Therapy,” Mayoclinic.org , March 19, 2016.

The post Library Program Combats Winter Blues first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Damaging Waters Lead to Uncertain Future for Library

Mark Troknya — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:00:11 +0000

Niagara Falls, New York was in a terrific financial bonanza in the early 20^th century. Available land and cheap power attracted many chemical and manufacturing companies. From 1900 to 1960 the city’s population grew from 20,000 to more than 100,000. With a larger population came a need for more public services, including a new library. Enter Paul Rudolph. “Rudolph was picked unanimously by the city’s architectural selection committee in November 1968 from a field of five finalists. His career was in full stride, and he had a well-established reputation for complex, monumental designs fueled by his individualistic zeal.[1]” Rudolph was a sought after architect who was known for his Brutalist architecture. Brutalism is a movement popular from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, characterized by buildings that are typically massive in structure with a propensity for exposed concrete composition.

“Rudolph relies on angles to create visual depth and variety while instilling a constant sense of drama and tension throughout the exterior. Inside, natural light floods down from its clerestories onto an open, three-floor plan, creating an atmosphere that’s as serious as it is calming.[2]” The four story building has public use on the floors one and two, including a reading room, a children’s library, and meetings rooms. Local archives are found on the third floor, and the fourth floor houses mechanical equipment.

What started as a beautiful architectural dream, eventually turned into a major headache. The cause was water. Water leaks were exposed early on before the building was even finished and then moisture appeared on the library’s walls and ceiling once the building was completed. Leaks were reported whenever it rained. The contractor, Albert Elia Company, blamed the architect. Rudolph blamed the contractor.

By 1978, there still was no resolution about accountability and the leaking continued to damage the building. The library remained open during all of this, however one of the third floor tenants moved out due to the relentless water leaks. An independent consultant anticipated that the damage had already taken ten years off the lifespan of the building and the estimated cost to repair was $2.5 million. Among the issues reported were:

It had a roof drainage system too small for the building and in violation of the New York State Plumbing Code.
Roof flashing was designed and installed so low against adjacent walls that it allowed water to overflow it and run into the interior of the building.
Exterior wall coping was designed without any method of preventing water from entering beneath it.
Exterior building block was so porous it readily absorbs large quantities of water
Through-wall flashing plans lacked sufficient detail to permit the building’s general contractor, the Albert Elia Building Co., to install it properly.
Copies of letters contained in the report indicated Elia requested, during construction, that the flashing be raised six to eight inches in order to avoid the possibility of an overflow, but Rudolph rejected the request ‘due to aesthetics.’ [3]

The library was finally leak free and fully restored in 1982 after the city successfully sued both Elia and Rudolph the year before for a total of $2.22 million.

A more recent survey of the building in 2011 determined the building in need of another $2.1 million in repairs due to issues such as sinking floors. However, the outlook is dim for these repairs. Niagara Falls has endured a decline in population and economic deterioration. It’s population is now around 55,000 [4] and about 60 percent of residents receive public assistance[5]. These reasons combined with the massive Brutalist design no longer being en vogue make this once architectural beacon an unlikely candidate for conservation and endurance.

References

Byrnes, Mark. “The Weird and Wonderful Library That Nearly Ruined its Architect.” The Atlantic Citylab, 2016.
Ibid.
Ibid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls,_New_York
Ibid.

The post Damaging Waters Lead to Uncertain Future for Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Updating the ALA Annual Conference

Mark Troknya — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 21:04:13 +0000

There comes a time in almost every organization or program when the question must be asked, “How can we make this better?” In the case of the ALA Annual Conference that time is now. The ALA Conference Committee is currently working to update and recalibrate the annual event. Some of the factors they will examine are the experience as a whole, ability for collaboration and networking, and the learning and educational element.

