Your Local Government Pontificator
Entries in Library (5)
Check this out?
People use libraries for different reasons. My wife is almost always in possession of a good book of fiction from the library. I use the library for reference purposes. Whenever I go in the library the bank of computers are all busy with patrons.
Then there is this.
From the Providence Journal we learn of a new program which loans out fishing equipment.
Tucked in among the stacks of books are cabinets stuffed with fishing equipment: rods, reels, tackle boxes, hooks, lures, sinkers and floats. If you fancy taking a youngster or two out for a leisurely day of fishing without an outlay of money to get started, here’s your chance.
All you need is a library card.
Three branches in the Cooperating Libraries Automated Network, CLAN, allow patrons to borrow a full complement of fishing equipment.
That's right, fishing equipment at the library. Do you wonder who borrows the stuff?
The fishing equipment is available year-round, but it’s during the month of May, with spring trout season at its peak and summer just around the corner, that interest begins to surface in borrowing the colorful poles and ready-packed tackle boxes, according to Lynn Blanchette, Coventry library director.
“They get used by parents and grandparents whose kids want to try the sport, but don’t want to invest the money in equipment,” Blanchette says. Boy Scout troops have also come in to check out the rods and reels.
Who paid for the equipment to begin with?
The equipment is provided by The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, a nonprofit group based on Arnold Road, in Coventry. The organization is dedicated to sharing fishing techniques, fostering marine conservation and educating young and old about the joys of fishing, primarily through school programs and public seminars.
I find the whole idea a little strange...but then again I found it strange when my hometown library started to loan out knitting needles.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world
An attack on civilization occurred this week. A defenseless Library in Chetek, WI was attacked.
A Library was destroyed! Who in the world would want to destroy a Library???
According the the Chetek Alert...
A written statement from Chetek Police Chief Mark Petersen, the department was first notified of a possible burglary at Jennings Law Office...
There was a substantial amount of criminal damage to the interior of the office, as well as equipment.
A law office we can at least understand being vandalised, we've all been mad at an attorney at one time or another.
But a Library? The extent of the damage was enormous...
Books are strewn everywhere. Computers are toppled, as is the library's copy machine. The scanner used to check out books is smashed. Large shelving units have been destroyed. Feces are smeared on computer equipment, books, countertops and just about every other surface.
That is right, feces was smeared on computers, books, countertops and just about every other surface. Whoever did this really has some issues?
What makes this story even stranger is ...
This is the seventh time the library has been vandalized in the past year. Previously, the building had been broken into three times in July and three times in August 2007, but the damage was not nearly as extensive as this latest episode.
Library Director Carol Burnham stated...
"I don't understand why someone would do something like this. You start to feel like you did something wrong."
The Library remains closed to clean up.
The Academy of Local Politics authorises Libraries across the country to fly their flag at half staff today and Friday.
Addiction needs Intervention
Building a new library is tough. Lots of cities would like to build a new library. The internet has not diminished the need for libraries at all. In fact, circulation is up many places. But, getting the money for a new library is tough.
It really got under my skin when I read from the Hudson Star Observer, that Hudson, WI was going to be getting $150,000 of federal pork, to purchase land for a new library.
WHY?
Why, can't the federal government stop this addiction to earmarks?
Local libraries should be funded locally. No favorites from Big Brother.
No more election chest pounding, how much "free" money officials brought home.
It is an addiction. It needs an Intervention.
Al Arnold
in National Politics, Library
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3 Comments
How good is your Library?
I'll bet you didn't even know there was a rating service for Libraries. It has its limitations. It isn't perfect and openly admits it, but there is a website that has a rating for your Library.
It is called Hennen's Americal Public Library Ratings (HAPLR). It can be found at http://www.haplr-index.com/ .
The HAPLR Index includes 15 factors. The focus is on circulation, staffing, materials, reference service, and funding levels. The Index does not include data on audio and video collections, or interlibrary loan, among other items that could have been calculated from the FSCS data. Perhaps most prominently absent from the data are any measures of electronic use or Internet service. While such measures would have been desirable, the FSCS data simply are simply not sufficient for such comparisons at this time.
If you are interested in learning more about how the HAPLR ratings work and/or how your specific library scores, snoop around the site and do so.
If you are only interested in "Who's #1" ... that would be the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio.
For more information on the Hennen American Public Library Ratings contact information can be found HERE.
Library Politics
I always say that no matter what you try to do in local politics 1/3 of the people will support the proposal, 1/3 will oppose and 1/3 won't care one way or another. I'm starting to get an earful over a City Council decision a couple of years ago to join a Shared Integrated Library System. This online system allows our residents to have access to books from libraries across Northern and Central Wisconsin. It allows access to those books so that every library doesn't have to buy a copy. Shared expenses. Intergovernmental cooperation. You would think that would be a good thing, right? Not for everyone. My wife doesn't like it one bit.
It seems that she, along with many other citizens feel that "browsing" through the stacks at the library is half the fun of checking out a book. Reading the covers. Looking at the pictures. Feeling the book. It is almost like a religious experience. That is all taken away by going online.
What makes it worse is she is starting to apply the principles of Moving Mountains and Molehills/Local Politics 101. She is starting to identify "Friends" who also don't like this system and they are starting to make waves with Librarian Tom Booker and myself. I can't see CommonSenseville.US backing out of this system as the budget constraints continue to put pressure on all services. This online system does allow a far greater selection of books than going it alone.
What is your opinion of online library systems? Please post comments below or send an email to me.
Mayor Al