Here's the deal:The Seattle Public Library bought this roving library three years ago to serve the various populations that can't easily get to any of their 25 branches. Day care centers, assisted living facilities and underserved neighborhoods all benefit greatly from this book bus.But, lo and behold, the bookmobile is up for sale.How can that be?Because its too big. Our beloved city of Seattle is pretty near impossible for a car to drive in let alone a book RV, we have so many hills that there only a few places you can drive straight. Why this wasn't apparent 3 years...
The Waiting Game in Jackson County
The 15 libraries of Jackson County, Oregon have now been closed for over 2 months.No storytime for kids, no books, movies or cd's for the residents and no internet access for the people most in need.Where are we today?Still no help from Washington D.C. There was an emergency appropriation in the initial Iraq War bill that the President vetoed and I am not sure what incarnation survived the recent bill the President signed off on.Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is quoted as saying back in April: "The President may veto the bill more than once, but eventually the legislation must pass...
What the Candidates Should Be Reading
There has been a little buzz recently around presidential candidates and books.In a recent post about Presidential Libraries I proposed that every candidate have a Shelfari or a Librarything page so we can have a look at what books are in their library. I know it would be a tremendous help in my process of choosing who gets my vote.Then the AP did a story asking candidates what the last book they read was (the question actually was "What is the last work of fiction you've read?" but enough named non-fiction books that it is safe to say last book...
The Military Side of Barnes & Noble
This is the headline from the company's press release:Barnes & Noble Donates Books, Toys And Games Valued At $3.4 Million, To Military CharitiesBookstore Joins America Supports You Team at Andrews AFB Joint Service Open HouseY3K Grafix and Penske Logistics Truck Goods Across the Country.and from CEO Marie Toulantis:“On behalf of all the booksellers at Barnes & Noble, we thank America Supports You for this opportunity to express our support to our fellow Americans,”It sounds like as grand a patriotic gesture as one could hope for from a corporation.But could it be so noble?This is the how we got there:Barnes &...
What’s Your Candidate Reading?
In a recent post I mentioned that I thought it would be a good idea for the Presidential candidates to create a page on one of the book focused social network sites like Shelfari or Librarything.Having a look at what books are in their library would definitely help me decide who to vote for.Well we are getting closer. The AP just asked all the candidates this question:What is the last work of fiction you've read?Here is what they said. Expectedly, "several named nonfiction books instead...And a few couldn't resist taking political shots with the question."DEMOCRATSDelaware Sen. Joe Biden: "Runaway Jury"...