There has been some discussion on the ALA Council list lately about why people go to conferences and why they don’t go to conferences. As an outreach librarian who asks a lot of people why they DON’T go to the library, this question interests me. Rochelle has a little mock-up of an unofficial survey over on her blog. If you’ve got some feedback that you’d like to give to an ALA Councilor, head over there. If you’d like to read some of the Council back and forth, you can check out the ugly but quite functional ALACOUN list archives where surveying is discussed.
mid-course corrections, library-style
My friend Matt went to the new Seattle Public Library and took photos of all the temporary signage that has had to be put in place to clearly state some directional/usage guidelines that were perhaps intended to be obvious. [update: apparently many of these “temporary” signs have been up since May]
the library was a great space filled with interesting things to look at and useful spaces, but far too subtle for an obvious funtional space like a public library.
another way to get your reporting out there at ALA
Walt Crawford is inviting those who are interested to submit reports about ALA’s Midwinter conference and other programs and discussions of interest to his readership, for publication in Cites & Insights. [beyondthejob]
hi – 27dec
Hi. Tom Robbins once dedicated a book “to all those whose letters I haven’t answered” and I am feeling the same way around here. I’ve been away for a few days doing holiday stuff with family and friends. I’ve been slackerly about posting some of the great links I’ve been getting from you all. I’ve been reading fewer of my feeds because my laptop is in the shop and I much prefer NetNewsWire to Feedster or Bloglines for my RSS fix. I’m focusing on getting my schedule straight for the upcoming ALA conference and getting some presentations together for some upcoming talks. I was so nervous about the talk I gave this month to the new librarians that I really prepared the heck out of the talk I gave, and I think the effort paid off well. Anyone who is going to be in Boston for ALA or who reads this and is just in Boston anyhow, please drop me a line.
an honest job ad
A public library I think I’d enjoy working for: McArthur Public Library, Biddeford Maine. From the job ad:
Above all, he or she will burn with a near-messianic zeal to provide the best possible library service to the diverse members of the community of Biddeford, by whatever means necessary. The usual technological and organizational skills are required too….Other duties include program development, participation in professional meetings, staff training, continuing education, tent construction, and unplugging toilets.