Per committee chair Clara Bohrer, some of the benefits the ALA Annual Conference currently offers include:

Brings together librarians and library staff (across types of libraries and specializations), authors, editors, library trustees and friends, and library suppliers to share their best thinking, explore common issues from their distinctive perspectives, discuss emerging trends, and challenge assumptions that might otherwise stifle innovation.
Provides an opportunity to showcase for new audiences the best work of ALA’s divisions, round tables, committees and partners: the latest research, the results of outstanding projects, successful models, and innovative practices.
The event is a powerful platform to speak to the communities that our libraries serve, through conference-based advocacy work.
Offers face-to-face engagement that is often essential to addressing critical issues or resolving problems.
Is an opportunity to develop and nourish each member’s unique national network regardless of the type of library or specialization.[1]

Last year’s conference offered approximately 2,500 programs, meetings, and events in as many as 370 meeting spaces. These figures are the positive and negative of the current model according to the committee. While it is great that the conference has so much to offer–because there is so much happening, it is impossible for attendees to participate in most events. For example, imagine trying to decide between seeing Margaret Atwood or John Hart speak because they were scheduled at the same time in 2016. One of the ideas the committee has been working on, therefore, is reducing the number of meeting rooms from 370 to 200.

“The ALA Conference Committee has a representative composition, bringing together various stakeholders – from the broad ALA membership, from ALA Council and Executive Board, from Divisions, from Round Tables. The annually-appointed Conference Program Coordinating Team (CPCT), a subcommittee, is also represented, including someone from every division, as well as the Round Tables Coordinating Assembly. The CPCT will participate in rethinking the Annual Conference with the ALA Conference Committee and assist in obtaining feedback across the Association.”[2]

The Conference Committee will seek feedback on proposed models in the near future.

References

The post Updating the ALA Annual Conference first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Lending Musical Instruments

Mark Troknya — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 15:38:07 +0000

In June 2016, the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) opened its Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library. “The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library at VPL is a collection of instruments that you may borrow using your Vancouver Public Library card. The collection is located at the Central Library. The instruments can be found by searching the library catalogue.”[1] In addition to Vancouver, the Toronto Public Library has also added a musical instrument lending program. Each library has about one hundred instruments.

Currently, the collection consists of mainly stringed instruments and hand drums. In particular the collection has acoustic guitars, bass guitars, violins in various sizes, ukuleles, mandolins, banjos, bongos, cajons, doumbeks, and djembes. The library is working to grow the collection by the end of the year via an instrument drive. Once these are received and processed, they too will be available for borrowing, and the library will look into starting a new drive for additional instruments. Instruments may be borrowed one at a time for a loan period of twenty-one days. If no one has requested that instrument, a renewal for an additional twenty-one days is available. There is a limit of two renewals.

Sandra Singh, chief librarian of VPL, sees this program as a perfect match and follow up to the Inspiration Lab that opened in 2015. “The Inspiration Lab is dedicated to digital creativity, collaboration and storytelling featuring high-performance computers, analog-to-digital conversion, sound studios, and self-publishing and editing software.” (Vancouver Public Library 2016) Some of the elements are recording music, converting VHS tapes to digital, and editing videos, audio, and photos. Classes are offered as well as programs organized using the resources in the lab to teach interested patrons how to use the equipment, including week long boot camps and multi-session workshops. The combination of the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library and the Inspiration Lab will allow patrons to play and record their own music.

The patrons have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the musical instruments being added to the collection. Three days after the launch in Vancouver, every instrument has been loaned out. To date, all are still checked out with a wait list as high as 70 patrons for some instruments.

References

Vancouver Public Library. VPL Programs. 2016. http://www.vpl.ca/programs/cat/C1063/ (accessed September 15, 2016).

The post Lending Musical Instruments first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

NYPL Opens New Branch at Rikers Island

Mark Troknya — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 17:50:38 +0000

The New York Public Library has a new branch. An unofficial new branch, that isn’t exactly open to the public. This new branch, opened July 26, 2016, is the permanent public library at Rikers Island Correctional Facility, housed in the women’s Rose M. Singer Center. The Rikers Island library “holds 1,200 books — spanning everything from comics to sci-fi, from Spanish language works to nonfiction classics — and it will be open every Tuesday for about six hours each day. Inmates can check out two books for two weeks, with the goal of serving half of the prison one week and the other half the next.”[1] Most of the books have been donated. There are very few limits on types of material, but hardcover books are prohibited. Although housed in the women’s facility, the library will also service the men’s prison once a week via a mobile book cart.

