Conceptual Designs for New Madison Central Library

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Link to October 24 Wisconsin State Journal article, "Central Library design concepts narrowed to four".

Excerpt: All of the concepts would expand the 45-year-old library from 95,000 to about 120,000 square feet, with much of the new space coming from the addition of a partial third floor and an atrium enclosure of the existing open entrance area.

The project, budgeted at $29.5 million, includes $8 million from private fundraising. The architects for the project are Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle of Minneapolis and Potter Lawson of Madison.

The architectural team presented seven options at a public meeting two weeks ago, then used feedback to shape the four design concepts. The concepts aren’t either/or alternatives — the final design could incorporate elements of several or all of them, said Rachel Strauch-Nelson, spokeswoman for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

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)

The Struggles Continue at the Seattle Public Library

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8.5% reduction to Seattle Public Library budget

Increased fines & fees to generate $650,000

Link to October 16 Seattle Times article, "Struggling Seattle libraries aim to stay relevant in tough times".

Excerpt: As the city's new head librarian, hired early last year, she [Susan Hildreth] didn't get one minute to bask in the afterglow of the "Libraries for All Campaign" and the hoopla that surrounded it. From the beginning, she instead has had to grapple with more basic matters like how to keep the doors open for a library system facing painful budget cuts as city funds continue to dry up in a still-sluggish economy.

Now Seattle's libraries may have a new challenge, this one involving Hildreth herself.

The same late-September week Mayor Mike McGinn announced deep cuts to the library system's budget and an overhaul of the system's management, President Barack Obama tapped Hildreth to be director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that gives grants for educational programs to the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.

On top of the financial crisis, the libraries might be left without a strong advocate at the helm who can push for much-needed funds at City Hall and nurture relationships with a public already frustrated by cuts to operating hours at branches and changes in services aimed at addressing the reversal of fortunes.

Related articles:
2nd annual week-long shutdown.  (8/23/2010)
Proposal to increase fines. (8/2/2010)
Results of community survey.  (8/2/2010)
City council looks at a variety of taxes to funds its libraries.  (7/8/2010)
2nd annual weeklong closure.  (6/19/2010)
Library asks for input.  (2/28/2010)
15 branches reduce hours.  (2/1/2010)
The Ubiquitous Librarian reflects on Seattle's 'spirit of angst'.  (1/22/2010)
Library hornet's nest gets another shake.  (1/22/2010)
Advocating for the library.  (10/28/2009)
More budget woes.  (10/28/2009)
Fee increases.  (10/17/2009)

Sony Walkman, 1979-2010

Collage composed from the cassette library of Retiring Guy

(I've listened to the Batdorf & Rodney cassette twice during the past month, though not on a Walkman.  Provided good company while painting a side of the house.)

Link to October 24 Mashable post, "Sony Retires the Cassette Walkman After 30 Years".

Excerpt: After retiring the floppy disk in March, Sony has halted the manufacture and distribution of another now-obsolete technology: the cassette Walkman, the first low-cost, portable music player.

The final batch was shipped to Japanese retailers in April, according to IT Media. Once these units are sold, new cassette Walkmans will no longer be available through the manufacturer.

The first generation Walkman (which was called the Soundabout in the U.S., and the Stowaway in the UK) was released on July 1, 1979 in Japan. Although it later became a huge success, it only sold 3,000 units in its first month. Sony managed to sell some 200 million iterations of the cassette Walkman over the product line’s 30-year career.

Walkman History 101.
A Brief History of the Walkman.  (Time, 7/1/2009)