Wikipedia Loves Libraries 2013

I'll admit I've been a closet skeptic of Wikipedia, but this is too good to ignore: Wikipedia Loves Libraries is a real, live, in-person event hosted by libraries worldwide, or as Wikipedia puts it,  

"a general initiative for improved Wikimedia engagement with libraries (and archives), and more concretely an annual campaign of wiki-workshops and edit-athons at libraries around Open Access Week in October/November."

Those workshops and hands-on "Edit-athons" are among the actual activities for real people - although most of the time, those real people will be sitting in front of screens, not old-fashioned books. But that's OK, because libraries aren't *just* about books, they're about information and knowledge. So. Go, if you can. Bug your local library to join in and host an event.

This is cool!

~Diane Stresing

Library Week, take 3

It's just an outline.

Got anything to add?


No? Well, then how 'bout this, from 25 Vintage Photos of Librarians Being Awesome?

Read on.

~Diane Stresing

National Library Week, take 2: You Might Be a Librarian if...

You might be a librarian if ...
... you have a bumper sticker that says, Get carded. Visit a library.

You might be a librarian if ...
... your spice rack is arranged in alphabetical order...

... or by geographic location of discovery of the spice.


You might be a librarian if ...
... you're polite but secretly smug when the IT staff comes to you for help downloading stuff on their

new Kindles.

You might be a librarian if ..
You could write all of the first season's episodes, and a spin-off.

St. Mary's College Library. http://pinterest.com/pin/229331805997359826/

You might be a librarian if ...
...your ringtone is Turn the Page.





You might be a librarian if ...
...you take off work every April 15 because you are tired of saying, "I'm a librarian, not a tax attorney" to the panicky, last-minute form-grabbers.




You might be a librarian if ...
... you've heard all of these before.

National Library Week is April 14-20, 2013

Libraries matter; really they do!
I agree!
The Wall Street Journal said so, and
The Monitor did too.


Let's make a deal:  I'll lay off the poetry and exclamation points if you go to the library.

(You go first!)

Seriously. Maybe I'll see you there... 

~Diane Stresing

Relevant? Check it out

       I won't ask "will libraries survive?" because I'm sure they will. Why am I sure? Well, as a librarian once said - why don't you look it up?

>The view from Talladega

>An insider's perspective

>This HuffPo blog

>The Wall Street Journal's take and The Monitor's

I've extolled the virtues of libraries before, and if you're reading this, I'm sure you can list plenty. What better place to find out (for free) a highly-recommended book is actually an utter disappointment? Where else can you go to find out which e-reader is right for you - again, for free? Where do you go when you're new to town and need a book club?

Still not convinced libraries are relevant? OK, I didn't want to have to do this, but there's a Twitter app for that. Seriously - check it out.

Shades of Grey Blip or an Industry Boost?

In case you think "everyone" is reading 50 Shades of Grey, I'm not. (Yet! It's on my list.) But I know how you feel - I've been absolutely astonished by the number of my friends and the number of exuberant strangers I've heard from lately who have devoured the book. It's hot, however you want to interpret it - Ellen Degeneres is reading it on YouTube, a movie's reportedly in the works, and several public libraries have banned it.

(Not surprisingly, the title seems to have caused some spelling confusion, but that's a topic for my writing blog, not this one.)

Because I'm so interested in the machinations of the publishing industry, I have to wonder whether Shades of Grey is more than a blip. Will it amount to Harry Potter for a different demographic? After they've finished reading Shades of Grey (a time or two, wink, wink) will women of a certain age seek out other similarly absorbing titles?

I rather hope so.
~~~~~~~~~
Speak up: leave a comment or contact me if you'd like to review the book or share your views. Guest bloggers always welcome!

On Libraries: Gotta check this out

Is anyone reading this Huffington Post series on libraries? I'm not a big Huff fan; but this is worth reading.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/libraries-in-crisis/

YES for libraries

If you're lucky enough to have a library near you, and smart enough to have a library card, you know it's a treasure.

Regardless of what the building looks like on the outside, inside it's pure gold. Books on everything under the sun, music, online references and resources, probably computer classes and possibly even art... all yours to use, for free.

If your library has an issue on the ballot next week, make your way to the polls and vote YES.
Please.

Library Cuts HURT - Let's Try to Help

Dear friends and fellow readers. You know I love libraries. Please consider contacting Governor Strickland and our representatives to urge them to maintain as much funding as possible for our libraries. My letter follows contact information, below.

For More Information http://saveohiolibraries.com

Governor Ted Strickland
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
614-466-3555
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/ContacttheGovernor/tabid/150/Default.aspx

Senator Kevin Coughlin
Senate Building
Room #222, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 466-4823
SD27@senate.state.oh.us

Representative Mike Moran
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
(614) 466-1177
district42@ohr.state.oh.us

: : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Dear Sen. Coughlin and Rep. Moran:

I am requesting that you reconsider the proposed cuts to library funding in Ohio. I understand drastic budget reductions are required, and cuts hurt no matter where they are made. That said, I suggest that cuts in library hours, services, and staff will have long term, expensive repercussions for Ohio residents of all ages, stages, and socio-economic levels.

At the library, my 5 year old is learning to read, sing, wait his turn, share, and use a computer. My 13 year old is learning about everything that piques her interest right now- with an eye toward high school, college, and job opportunities. My 80 year old mother and 78 year old father visit the library, separately and together, to learn new skills, meet friends, browse the large-print books, and get answers to questions about taxes, medicines, TVs, telephone/internet service, and more. As a writer, I use the libraries (and their staffs, and resources) at least twice a week in the course of my work - and I've visited the library to help find work - as well as simply for relaxation. I've also benefited from the chance to offer input regarding government projects during meetings held, you guessed it, at various libraries.

Libraries are safe, bright, inviting spots that inform and enrich the lives of Ohio's citizens and therefore, support and enhance the quality of life in our entire state.

Please speak up, work hard, and do everything you can to support ALL of our libraries, especially during these difficult times.

Thank you for your consideration and dedication to the people of Ohio.

We're Reading More! So, What?

The New York Times reports that we're reading more books - and specifically, fiction.

When I saw the headline, I thought, well, there's one benefit of this economic disaster. But the experts who comment on the National Endowment for the Arts' annual report don't go there...instead, their scholarly opinions seem to be, who knows what that means?

They're probably right. The increase, the first seen in 25 years, is just one increase. According to the report, conducted by the US Census Bureau, just over 50% of adults surveyed said they had read at least one novel, short story, poem, or play in the previous 12 months. In 1992, nearly 57% answered "yes" to the same question.

I'm not going to second-guess the experts; I can only hope that means we're not as dumb as we've been told.

I will hazard a guess (and hope!) that we'll find ourselves spending more time in libraries. My son and I read and played away two hours at our local library last weekend, and we had a blast - for free. :)