One of the many things we can learn from the widely popular Netflix series Orange is the New Black is how important books can be to the inmates. The show is based on the memoir of Piper Kerman, a former inmate at a Connecticut federal prison. She told the L.A. Times just how important books were to her and other inmates: “They were complete lifelines. They were the only legitimate forms of escape. I actually avoided the TV rooms because they’ll suck you into some weird places. There was no prison library in Danbury. We just had informal book shelves, but it’s very interesting what books are popular.”[2]

On the show, one of the sought-after job assignments is working in the prison library. Perhaps the best display of how important the books are to the inmates appears in the Season 3 episode “Ultimate Book Return.” Due to a massive bedbug infestation in the prison, all the books are burned. Begrudgingly, the most passionate readers gather up the books’ ashes and perform a eulogy for the books they lost.[3] Among the authors/titles mentioned with reverence are Great Expectations, the dictionary, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, Jonathan Swift, Sister Souljah, and David Sedaris. Others mentioned throughout the series include Moby Dick, The Glass Castle, and Ulysses.

Tony Marx, NYPL president, is hopeful the library will be inclusive and helpful to all the inmates:“‘Everyone is always welcomed at the library. Free books, free use of computers, educational programs,’ he said, speaking directly to several of the inmates gathered for the library’s opening Tuesday. ‘We do not want people locked up. We want everyone — everyone — to have the opportunity to read, to learn, to create, to gain skills and to contribute.’”[4]Last year, Rikers circulated over 22,000 books, and Marx is hopeful that number will increase with this permanent collection.

Check your library for opportunities to donate books to your local correctional facility.

References

**[1] Alison Fox, “Rikers Island gets unofficial New York Public Library branch,” amNewYork. July 27, 2016.**

**[2] Piper Kerman in an interview with Meredith Blake, “Q&A: ‘Orange is the New Black’ author Piper Kerman on Netflix show” by Blake, Los Angeles Times, July 11, 2013.**

**[3] Jenji Kohan, “The Ultimate Book Return,” Orange is the New Black, web television series, Netflix, 2015.**

[4] Tony Marx, president of the New York Public Library, “Rikers Island gets unofficial New York Public Library branch” by Alison Fox.

The post NYPL Opens New Branch at Rikers Island first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Anti-Prom Held at New York Public Library

Mark Troknya — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 16:11:11 +0000

On June 12, 2016, twenty-nine-year-old Omar Mateen shot and killed forty-nine people and wounded fifty-three others in a terrorist attack inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Mateen was eventually shot and killed by Orlando police following a three-hour standoff. It was both the deadliest mass shooting by a solo shooter, and the deadliest occurrence of aggression against the LGBTQ community in U.S. history.

On the following Friday, the New York Public Library hosted its annual anti-prom for LGBTQ students, an informal, fun time for students ages twelve to eighteen in the New York City area. “Anti-Prom provides an alternative, safe space for all teens who may not feel welcome at official school programs or dances because of their sexuality, gender presentation, the way they dress, or any other reason.”^{^[1]} The library has been hosting this event since 2004, and the number of attendees has been steadily growing since its debuted attendance of a hundred. Admission is always free, and a DJ provides music. By the end of the night, non-gender-specific King and Queen of the anti-prom are chosen. Some of the guest masters of ceremony over the years has been Simon Doonan, Creative Ambassador-at-Large of the New York City-based clothing store Barneys, and Jimmy Van Bramer, an openly gay councilman from Queens.

The theme this year is based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Some of the themes from the past were:

Fairy Tale (2015)
Punk Rock (2014)
Masquarade [sic] (2013)
Monster (2012)
Super Hero (2011)

Clearly, this year had a different tone to it based on the Orlando shootings that occurred five days prior. Some people felt the need to show up simply to show solidarity in the face of this horrific occurrence. Others penned “love letters” to their counterparts at the Orlando Public Library. The letter writing was a way for the students—many of which identify as LGBTQ—to cope with what had ensued. The letters were sent to the teen center down at the Orlando library in Florida. A total of fifty-one letters were sent, many of which used the rainbow colors the Pride Flag to show solidarity. Orlando Youth Programs Coordinator Erin Topolesky said she began to tear up moments after opening the letters: “She looked forward to sharing the letters with her teens and was looking for the right time to touch on such a sensitive subject.”^{^[2]} Topolesky plans on having the letters archived across the street from the library, at the Orange County Regional History Center, in addition to many other items of sympathy and condolence that have been sent to the city since tragedy struck.^{^[3]}

References

[1] “Anti-Prom 2016: Secret Garden Prom,” New York Public Library, June 17, 2016.

