public libraries Archive

The importance of a local public library


While we have a local public library where we now live, it isn’t that great in terms of its collection and physical space, especially its children’s area. Why the library isn’t better, I don’t know, but it isn’t because of lack of a tax base or sufficient funding, or so it seems to me.
It [...]

Behind the scenes: Technical Services in a public library


Just found this rather corny video from the Arlington Heights (IL) Public Library showing what happens behind the scenes in technical services. It is helpful though because it shows the various functions included in technical services, most of which the general public has no clue about.

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Home delivery for libraries


I was quite interested to read last night that a group of three nearby public libraries (Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Skokie Public Library and Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling) have decided to offer a new service to their users that gives them the option to check out library material via their websites and have [...]

A public park for your brain


Quote “overheard” from an excellent blog called It’s All Good, derived from notes jotted down during a live symposium sponsored by OCLC at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting (known as ALA Midwinter). The full quote was “It’s like a public park for your brain” and this statement was made by one of the [...]

Ann Arbor (MI) District Library’s website


I love the Ann Arbor (MI) District Library’s redesigned website, which is powered by Drupal, a highly useful, open source content management system. It serves as a model for building (and engaging) a community of users who are interested in library-related matters. I just wish my local public library would follow its lead [...]

New library (finally) for Champaign, Illinois


When I was a kid growing up in east central Illinois, Champaign-Urbana was “the big city” (actually, they are two separate cities). Ever since I can remember, my mother would took us to the public libraries in both cities (Urbana Free Library, and the Champaign Public Library). The current buildings for both libraries [...]

Blog session at Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium


In an earlier posting I mentioned that I was going to a session on library blogs as marketing tools held at the Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium (GCLC). I also stated that I didn’t think I’d learn much from the session, which in retrospect sounds kinda snotty, and I didn’t mean it that way. [...]