Library Stuff

ProfHacker – “It’s probably been a long time since any of us have used an actual library card catalog, standing in front of the long wooden drawer, searching for a book by author, title, or subject heading. You don’t need to hear it from me that there’s been a revolution in the way we search our libraries for material. I’m not so convinced, however, that what we do after we find our results has changed much. Do you still jot down call numbers on sticky notes before heading over to your institution’s library? Do you still rely on library slips to keep track of due dates? Do you still print a hardcopy list of your dozens and dozens of check-outs?”

LA Times – “The Los Angeles City Council voted 9 to 1 on Tuesday to instruct its lawyers to draft a $30-million library tax measure, even as several members voiced doubts about sending it to voters in the Nov. 2 election. Councilman Richard Alarcon questioned whether the measure should be expanded to include park facilities. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Janice Hahn said she was troubled that the city would have to spend $4.2 million to get the property tax hike on the ballot in this year’s state election. “We don’t have the money,” she said.”

NYT – “Independent bookstores were battered first by discount chains like Barnes & Noble, then by superefficient Web retailers like Amazon.com. Now the electronic book age is dawning. With this latest challenge, these stores will soon have a new ally: the search giant Google.”

AP – “Students who wished their school librarians a nice summer on the last day of school may be surprised this fall when they’re no longer around to recommend a good book or help with homework. As the school budget crisis deepens, administrators across the nation have started to view school libraries as luxuries that can be axed rather than places where kids learn to love reading and do research.”

New York Daily News – “The Broolyn Public Library is turning the page – with a new library chief, the Daily News has learned. Philadelphia native Linda Johnson has been tapped to take over as the library’s interim executive director starting next week and will serve for one year.”