Saturday, October 16, 2010

The Houston Public Library Serves a 21st-Century Clientele


Link to October 3 Houston Chronicle article, "Going beyond books. Houston libraries are revamping their services to appeal to a changing world".

Excerpt: Still a haven for bookworms, Houston's public library has embarked on a bold expansion of services to capture the imagination — and serve the needs - of a media-savvy, 21st century clientele. Robotics, astronomy, yoga and parent-toddler computer training all have joined the roster of classes as HPL moves to expand its traditional offerings of story hours, GED coaching and citizenship workshops.

Providence Community Library: New Administrative Structure, Same Old Building Maintenance Issues


Link to October 13 Providence Journal op-ed piece, "Free our branch libraries".

Excerpt: But there’s a problem. Although the PPL [Providence Public Library] trustees transferred the books and equipment in the nine former branches to the city, they did not, as promised, transfer the ownership of the buildings that house seven of our libraries — Knight Memorial, Mount Pleasant, Olneyville, Rochambeau, Smith Hill, South Providence, and Wanskuck — to the City of Providence. Because of this, the Providence Community Library has been unable to make improvements to the buildings.

Years of neglected maintenance by PPL have left us with buildings that cannot handle the elements. When it rains, water pours down the walls of the Smith Hill Library; staff members must move books to protect them and place buckets under the worst roof leaks. The Wanskuck Library, which also needs a new roof, is in nearly as poor condition. The water is beginning to seep through the roof and into the insulation, dampening the walls and ceiling of the reading rooms
.

Related articles:
Providence Public Library:  Who are you going to believe?  (3/30/2010)
A library revolution in Providence.  (Los Angeles Times, 1/7/2009)

Ebooks Now 9% of All Books Sold

Ebooks sales vs. trade books sales 

With 2010 year-to-date sales


2002-2009

Link to October 14 The Association of American Publishers (AAP) news release.

Excerpt: Trade book sales (not including books for academic study) for the period of January-August 2010 had sales of $2.91 billion. eBook sales in the same period were $263 million.. E books for the period comprise 9.03% of total consumer book sales, compared to 3.31 percent at the close of 2009.

E book sales for January-August 2010 represented $263 million, compared to $89.8 million from January-August 2009, representing an overall increase for the category of 193% over the same period last year. For the month of August, e-book sales continue to grow, with a 172.4 percent increase over August 2009 ($39.0 million).


Percentage gain/loss in year-to-date sales by major categories

Adding ebooks to the above line graph

All tables developed from AAP data.

10/6/2013 update.  Curiously, this 2010 post has been very popular of late, which is why I've decided to add a list of other ebook posts here.

