Saturday, January 19, 2013

Friday, January 18, 2013

A Few Old White Men Ask If This Trip is Necessary


From an 1/9/2013 NEH news release. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced today that 842 libraries and state humanities councils in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be awarded the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of books, films, and other resources that will introduce the American public to the complex history and culture of Muslims in the United States and around the world.

Library award, program questioned.  Baton Rouge Advocate, 1/18/2013)

Excerpt: Lawyer Jim George and library watcher John Berry questioned the award, which was announced at Thursday’s Library Board of Control meeting. 

I wonder if Jim George and John Barry are readers of Bare Naked Islam.

So far, North Carolina and Louisiana on the dishonor roll.  Unfortunately, I suspect this won't be the complete list.

24 Wisconsin libraries are participating, including the West Bend Community Library. West Bend is home to Sen. Glenn Grothman.  Is this program something else he feels the need to "slap down"?

Public Libraries: One Size Does Not Fit All

Why Public Libraries Matter:  And How They Can Do More.   (Forbes, 1/16/2013)





Emphasis added in above slide.

Public libraries are located in communities of all sizes, and the majority of them are been located in small communities, where expenditures for collection development are limited.

Since the 1980s, however, shared computerized library systems have expanded access to titles for all library patrons, especially for residents of small communities.  Note in the table below that in 2009, the latest year for which statistics from Institute of Museum and Library Services is available, more than one-quarter of U.S. public libraries are located in communities with a population of less than 2,500.

Indeed, few public libraries have ever been able to "buy everything".

And I know from my own experience that LINKcat certainly influenced how collection development decisions were made at Middleton.


The author enumerates the roles of the public library as follows:
  • Promoting reading
  • Offering access to information
  • Anchoring communities

Not exactly the official version but certainly a very concise summary.

Here's what the American Library Association has provided since 1988.





Ginnie Cooper, Director of the District of Columbia Public Library, is quoted as saying, "There was a time when libraries did not buy paperbacks."

Slide from a PowerPoint series I developed using Famous First Facts.

And as for "Public Libraries as Local Centers of Book Discovery"....

Well, here's just 1 of hundreds, if not thousands, of examples



In her letters to JoAnna and me, my mom provided regular reports of going to the library to browse and to share the excitement she experienced about finding a "new" author.

Tuesday, March 21, 2000.  Sunday was nice but windy & I walked to the library & got 4 books, one a new author to me.  The Buffalo  paper reviewed a book by Kate Wilhelm and I found she has many books available.  Nice to find a new author.  Setting of books in Oregon & California  260 pages of easy & interesting mysteries & murder.  Got 2 by Wilhelm, 1 by Sandra Brown & a favorite by M. C. Beaton.  A Hammish Macbeth mystery.  A bumbling country constable who solves murders to the consternation of his superior officer.  They are fun to read.  I'm one of those who prefers to get books at the library rather than buy them.  Library was pretty busy.

Finally, I admit there are many issues of digital publishing and distribution that I didn't touch on in this admittedly scattershot post.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

One More Reason Why Working in a Library is so Low-Stress


Kittatas Library robbed at gunpoint.  (Ellenburg Daily Record, 1/16/2013)

The perp:
  • Race and gender:  White male
  • Age:  Late teens, early 20s
  • Clothing:  jeans, black zip-up hooded sweatshirt
  • Height:   5'10" to 6'0"
The take:
  • $15-20 in library money
  • Employee's wallet

The victim:  the woman working alone in the library.

Kittatas, population 1381, is located 115 miles east-southeast of Seattle.

About the library (year not specified; 2009?):
  • 18,000 items in collection
  • 3,221 annual circulation
  • 1,734 square feet
  • No website (at least I can find one)

As goes Michigan, so goes Wisconsin

Rustic roads:  Infrastructure allowed to age.



Or is it the other way around?



Reported to be a recommendation of the Transportation Finance and Policy Commission, which was created as part of the 2011-2013 biennial state budget.  The Commission's general charge is to examine issues related to the future of transportation finance in Wisconsin.


Michigan's Governor made the suggestion in his State of the State address but offered no specifics.  He says the legislature can work out the details.  (But will they take the bait?)

Looking at the Bridgeville (PA) Public Library


New board of Bridgeville library looks to expand facility's influence. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/17/2013)

$4,000,000 facility opened in 2011.  The Bridgeville Public Library was previously located in the borough's old train station.

According to the board president, the library is looking for sustainable sources of funding to support the library's operations in a larger facility.

The library is open 35 hours per week.  (Are the "new" hours an addition or a subtraction?)