[2] Erin Topolesky, “New York Teens Send ‘Love Letters’ to their Orlando Counterparts” by Arielle Landau, New York Public Library, July 05, 2016.

[3] Ibid.

The post Anti-Prom Held at New York Public Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Police Involved with Overdue Library Books

Mark Troknya — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 17:22:12 +0000

Sometimes life happens, and we mess up. We lose our keys, we forget about our cell phone bill payment, and sometimes we forget to return library books. For Cathy and Melvin Duren of Tecumseh, Michigan, simple human error caused them quite a headache. In April 2016, the Durens faced legal action and jail time for two overdue library books.

In July of 2014, their son used Cathy’s card to check out Dr. Seuss’ A Hatful of Seuss from Tecumseh District Library for his daughter to read while they visited his parents. The book was lost and forgotten about by the Durens. Almost a year later, in April 2015, Cathy used her husband’s card to check out Sam Christer’s The Rome Prophecy, which she also forgot to return.

The director of the Tecumseh District Library, Gayle Hazelbaker, says “the procedure for working with patrons who don’t return missing books is lengthy and offers plenty of room to fix the issue.” Patrons are notified three times by letter or e-mail over the course of 108 days from a book’s due date. “If no contact is made, the case gets turned over to the ECU [Economic Crimes Unit].”^{^[1]} In December of 2015, the Durens received the last letter from the library letting them know that they must return or replace the books and pay the overdue fines, or else they could be charged with a crime. Cathy was finally able to locate The Rome Prophecy in January and returned it; however, the Dr. Seuss book was still lost.

The late fees escalated to $55, plus the cost of replacing A Hatful of Seuss. When Cathy presented a money order in that amount, she said it “was refused because she would not pay the additional $210 in diversion fees to the prosecutor’s crime unit.”^{^[2]}

The diversion fee helps fund the ECU, which investigates overdue library books. In addition to these fees, the Durens also paid a $100 bond when they were served arrest warrants at their home on Friday, April 8. They were not physically arrested; instead the police let them know about the warrant and advised them to take care of the situation, at which point the Durens went down to the station and paid the bond.

Prosecutions for unreturned library books have reimbursed the Tecumseh District Library about ten thousand dollars in losses on overdue books annually. This money could have been taken out of the citizens’ taxes but can now be allocated elsewhere while holding the delinquent account holders fiscally responsible. The library had been accruing so many heavy losses in the past ten years that it felt involving the ECU was necessary. In 2013–2014, 248 items were overdue, amounting to a $5,816 replacement cost for those items and $3,061 in unpaid fines. Between 2007 and 2013, 1,630 items were overdue, amounting to $32,451 in replacement costs and $20,138 in unpaid fines.

In May of 2016, a judge decided that paying the overdue fines and replacing the missing Dr. Seuss book was good enough restitution and dropped all charges against the Durens.^{^[3]} If convicted, they would have faced ninety-three days in jail and fines up to five hundred dollars.

Reference

**[1] Megan Linski, “Couple arrested for overdue books at local library,” Tecumseh Herald, April 14, 2016.**

[2] Ibid.

**[3] Ryan Dunn, “Charges for overdue library books dropped,” The Blade (Toledo), May 7, 2016.**

The post Police Involved with Overdue Library Books first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

al-Qarawiyyin Library Set to Reopen Once Dust Settles from Renovations

Mark Troknya — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 21:03:28 +0000

Picture Credit: By Khonsali (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

The library of the al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez will reopen for public use after the completion of major renovations led by Canadian-Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni. After receiving a grant for the project from Kuwait’s Arab Bank, the Moroccan Ministry of Culture asked Chaouni to rehabilitate the library in order to safeguard its contents and make it suitable for public use. Chaouni was approached in 2012 to begin work on the renovations. In a field mainly dominated by men, she was surprised and pleased to receive the call; after all, the al-Qarawiyyin is the oldest library in the world, and this would be a huge and indescribably important undertaking. Four years later, the renovations are almost complete, and King Mohammed VI is hoping to cut the ribbon on the reopening in May 2016.