Other ebook posts:
For years, many people asked the wrong question about ebooks and print books. (10/6/2013) 
Ebook flash sales grab consumers' attention.  (5/27/2013)
BookStats 2013: It's not all about ebooks.  (5/15/2013)
Staying ahead of the learning curve.  (4/9/2013)
"Books are dead yet," sez Salon.  (3/21/2013)
Ebooks and the hype of emerging technology.  (1/8/2013)
Based on this column graph, print books are not likely to go away anytime soon.  (1/2/2013)
Printed books still lead ebooks by a significant margin.  (12/28/2012)
Ebook market pauses to take a breath.  (12/25/2012)
Year-to-date book revenues:  Jan-Jul 2011 and Jan-Jul 2012.  (11/1/2012)
Libraries get screwed when it comes to price of and access to ebooks.  (9/10/2012)
Millennials lead the way....to fewer bookstores?  (8/22/2012)
Ebooks sliding down the peak of inflated expectations.  (8/18/2012)
Adult hardcover book sales hold their own, paperbacks sales drop in 1st quarter of 2012.  (6/17/2012)
Library ebook circulation skyrockets @ the Greendale Public Library and throughout Wisconsin.  (5/29/2012)
In so many words:  Libraries will have a place at the table. (4/30/2012)
3M Cloud Library ebook lending service goes beta at select libraries.  (4/28/2012)
Pew Research:  The rise of e-reading, summarized. (4/5/2012)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution attempts to get a handle on the ebook era.  (4/2/2012)
And I quote from "Bringing Up an E-Reader".  (3/29/2012)
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board weighs in on ebooks and libraries. (3/19/2012)
Carl Zimmer responds to Franzen.  (1/31/2012)
It's only Monday but this is still the best ebook headline of the week.  (1/20/2012)
Jonathan Franzen has something to say about ebooks.  (1/30/2012)
As they have been doing all along, libraries adapt to technology.  (1/29/2012)
Floating an Idea: The Harvard Library Innovation Laboratory's Library License.  (1/17/2012) 
Getting in line @ your library for ebooks.  (1/15/2012)
The Post-Christmas ebook sales surge. (1/10/2012)
Honey, we've been 'trying' it.  For years.  (12/25/2011)
Chris Bohjalian on our totemic connection to books.  (12/20/2011)
Hold that bricks-and-mortar bookstore obituary.  (12/13/2011)
Your local public library: The greenest option of all in the ebooks vs. print books debate.  (12/11/2011)
Go directly to Amazon, do not pass library.  (11/3/2011)
Ebooks in U.S. public libraries.  (10/22/2011)
How ebook buyers discover books.  (9/27/2011)
Cookbooks make the transition to digital publishing.  (9/27/2011)
Redefining what an ebook is and who gets to publish it. (9/19/2011)
The L.A.Times on ebooks: An Amazon tablet, push into interactivity. (9/16/2011)
The Economist:  "Great digital expectations".  (9/16/2011)
Lev Grossman presents a short history of the reading device..  (9/6/2011)
Speaking of gadgets, here's the latest iteration of ebooks.  (8/25/2011)
Sounds like another digital divide in the making.  (7/30/2011)
Libraries and ebooks:  Any book, not any time soon.  (6/1/2011)
On the distinction between the book reader and the book owner.  (5/10/2011)
Demand for ebooks grows exponentially in Wisconsin.  (5/2/2011)
Struggling to find an ebook common agenda between libraries and publishers.  (4/5/2011)
Ebooks and libraries:  "The challenges just keep piling up".  (3/28/2011)
Publishers Weekly tracks ebook sales.  (3/18/2011)
Word is getting out:  Ebooks @ your library.  (3/18/2011)
Ebooks continue to gain market share.  (3/17/2011)
Publishers look to bottom line in formulating ebook policies for libraries. (3/15/2011)
News stories on HarperCollins ebook decision go mainstream.  (3/5/2011)
9 years of book sales:  trade and ebook.  (2/17/2011)
Will ebook readers be wooed by Barbara Cartland?  (2/12/2011)
The impact of ebooks on libraries.  (2/11/2011)
OverDrive news release: Library eBook circs up 200% in '10. (1/10/2011)
Mashable: 5 ebook trends that will change the future of publishing. (12/29/2010)
Christmas 2010 the tipping point for ebooks?  (12/24/2010)
Ereader as brown paper bag.  (12/9/2010)
The ebook reader compatibility surprise.  (12/3/2010)
Ereader ownership:  Survey says....  (11/30/2010)
David Carnoy asks, "Does the Kindle pay for itself?" (11/29/2010)
Need to repair that ebook reader?  (11/19/2010)
Who uses an ereader:  Survey says....  (9/22/2010)
Book industry wrestles with print vs. pixels.  (9/2/2010)
Coming soon to a screen near you:  Ads in ebooks.  (8/20/2010)
Ebooks now comprise 8.5% of book sales. (8/12/2010)
Genre paperback publishers drops print.  (8/6/2010)
Ebooks and libraries.  (5/4/2010)
Ebooks eliminate a free form of adversiting:  the book jacket.  (3/31/2010)
Ebooks: another round of false promises?  (3/19/2010)
The skinny on ebooks.  (3/8/2010)
Hardcover vs. ebook:  Breaking down the costs.  (3/1/2010)

New Jersey Public Library Receives $860,000 Bequest


Link to October 15 Hunterdon County Democrat article, "Hunterdon County Library gets no-strings $860,000 gift".

Excerpt:    Library officials are mulling how they’ll use an $860,000 bequest from former Raritan Township residents Anneliese and Dario Stefani.

Anneliese died on May 6 at the Hunterdon Care Center, she was 89. Dario died on Oct. 23, 2006.

“The Hunterdon County Library was a very important part of Anneliese’s life,” wrote her good friend and the executor of her estate Jane Petrie of Princeton, in an Oct. 1 letter to Library Director Mark Titus. “She found the selections to be varied and enjoyed new areas of information to explore. The friendliness of the staff was very welcoming to her and helpful in her love of reading.”

There are no stipulations on how the money should be spent, according to Petrie. Titus said the library would set up a separate revenue fund with the money, “so we can account for every penny of its use.

Reformatting the Camden Free Public Library


Link to October 16 Philadelphia Inquirer article, "Low finances may move Camden library branch to Rutgers-Camden".

Excerpt: Rutgers University and Camden leaders are discussing a plan to place a public library branch on the Rutgers-Camden campus, officials said Friday.
The move would be part of a broader plan to make city libraries part of the Camden County system.

