We are pleased to report a happy ending to a potentially dire story featured recently on Book Patrol. In an encouraging development for threatened urban public libraries, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted to pass a bill which allows the Free Library of Philadelphia to remain open.Passed on September 17, 2009, Senate Bill 1828 allows the City of Philadelphia to avoid the "Doomsday" Plan C budget scenario, which would have resulted in the layoff of 3,000 city employees and forced the closing of all libraries. According to the Free Library's blog, more than 2,000 letters were received by state legislators, along...
The World’s Strongest Librarian
Never let it be said that all librarians are alike. Librarians come in all shapes and sizes, and both genders, too. And if when you hear the phrase "male librarian" you envision a bespectacled, 98-pound weakling, you might want to take that up with the man who calls himself "The World's Strongest Librarian." Then again, you might not.Josh Hanagarne is the director of a public library located in the Rose Park section of Salt Lake City, Utah. He does wear glasses. He is also 6 feet, 8 inches tall and his hobby is weightlifting. Serious weightlifting.In his office at the...
Why Libraries Rock (Hint: They Don’t)
*This entry is part of a "Blogathon" to benefit the flood damaged Louisville, KY Free Public Library. See the link below to donate to this effort.The main title of this piece was chosen by the organizer of the blogathon. The subtitle is mine--all mine. You'll forgive me if I don't wax poetic on the mandated title and theme. The idea that libraries "rock" or are "awesome" or even (another variant suggested by said organizer) "kick a**" reminds me of the lame, costly, and inevitably unsuccessful marketing campaigns that public library P.R. departments love to launch in a vain attempt to...