The al-Qarawiyyin complex, which includes a mosque, library, and university, was founded in AD 859 by Fatima El-Fihriya, the daughter of a wealthy businessman who moved to Fez from modern day Tunisia. El-Fihriya was very well educated and devout and invested her robust inheritance on a mosque and center for knowledge in her new home of Fez.

“The University of al-Qarawiyyin is the oldest existing, continually operating, and the first degree awarding educational institution in the world according to UNESCO and Guinness World Records.”[1] The al-Quaraouiyine mosque and college became one of the most influential spiritual and educational centers in the Muslim world. By 1963, it was incorporated into Morocco’s modern state university system. Education at the al-Qarawiyyin university concentrates on the Islamic religious and legal sciences. With ages ranging from thirteen to thirty, most students at the Qarawiyyin study towards high school diplomas and bachelor’s degrees, although unaffiliated Muslim males with a high proficiency in Arabic are also able to attend lecture circles.

Chaouni said her team made sure to respect and give reverence to the building’s original features, such as the fountains and the intricate zaleej tile work. This mosaic tile work is historically emblematic of Moroccan design and artistry. Chaouni gave deference to the past while embracing the twenty-first century. “There has to be a fine balance between keeping the original spaces, addressing the needs of current users, including students, researchers, and visitors, and integrating new technologies—solar panels, water collection for garden irrigation, and so on.”[2] Among some of the features included in this conversion are a reading room, book stacks, a conference room, a manuscript restoration laboratory, a rare books collection, and a café.

Another feature of the library’s updates is digitization. This process is an ongoing effort to improve access to the fragile and irreplaceable manuscripts. Currently, about 20 percent are available electronically.

Resource

TED Speakers: Aziza Chaouni

References

[1] “The Karaouine Mosque,” Fez Guide Advisor, 2014, accessed May 15, 2016.

**[2] Karen Eng, “Restoring the world’s oldest library,” TED, March 1, 2016.**

The post al-Qarawiyyin Library Set to Reopen Once Dust Settles from Renovations first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Adults Prefer Physical Classrooms to Virtual

Mark Troknya — Tue, 24 May 2016 19:45:36 +0000

While many may attest to the idea that online leaning is a wave that future generations will ride, today’s adults prefer learning the old-fashioned way: in a classroom with other students and a teacher at the front of the room. For many, this continued education takes place at their local libraries. According to the Pew Research Center, most adults feel libraries are successful at serving the educational needs of its patrons.

Pew looked at approximately three thousand people aged eighteen and older and researched how and where these adults learned after leaving formal education. What they found is that the Internet is secondary in most respects to physical classroom learning: “For the 75 percent of adults who identified as personal learners, only a third turned to the Internet for most or all of their learning. The study also found differences when it comes to education and income level. For those with a bachelor’s degree, technology is helping. But for those with just a high school diploma, it’s not playing a big role.”[1] Some of this may be accredited to home access: Lower education and lower income households may not have access to broadband and/or are unacquainted with online learning tools like Kahn Academy.

“As a rule, libraries’ performance in learning gets better marks from women, blacks, Hispanics, those in lower income housing, and those ages 30 and older.”[2] Pew Research Center also found that 74 percent of adults have taken “personal learning” programs over the past year, and that 63 percent of full or part-time workers have taken courses or job training programs to inprove their professional skills. Additionally, they found that recent library users are more likely to take courses related to personal interests and or attend learning related events than those who do not use the library.

Pew reports that 62 percent of local libraries offer online career and job related resources, 35 percent offer GED prep courses and materials, and 33 percent offer programs on starting a new business.[3] Libraries provide the perfect opportunities for their patrons to become life-long learners. They provide the location and the instructors for these classes, as well as additional information via books, magazines, or Internet access if a student wants to explore the topic further.