Under the deal being considered, the existing downtown library on Federal Street would be replaced by a facility on the campus. The city's new branch in the Centerville neighborhood is expected to remain open.

"Given the limited financial resources, everyone is looking for a way to continue library services to the people of the city, and this is a way," said Martin McKernan, president of the Camden library board.

The Camden Free Public Library system appeared on the verge of insolvency this year after state and city funding cuts.

The city cut funding for the 105-year-old library system from $908,000 last year to $389,000 this year, part of an effort to close a $28 million budget gap. In August, Mayor Dana L. Redd announced talks to merge the city's libraries into the county system.


Related articles:
2011 budget outlook remains bleak for Camden New Jersey.  (10/9/2010)
Fairview branch library is closed for good.  (9/8/2010)
Library board postpones decision on closing branch.  (9/2/2010)
"An oasis in the desert".  (8/15/2010)
Camden New Jersey squeeze play?  (8/11/2010)
Camden mayor plays an odd game of library advocacy.  (8/9/2010)
The library dumpster solution.  (8/6/2010)
Mayor proposes 70% cut in library funding.  (7/19/2010)

'Green Roof' Under Consideration for Renovated Madison Central Library

Link to October 16 Capital Times 'Grass Roots' column, "Join discussion on possibilities for library roof-top garden".

Excerpt:   Cost is a big issue, because the $29.5 million building renovation budget does not include a garden. So, private fundraising efforts for any roof garden project that gets the nod seem inevitable. So, if a roof-top garden is going to take root at the library, people have got to get involved.


Related articles:
Design development juggling acts for a renovated Madison Central library.  (10/15/2010)
One possible message:  Don't settle for less.  (8/5/2010)
Possible temporary location has asbestos problem.  (6/18/2010)
Architectural firm selected for Madison Central project.  (5/26/2010)
State Journal editorial board sez Madison City Council made right decision on Central Library. (5/10/2010)
Council vote on library goes under the radar.  (5/8/2010)
And the beat goes on.  (4/14/2010)
Mayor Responds to Critics on Library Issue.  (4/13/2010)
Board Endorses Renovation Plan.  (4/6/2010)
Some Council Members Not Ready to Move Forward on Mayor's Renovation Plan.  (3/30/2010)
Council President Pro Tem to Introduce Resolution Approving Madison Central Library Renovation Project.  (3/28/2010)
'Dissatisfaction' with Collapsed Madison Central Library Project. (3/25/2010)
Fiore Departure Seen as Beneficial to Madison Central Project.  (3/23/2010)
Matter of Principle" Dooms New Central Madison Library.  (3/20/2010)
Madison Central: The Dream Dies, It's Now Time to Renovate. (3/19/2010)
Dispute over Construction Costs Threatens to Derail New Central Madison Library. (3/17/2010)
Madison Public Library Project Faces Delay in 2011. (3/9/2010)
Construction, Cost Concerns May Delay Madison Central Library Project. (1/25/2010)
New Madison Central Library Wins Council Approval. (11/11/2009)Capital Times Endorses New Madison Central Library. (11/10/2009)
Madison Council Begins Review of Mayor's Budget on Tuesday. (11/6/2009)
More Questions About Madison Central Library Project. (11/1/2009)
New Madison Public Library's First Change Order: Rooftop Garden.
(10/28/2009)

Call for Referendum on New Madison Central Library Not Attracting Support. (10/21/2009)
Madison Board of Estimates Rejects Library Referendum. (10/13/2009)
Some Madison City Council Members Want Referendum on New Central Library. (10/9/2009)
Wisconsin State Journal Editorial on New Madison Central Library. (9/13/2009)
New Madison Central Library: Let the Positioning Begin. (9/1/2009)
New Madison Central Library on Mayor Dave's Front Burner. (8/30/2009)
New Madison Central Library: Build or Renovate? (7/7/2009)
Motley Brown Not Reason Enough. (6/11/2009)
Fiore Plan Receives Unanimous Support. (6/5/2009)
Fiore Plan Gets Nod from Committee. (5/15/2009)
Public Forum Focuses on Central Library Options. (4/24/2009)
Developer Sweetens the Deal. (4/21/2009)
Visualizing a Remodeled Madison Central Library. (4/4/2009)
Renovation Plan Put on Table for Madison Central Library. (3/26/2009)
Residents Critique Proposals to Rebuild Downtown Library. (1/9/2009)
Competing Developers Defend Their Central Library Plans. (1/8/2009)
Comparison of Downtown Madison Library Proposals. (12/17/2008)
Two Proposals for New Madison Central Library. (12/3/2008)
Best Headline of the Week. (9/6/2008)

Little Librarian: Just in Time for Christmas Giving


Link to October 15 Wisconsin State Journal article, "A real toy story: Madison mom, daughter’s library kit a finalist in contest".,

Excerpt:   A Madison mother and daughter’s toy project will be featured in Disney’s FamilyFun magazine next month after being named a finalist in the magazine’s Toy of the Year contest.