An brief overview of the Bridgeville Public Library from the 2010 Pennsylvania public library statistics (latest available)
  • 5.6 full time equivalent employees (1.0 FTE professional)
  • $88,701 total revenues
    • $54,740 local
    • $20,341 state
    • $13,620 other
  • 20,110 items in collection
  • 65,117 annual circulation
  • 6 public access Internet computers

Like many Pennsylvania communities, including the one in which I grew up, Bridgeville's population loss resembles the slow leak of air from a tire.


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Flex Options: Take Your Pick


Full text of State of the State address

Officially referred to here as the UW Flexible Option.

Rosy Scenario


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Madison Public Library Progress Report, 3rd Revised Edition (Abridged Verson)

Photo takes by Retiring Guy on January 7, 2013, on his way to the Capitol to congratulation his Assembly representative, Dianne Hesselbein, on her inauguration.

A new Central Library.

Starting at West Mifflin & North Henry streets.


Continuing along the 200 block of West Mifflin.


Reaching the intersection of West Mifflin and North Fairchild/



Related posts: 
Progress report:  3rd revised edition. (1/15/2013
Progress report, 2nd revised edition.  (11/3/2012)
Progress report.  (8/18/2012)
Work in progress. (6/5/2012)
Construction kickoff ceremony.  (3/28/2012)
Findorff awarded Madison Public Library construction contract.  (3/1/2012)
City of Madison to Rebid Central Library Project. (12/22/2011)
Madison Community Foundation awards $500,000 grant for new Madison Central Library.   (12/16/2011)
Retiring Guy takes a last look at the 1960s-era Madison Central Library.  (11/13/2011)
Madison Central Library prepares for move to temporary facility. (11/9/2011)
Madison Public Library misses cut on $4.5 million tax credit.  (9/14/2011)
Board to consider Plan B financing.  (9/1/2011)
Central library to relocate in November.  (7/27/2011)
Central library reconstruction project to proceed.  (4/29/2011)
Negotiations continue.  (4/27/2011)
Central library not a major issue with candidate or mayor Soglin. (4/19/2011)
Soglin wants to make sure ducks are in a row for Central Library Project.  (4/16/2011)
Latest design review.  (4/8/2011)
Midway Design presentation for Madison Central Library.  (2/25/2011)
Final design for renovated central library unveiled.  (12/8/2010)
Interview with principal architect of Central Library project.  (11/5/2010)
And the beat goes on.  (4/14/2010)

Madison Central Library Progress Report: 3rd Revised Edition

Originally published June 5, 2012.  (Updated August 17, 2012; November 3, 2012; and January 15, 2013)

Link to MCPL Design Review
 
View of roof/site

From a different angle, obviously.  I left my jet pack at home.

June 5, 2012
Above:  Retiring Guy @ the top of Overture Center parking ramp

HENRY STREET APPROACH
In the above view, Approach from Henry Street,  the building in the left center background is, as far as I know, a figment of someone's imagination.   (Use Google Maps to search 109 West Mifflin Street and see a street view of the one-story, four-unit, terra-cotta building currently at this location.)

June 5, 2012
Retiring Guy @ intersection of W. Mifflin & N. Henry

August 17, 2012
Bonus round
Hat tip to Carol Froistad for this photo.

November 1, 2012
January 7, 2013

MIFFLIN STREET ELEVATION
June 5, 2012

August 17, 2012
August 17, 2012

November 1, 2012

November 1, 2012
January 7, 2013

January 7, 2013


FAIRCHILD STREET ELEVATION
Fairchild Street Elevation

Jun 5, 2012


August 17, 2012

November 1, 2012
January 7, 2013


Floor plans:  Lower, first, second, third.






Related posts: 
Progress report, 2nd revised edition.  (11/3/2012)
Progress report.  (8/18/2012)
Work in progress. (6/5/2012)
Construction kickoff ceremony.  (3/28/2012)
Findorff awarded Madison Public Library construction contract.  (3/1/2012)
City of Madison to Rebid Central Library Project. (12/22/2011)
Madison Community Foundation awards $500,000 grant for new Madison Central Library.   (12/16/2011)
Retiring Guy takes a last look at the 1960s-era Madison Central Library.  (11/13/2011)
Madison Central Library prepares for move to temporary facility. (11/9/2011)
Madison Public Library misses cut on $4.5 million tax credit.  (9/14/2011)
Board to consider Plan B financing.  (9/1/2011)
Central library to relocate in November.  (7/27/2011)
Central library reconstruction project to proceed.  (4/29/2011)
Negotiations continue.  (4/27/2011)
Central library not a major issue with candidate or mayor Soglin. (4/19/2011)
Soglin wants to make sure ducks are in a row for Central Library Project.  (4/16/2011)
Latest design review.  (4/8/2011)
Midway Design presentation for Madison Central Library.  (2/25/2011)
Final design for renovated central library unveiled.  (12/8/2010)
Interview with principal architect of Central Library project.  (11/5/2010)
And the beat goes on.  (4/14/2010)