As an adult who went back to school via an online master’s program, I have a first-hand approach to discussing this. I must admit that navigating the world of online education was daunting and was a learning process in and of itself. I made the choice to go online for my education for several reasons, but mainly because of the time and travel commitment of campus life. I felt a sense of dread when I thought about having to drive to campus, find parking, locate buildings and classrooms—not to mention inclement weather. Walking across campus in the middle of a snowstorm cannot compare to the option of attending class on my laptop in my living room, next to a fireplace while drinking a hot beverage.

That said, there were definitely times I wished that I was in a classroom, learning with others. Although online courses allow the option to interact and ask questions to the class and teacher, I still felt that my learning abilities made human interaction necessary when I struggled with a concept. I do not think I am unique in this regard. Many adults prefer classroom leaning because it is familiar and comfortable because this is the way they were taught to learn in the first place. Similarly, libraries are, for many, a familiar and comfortable source of education and research. Whether you are learning how to file your taxes, taking a coding class, or even attending a jewelry-making or knitting seminar, your local library is a wonderful resource for continuing your lifelong learning experience.

Some adult oriented classes that are offered at my local library are:

Extreme Couponing: includes tips, tricks, and time-saving methods for maximum couponing.
Computer Basics: a hands-on class that is an introduction to the computer and includes a mouse tutorial.
Internet Basics: learn basic Internet terms, as well as how to browse and search using a search engine.
Compost Workshop: how to make compost and make your own garden fertilizer.
Cake decorating: learn how to decorate a cake with fondant and gumpaste flowers.
First Aid: learn skills such as how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, shock, and other first aid emergencies.

Please share with us the classes your local library offers!

References

**[1] Elissa Nadworthy, “For Adults, Lifelong Learning Happens The Old Fashioned Way,” nprED, March 22, 2016.**

[2] John B. Horrigan, “Lifelong Learning and Technology,” Pew Research Center, March 22, 2016.

[3] Ibid.

The post Adults Prefer Physical Classrooms to Virtual first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Library Meeting Room Conflicts

Mark Troknya — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 02:12:46 +0000

In February of 2016, the Nashville Public Library informed the local chapter of Black Lives Matter that they would not be able to continue hosting meetings in the library, as their policy of excluding non-black participants conflicts with the library’s meeting room policies. The Nashville chapter had been meeting there monthly since October 2015.

The library’s policies reflect the core values of the ALA Bill of Rights. “Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. Also, libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.”[1] The core values of the ALA also state that libraries should strive for an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment. The Black Lives Matter chapter had to sign the same Branch Meeting Room Request Form that everyone else did, which clearly states that they must agree to the eleven rules. The third rule is “All activities held in the library’s meeting room must be open to the public and news media.”[2]

Black Lives Matter initially expressed disappointment with the decision. Recently, however, the leaders of the Nashville chapter were quoted as saying, “We understand and even honor the importance of the library as an invaluable site of accessible information, community events, and safe space, often especially for disenfranchised people without homes and people of color, but if it cannot or will not support our values we will continue to meet elsewhere.”[3] The next meeting was moved to Dixon Memorial United Methodist Church in North Nashville.

This issue is very similar to the Lawrence Public Library’s lawsuit with Liberty Counsel. Liberty Counsel is an organization that specializes in evangelical Christian litigation. Liberty Counsel was founded in 1989 by its chairman, Mathew D. Staver, and his wife Anita, who serves as president. Liberty Counsel petitioned to use a meeting room at the library for the purpose of prayer, singing of hymns, and a presentation that encourages the return to Christian values and ideals. They were informed that the application would be denied based on the meeting room policy that political or religious groups may use the library’s meeting rooms for administrative purposes only, and not for the sake of proselytizing or influencing people to a particular point of view. Liberty Counsel was denied the meeting room in July 2013, and then again in January 2015, at which point it took the issue to court and successfully got the policy changed based on the First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion and the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection under the law. The library policy now makes no mention of political or religious viewpoints.

Have you had any major meeting room conflicts at your library? How did you deal with them? Let us know in the comments below.

References:

[1]ALA Council, “Library Bill of Rights,”American Library Association, 1996, accessed March 13, 2016.

[2] Ibid.

[3]Joey Garrison, “Black Lives Matter ‘color-only’ rule runs afoul of Nashville library,” The Tennessean, February 19, 2016.

The post Library Meeting Room Conflicts first appeared on Public Libraries Online.