Little Librarian, created by Kristine and Amanda Miller, is a kit that helps children to create a library out of their own books. The kits include library cards, book cards, pockets that go inside the books like in pre-computer days, a reading journal, bookmarks and even overdue slips.

“The librarian at my daughter’s grade school shared some supplies, and I made it into a Christmas gift because she played librarian at home all the time,” Kristine Miller said.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Teens Prefer Texting over Voice Calls

[Click on cone graph to enlarge]

Link to October 14 CNET News post, "Teens: Don't call us, we'll text you".

Excerpt: In a brief report released today, Nielsen, famous for its TV ratings, said American teens are communicating with their mobile pho-- um, mobile devices more often via texting, at the expense of voice calls.

During the second quarter, device users in the 13- to 17-year-old bracket sent or received more than six text messages every hour that they were awake, Nielsen said. That's an average of 3,339 texts a month, an 8 percent increase from last year. At the same time, voice activity decreased 14 percent--to 646 minutes, nearly 11 hours, of chatter per month--with many teens citing the ease and speed of texting over voice calls
.

At the time this song was popular -- the fall of 1962 -- the Nelson household (Dad, Mom, 4 kids) contained just one phone. In the living room.

Proposed Portage Public Library Expansion to Focus on Youth Services


Link to October October 12 Portage Daily Register article, "Proposed library expansion would focus on youth".

Excerpt:   Bahr said written comments and in-person interviews with library staff will inform initial expansion design work that he was hired to do earlier this summer. Design options and cost estimates are expected to be presented to the Library Board in November.According to Bahr, some of the things that may be included in the designs are:
• More meeting room space, which library staff say is highly utilized.
• A modification to the library's entrance to help fix water and ice issues.
• An expanded children's area with a dedicated circulation desk and a new story time room.
•An additional entrance on the other end of the library tailored for entering the children's area.
• Re-purposing the existing children's story time area into an area designed for teenagers.
• More public access areas for computers and online catalogs.
• A modified circulation desk that would allow for better work flow.
• Adding a drive-up book return to the outside of the building.
• Improvements to the library's lighting and heating and cooling systems.


Related articles:
Putting together the financial pieces for building expansion.  (5/12/2010)
Library seeks community input for expansion.  (1/13/2010)
Board discussion rental property options.  (11/11/2009)

Village of Poynette Administrator Calls for 'Culture Change'

Not the message that some folks want to hear nowadays, but Daniel Guild describes the consequences of not listening.


Link to October 12 Poynette Press article, "Infrastructure is a top priority. Administrator says cheap fixes need to be addressed".

Excerpt: Maintenance and long-term planning were not the best attributes of past village boards, Guild said, comparing the effect to how someone runs their household.

"People just think, 'What is my budget for a mortgage for a house?' And they don't factor in any of the costs to maintain or keep up that house," he said. "Village hall and the library have so much traffic through it, and the kind of machinery we have to treat (waste) and pump water out of the ground, that's a lot of stuff. And it's my opinion that the village of Poynette has had a culture of 'We would rather not spend any money and not address our infrastructure than spend money and keep the taxes low."

Maintenance issues not addressed forces the village into making temporary "Band-Aid" repairs, Guild said, noting how public works department workers have had to "cobble together" available materials like paper clips and aluminum foil to keep the mechanicals going in the well. He said in the end, it costs the village more not to fix problems up front, and now the needs are rapidly piling up
.

Madison Area Schools Loosen Their Cell Phone Policies

Link from the Verona Area School District

Link to October 14 Wisconsin State Journal article, "More local high schools allowing use of cell phones by students".

Excerpt: Verona High School students have been given the green light to text on their cell phones, groove to songs on their mp3 players and update their Facebook pages while strolling between classes, eating lunch and hanging out before and after school.

The school is the latest in Dane County to relax the rules and allow students to use personal electronic devices outside of the classroom. They join an increasing number of area high schools, including Belleville, DeForest, McFarland, Middleton, Oregon Sun Prairie and Stoughton, that have adopted similar policies.

"If you need to get your mom to bring something to school from home you don't have to hide in the bathroom (to make the call)," Maddie Hankard, a freshman at Verona High School, said in explaining the change
.

Design Development Juggling Acts for a Renovated Madison Central Library

Link to 75-slide schematic design presentation (big file)
Link to MPL website

Link to October 15 Capital Times 'Laptop City Hall' column, "What do designing a new Central Library and juggling have in common?"

Excerpt: Even more detailed "balancing acts" came up throughout the night, such as the question of how limited resources should be devoted to improving both the interior and exterior of the building. One meeting attendee stressed that money should be geared toward improving the inside of the library that people use, which seems logical given the outdated Central Library interior, but others also pointed out the uninviting nature of the Central Library's exterior, particularly at night and particularly coming from the Henry Street side of the building. One element that Scherer and company consistently proposed as a solution to that dilemma was a lower-level Mifflin Street entrance to complement the main Fairchild entrance that exists now, but other elements seemed more up in the air, such as what to do with lighting and the main entrance to both make people feel comfortable in the area and draw people in to the library.

Henry Street side
Photo credit:  Clara Schmitt

From the Wisconsin State Journal:  City architect offers new ideas for Central Library renovation.

Related articles:
One possible message:  Don't settle for less.  (8/5/2010)
Possible temporary location has asbestos problem.  (6/18/2010)
Architectural firm selected for Madison Central project.  (5/26/2010)
State Journal editorial board sez Madison City Council made right decision on Central Library. (5/10/2010)
Council vote on library goes under the radar.  (5/8/2010)
And the beat goes on.  (4/14/2010)
Mayor Responds to Critics on Library Issue.  (4/13/2010)
Board Endorses Renovation Plan.  (4/6/2010)
Some Council Members Not Ready to Move Forward on Mayor's Renovation Plan.  (3/30/2010)
Council President Pro Tem to Introduce Resolution Approving Madison Central Library Renovation Project.  (3/28/2010)
'Dissatisfaction' with Collapsed Madison Central Library Project. (3/25/2010)
Fiore Departure Seen as Beneficial to Madison Central Project.  (3/23/2010)
Matter of Principle" Dooms New Central Madison Library.  (3/20/2010)
Madison Central: The Dream Dies, It's Now Time to Renovate. (3/19/2010)
Dispute over Construction Costs Threatens to Derail New Central Madison Library. (3/17/2010)
Madison Public Library Project Faces Delay in 2011. (3/9/2010)
Construction, Cost Concerns May Delay Madison Central Library Project. (1/25/2010)
New Madison Central Library Wins Council Approval. (11/11/2009)Capital Times Endorses New Madison Central Library. (11/10/2009)
Madison Council Begins Review of Mayor's Budget on Tuesday. (11/6/2009)
More Questions About Madison Central Library Project. (11/1/2009)
New Madison Public Library's First Change Order: Rooftop Garden.
(10/28/2009)

Call for Referendum on New Madison Central Library Not Attracting Support. (10/21/2009)
Madison Board of Estimates Rejects Library Referendum. (10/13/2009)
Some Madison City Council Members Want Referendum on New Central Library. (10/9/2009)
Wisconsin State Journal Editorial on New Madison Central Library. (9/13/2009)
New Madison Central Library: Let the Positioning Begin. (9/1/2009)
New Madison Central Library on Mayor Dave's Front Burner. (8/30/2009)
New Madison Central Library: Build or Renovate? (7/7/2009)
Motley Brown Not Reason Enough. (6/11/2009)
Fiore Plan Receives Unanimous Support. (6/5/2009)
Fiore Plan Gets Nod from Committee. (5/15/2009)
Public Forum Focuses on Central Library Options. (4/24/2009)
Developer Sweetens the Deal. (4/21/2009)
Visualizing a Remodeled Madison Central Library. (4/4/2009)
Renovation Plan Put on Table for Madison Central Library. (3/26/2009)
Residents Critique Proposals to Rebuild Downtown Library. (1/9/2009)
Competing Developers Defend Their Central Library Plans. (1/8/2009)
Comparison of Downtown Madison Library Proposals. (12/17/2008)
Two Proposals for New Madison Central Library. (12/3/2008)
Best Headline of the Week. (9/6/2008)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Gadget Ownership: Survey Says....

...we love our cell phones.

Link to October 14 Pew Research report.

Excerpt:   Tablet computers and e-book readers -- Compared with the other devices on this list, e-book readers (such as the Kindle) and tablet computers (such as the iPad) are relatively new arrivals to the consumer technology scene and are owned by a relatively modest number of Americans. However, these devices are proving popular with traditional early adopter groups such as the affluent and highly educated -- ownership rates for tablets and e-book readers among college graduates and those earning $75,000 or more per year are roughly double the national average.

Related article:
Retrovo gadget census 2010.  (8/8/2010)

Indianapolis Star Editorial Board Wonders About Its City's Priorities


Link to October 13 Indianapolis Star editorial, "Bridge the gap for buses, library".

Excerpt: City government is steering tens of millions of tax dollars to the convention business, Downtown decoration and for-profit sports, retail and hospitality purveyors while the most basic of amenities, particularly libraries and mass transit, struggle for want of a fraction of those dollars.

The Ballard administration insists that legalities make the argument moot; but members of the City-County Council are right to challenge that assertion and to demand that it be debated before approving the Capital Improvement Board's budget.

One rubber stamp is enough for the time being. The Metropolitan Development Commission recently gave unanimous permission to divert $8 million a year from the tax-increment finance fund to the CIB, over protests that the move amounts to giving that body property tax revenue for the first time. Critics say state law requires City-County Council review of that maneuver. The city says no.


Related articles:
Cuts in library hours, materials budget.  (9/15/2010)
Library announces 26% cut in hours.  (9/14/2010)
Indianapolis resident recommends book to local officials.  (9/6/2010)
Library board votes to include 'shortfall appeal' option.  (9/1/2010)
Library board to consider 'shortfall appeal'.  (8/30/2010)
In close vote, library board cuts hours, staff.  (8/20/2010)
Library grapples with its sustainable future.  (8/16/2010)
Library projects a $7.3 million deficit by 2014.  (7/29/2010)
Library board sez no branch closings in 2011.  (7/15/2010)
Library supporters question Pacers deal. (7/15/2010)
High performance government team report.  (7/11/2010)
Library board delays decision on libraries.  (6/5/2010)
Another big turnout for libraries.  (5/13/2010)
Mayor vows to keep library branches open.  (5/12/2010)
Residents speak up for their libraries.  (5/11/2010)
The neighborhood library as refuge.  (5/2/2010)
Indianapolis Star editorial board keeps library funding issue front and center.  (4/25/2010)
Efficiency experts look for ways to keep branch libraries open.  (4/23/2010)
More than 1400 sign petition to keep Glendale branch open.  (4/20/2010)
Editorial:  Find resources for library.  (4/19/2010)
What's in store for Indianapolis-area libraries?  (4/17/2010)
Indiana Pacers bailout talks continue.  (4/16/2010)
Postscript.  (4/15/2010)
Look what's at the top of Indianapolis's to-do list.  (4/14/2010)
A Challenge to Indianapolis-Marion County:  Stand Up for Libraries.  (4/13/2010)
Library rally caps?  Get real, sez IndyStar editorial.  (4/12/2010)
Will Indianapolis rally for its libraries?  (4/12/2010)
Library considers branch closings.  (4/9/2010)

A Bleak December May Be in Store for Des Plaines Public Library Users

Link to library website.

Link to October 14 Daily Herald article, "Des Plaines library might end year Dec. 5".

Excerpt:   The Des Plaines Public Library could go dark in December if officials can’t come up with nearly $600,000 needed to keep it open through the end of the year.

The library’s three-member finance committee voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend closing the library Dec. 5 under the worst-case scenario if the city doesn’t bail it out by cosigning for a bank loan. The library board will vote on that option at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19.

As of Sept. 30, the library had $1.1 million that it could spend through the end of the year, library finance committee Chairman Jeffrey Rozovics said Wednesday. It needs $1.7 million for the year’s remaining payroll and operating expenses, and it’s doubtful that Cook County property tax receipts will come in before December ends
.

Related article:
Mayor grouses about library's possible need for loan.  (9/29/2010)
Mayor offers veiled threat to library board.  (10/27/2009; note comment.)

Three Jersey City Branches Get 6-Month Reprieve


Link to October 14 Jersey Journal article, "Jersey City council announces 3 library branches threatened with closure will now stay open".

Excerpt: The Jersey City City Council announced last night that the West Bergen, Lafayette and Marion branches of the Jersey City Free Public Library will remain open until at least next June 30.

The three branches had been slated to close this year due to shortfalls in the library's budget. Ward B Councilman David Donnelly shared the good news last night in response to the comments of several library supporters at the council's meeting at City Hall.


Related articles:
Small branch with a big heart must close.  (9/29/2010)
Library cuts hours of operation.  (9/9/2010)
Jersey City residents plead for their library.  (8/26/2010)
More bad news from New Jersey.  (8/9/2010)

Green Bay Considers Dress Code for City Workers

Now taking orders!

Link to October 13 Green Bay Press Gazette article.

Excerpt: Although details still are being discussed, the code as originally presented would prohibit employees from wearing dresses or skirts shorter than two inches above the knee; denim jeans, sweatpants or exercise pants; mini-skirts, strapless dresses or mid-drift tops; anything that is "too revealing or inappropriately fitted;" or clothing with cartoons, political statements or offensive words.

Acceptable attire would include slacks, dress pants, sleeveless sweaters or shirts, and dresses or skirts split at or below the knee
.

Or there's this option.

Fond du Lac city and county employees are not governed by formal, written dress codes.

City of Sheboygan Seeks Concessions from Labor Unions


Link to October 14 Sheboygan Press article.

Excerpt: Top Sheboygan officials will meet with the presidents of the labor unions representing the bulk of municipal employees on Friday to discuss possible concessions aimed at reducing the $1.7 million shortfall in the city's proposed 2011 budget.

The budget, outlined Wednesday by Finance Director James Amodeo before the council's Finance Committee, calls for no increase in the property tax levy, no use of the city's reserve funds, and the cutting of 24 positions, including seven in the Police Department, six in the Fire Department, six in Public Works and three at Mead Public Library to close the gap.

"We'll see what the union does with some concessions; maybe we can bring some (employees) back on," Amodeo said after the finance meeting. "But short of that, the council has to make a decision on how many people they want to go, what services they don't want and if they need to dip into their general fund reserve balances, which you know is not our charter."

Under the 2011 proposed budget, the city's property tax levy would hold steady at $20,843,745, the same as this year. The overall general fund budget would fall nearly $1 million, to $34.1 million, a 2.74 percent drop
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All of a sudden, after reading Mayor Ryan's welcome, I think of Patricia Cavill's statement, People pay attention to the things that they love and value.  (From "The Importance of Creating a Common Agenda".)

Bob, the next time you're in beautiful downtown Sheboygan, you might also want to visit your community's excellent library.

Sheboygan Children's Book Festival Takes Place This Weekend


Link to October 14 Sheboygan Press article, "First festival one for the 'books'. Kohler woman among featured authors for kids".

Excerpt: Ilsa J. Bick lives in a sedate, red brick Colonial-style home at the end of a reasonably quiet Kohler cul de sac with her husband, David. She has a cat and a garden and appears to be very suburban, thank you.

But the Ilsa Bick that's not so readily visible is an award-winning author of science fiction, horror and mystery stories mostly read by young adult males who got her start writing novels in the "Star Trek" book series and then for the "BattleTech" and "MechWarrior: Dark Age" franchises.

So how did the 53-year-old Bick, a former psychiatrist, get involved writing science fiction for mostly young adult males?

"Well, when you grow up in love with William Shatner, this is what happens," she said, speaking to a reporter in her home office.

Bick will be one of the feature authors in this weekend's Sheboygan Children's Book Festival, which starts Friday and continues Saturday and Sunday
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Fond du Lac Looks at 2.5% Increase for Proposed 2011 Budget


Link to October 14 Fond du Lac Reporter article, "Proposed 2011 city budget calls for 2.5 percent tax rate increase".

Excerpt:   In budget considerations next year, [City Manager Tom] Herre said, leaders should discuss whether to close the Taylor Park Pool, reduce library funding, initiate charges for city services in support of non-profit organization events and reduce or alter public works services. The matters were discussed but not recommended for 2011*.  

[*Actually, this is how it's stated in the City Manager's executive summary to his proposed budget: With that in mind, actions discussed but not recommended for 2011 will deserve consideration for the 2012 budget.]

If approved, the proposed 2011 budget would be below the state-mandated property tax levy limit for the sixth straight year.

Expenditures are up slightly as are general fund revenues. The use of a portion of the general fund balance and a reduction in debt payments provided sources of tax relief in the proposed budget.

"Belt-tightening measures and a reduction in capital expenditures allowed these sources of funds to be available," Herre said.

The Fond du Lac City Council will hold a series of budget workshops, public hearings and informational sessions on the budget beginning in mid-October and culminating with adoption of the budget the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.


From the City of Fond du Lac 2011 budget proposal.


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Look for this Book Soon @ a Madison-Area Library Near You

Sounds like some weird variation of re-gifting to me.

No copies in LINKcat (yet)

Link to October 13 CHANNEL3000.com article, "Ethical Questions Raised Over Book Given To Council Members. Union Members Loan Book On The Arts". (Thanks, Tony!)

Excerpt: Common Council and committee members received a book concerning the importance of the arts during a time they're making critical decisions on one of the city's premier art venues.

"No one wants to lose Overture, but are we capable of making a success out of it? I don't believe we are," said Alder Judy Compton.

Compton said she was incredulous when she found the book, "The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations," in her council mailbox. The Michael Kaiser book profiles five performing arts operations rescued from failure. It arrived at a time when the council is being asked to consider buying the struggling Overture Center for $1.

As a rule, council members can't receive anything of value. But the local stagehands union that purchased the books for the entire council and members of the Overture ad hoc committee said the books aren't a gift, but a loan. They said the books are to be returned to the union. They will then be donated to the Madison libraries or other libraries if there is no need for so many copies
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When the Library's Closing Procedures Go Awry

LIS 712 students. Guess what we're going to discuss next Wednesday?


Link to October 6 Boulder Daily Camera article, "Man accused of bias-motivated encounter at Boulder Public Library".

Excerpt:  Manuel Rodriguez-Calanche (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)Boulder police have arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of bias-motivated harassment after a confrontation with a Boulder Public Library employee, police said.

Manuel Rodriguez-Calanche is accused of yelling racial slurs and making threatening comments to a library employee who told him it was closing time and he needed to leave, police said. The employee is originally from Africa.

The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. Sunday at the main branch of the library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. The victim reported the confrontation the next morning when he returned to work and saw the suspect outside the library, police said.

Taking Polls with a Grain (or More) of Salt

Link to October 13 Pew Research Center report, "Cell phones and election polls: an update".

ExcerptThe latest estimates of telephone coverage by the National Center for Health Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. households have only a cell phone and cannot be reached by a landline telephone. Cell-only adults are demographically and politically different from those who live in landline households; as a result, election polls that rely only on landline samples may be biased. Although some survey organizations now include cell phones in their samples, many -- including virtually all of the automated polls -- do not include interviews with people on their cell phones.

Manitowoc County Executive's 2011 Budget Proposal


Link to October 13 Herald Times Reporter article, "$27.7M budget presented to County Board".

Excerpt: Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer on Tuesday called his proposed 2011 budget a "good starting point" to holding the line on taxes while avoiding layoffs.

Ziegelbauer made his formal budget presentation to the Manitowoc County Board. The $27.7 million budget includes 30 layoffs and closing of the county's Juvenile Detention Center if a 2 percent cut in work-force expenses isn't achieved through bargaining sessions with unions. The county proposed five options to unions to achieve reductions in employee costs, such as wages and fringe benefits
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Brown County Exec, Board Chair Reduced Proposed Tax Levy Increase


Link to October 13 Green Bay Press-Gazette article, "Tom Hinz, Guy Zima pare Brown County budget proposal".

Excerpt:  Brown County Executive Tom Hinz and County Board Chairman Guy Zima think they have come up with enough additional cuts to trim the tax levy increase in the proposed 2011 budget to below 2 percent.

The two officials aren't in agreement on all the proposals but concurred on recommendations to reduce the proposed borrowing for the radio interoperability system and architectural costs for the downtown library renovation
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Related article:
Decline in equalized property value and Brown County tax levy.  (10/10/2010)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

'Aha' Moment @ the Library


Link to October 12 Daily Herald article, "Suburban prodigies carve own paths".

Excerpt:   Val Markovska knew her daughter, Jenna, was different from the other kids when she picked a random book off the library shelf and started reading aloud — a couple months past her second birthday.

“A lady pointed it out and I didn't believe it at first, Val said. “It was my first ‘Aha' moment
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Health Care Costs Loom Large in Wisconsin's 2011-13 Budget Shortfall


Link to October 12 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article, "Medicaid among Wisconsin's fastest-rising costs
Governor candidates have not said how they'll cover the program"

Excerpt: In hospital birthing rooms across Wisconsin in 2008, state health programs covered 45% of all deliveries.

That's just one example of the breadth of the state's health care safety net, which has grown even larger in recent years. Today, more than 1.1 million people in Wisconsin depend on Medicaid health programs for the poor. Medicaid provides health care for one in five Wisconsin residents; the group of programs has expanded faster here over the past nine years than in any state except Arizona.

That has placed health care among the state's fastest-rising costs for taxpayers.

"States do have few easy and good options left to control spending in the program," said Robin Rudowitz, associate director with the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, who has written about nationwide increases in Medicaid amid the downturn.

To keep up, the state Department of Health Services is requesting $675 million more for Medicaid and other programs over the next two years, a huge part of the more than $3 billion shortfall in the two-year state budget that awaits the next governor
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What's more popular? Social media or email? Survey says...

...it depends.
Link to October 11 Mashable post, "Social Media Now More Popular Than E-mail on Mobile Devices".

Excerpt: Mobile users spend 1.4 times as many hours using social networking sites than reading and responding to e-mail, according to a recent study by research company TNS. On average, users spend 3.1 hours per week on social networks, versus 2.2 hours on e-mail.

In most mature markets — such as the U.S. — the trend is reversed on PCs; consumers spend more time on e-mail (5.1 hours per week) than social networking (3.8 hours)
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