libraries

unusual outreach

a black and pink stock car, number 20, with the caption "I've got a need... to read. USE YOUR LIBRARY" over the back tire

I am usually a librarian without a library. This despite the fact that I’m working actually IN a library this month until they hire a permanent librarian, and I’m also paid by my local library to do tech drop-in time work a few hours a week until the library opens up. My main thing besides technology work has always been outreach; if I am not trying to get people into a single library, I can always try to get them into libraries generally. Last October, in response to a local mailing list post, I decided to sponsor a racecar driver, a young woman from my community whose dad also drives. When I mentioned this online, the response was not only positive but also “Take my money!” So I did, and together we pooled our money and came up with some slogans. I wrote a check in February and kind of forgot about it. I just checked back in to the Chambers Racing facebook page and hey hey there’s the finished car and it looks great! The cost of this advertising is less than a quarter-page newspaper spot and probably is seen by more non-library-goers than the newspaper. Pretty tough to determine any real return on investment on this one, but it makes me happy to look at.

2020 in Libraries

Posted on 31Dec2031Dec20 by jessamyn

a view of the library from the top of the stairs showing a gorgeous circular reference desk with a librarian talking with a patron

Like many people, I had bigger plans this year than I managed to realize. However, I did get to two new libraries which was decent for a year that saw only twenty-seven library visits total, with nineteen of them at the same library. The full list is short but memorable. I really hope to get back to the Goodrich Library in Newport again, it’s got a great collection and incredibly nice staff.

Previous years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and some reviews from 2003.

Kimball – my local, weekly drop-in time and occasionally pinch hitting for shifts
Rochester – did some irregular drop-in time here
Hartness – did not get to VTC as much as I’d like
Pittsfield – had an empty drop-in time but it was cool to see this tiny library with an actual paid staff member now
Goodrich/Newport – I did a First Wednesdays talk here and it was really enjoyable
Montpelier – Don’t remember why I stopped by, but I always like visiting here
VT Law – Hadn’t been here in a while and I stopped by before meeting a pal in SoRo
Concord NH – Stopped in here while spending some time bumming around Concord with Jim

Ask A Librarian: What is the deal with “free” ebook sites?

Posted on 01May20 by jessamyn

It’s been an odd set of months. I got busy with Drop-In Time and then very un-busy. I’ve been keeping up with my newsletter a little, and doing email Drop-in Time, public awareness stuff on various mailing lists, keeping my ear to the ground. Still acting as a Qualifying Authority for the Internet Archive’s print-disabled program which got a LOT more visible thanks to the National Emergency Library. And so it was natural that someone would ask me about this. Got any questions, feel free to drop me a note. This question was a little longer, but a brief summary is a librarian question: “patrons who were asking about “free” ebook sites, ranging from OpenLibrary to ZLibrary. Are they safe? Legal? Should we even mention them to our patrons?” My response, which comes from my very particular place…

Hey there — thanks for asking. I do know a lot of these sites and I used to work for Open Library. My feelings on this topic are kind of complex, so I’ll just outline what I know. Sorry this is long!

So there are outright “We pirate stuff’ sites like Mobilism and ZLibrary. These are places that are basically set up to pirate things and have no veneer of legality to them. I have personally used them on rare occasions but I don’t think I’d point a patron to them. They often point people to sketchy download sites where it it incredibly easy to pick up viruses and etc. Though I must note the sites themselves do not have viruses or malware to the best of my knowledge. Continue reading “Ask A Librarian: What is the deal with “free” ebook sites?”

2019 in Libraries

Posted on 30Dec19 by jessamyn

special collections cube inside the Dartmouth Library

Visiting libraries is great. Neat things to learn about communities, comfy places to sit, clean bathrooms. I went to fewer libraries this year, but made more visits overall. Not chipping away at my VT 183 Project that quickly. This year I went to 27 libraries in six states. One hundred and eleven visits total.

Previous years: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and some reviews from 2003.

Libraries I went to a lot

Kimball (VT) – my local
Rochester (VT) – another almost-local where I did drop-in time
Hartness/VTC (VT) – my local academic
Westport (MA) – summer local, wasn’t there as much this year
Tiverton (RI) – summer better local
Windsor (VT) – did some library shifts here

The rest

Howe/Hanover (NH) – always a fave wen I’m in Hanover
Peacham (VT) – cool taxidermy and nice people
Dorchester County PL (MD) – functional and a lovely building
Grafton (VT) – big book sale upstairs, lots of comfy chairs
Howe/UVM (VT) – renamed and still great, better possibly
Carney/Dartmouth (MA)- summer fave
Wicomico PL (MD) – simple and sturdy, a lot of great exhibits
Norwich U (VT) – aggravating meeting, lovely library
Shelburne (VT) – checking on the new reno, it’s great!
Lamont/Harvard (MA) – rainy day, cozy library
Montpelier (VT) – good place to met people
Dartmouth/Baker-Berry (NH) – good place to hide from the rain, hoppin
Dartmouth/Rauner (NH) – great art and wifi
Houghton/Harvard (MA) – space exhibit and good friends
Fall River (MA) – always impressed with what they can do in this space
Norwich (VT)
Hancock (VT) – so tiny, so cute
UVM Spec Coll (VT) – great tour of the new place
Seminole Heights (FL) – good place to chill out after a long walk
Saunders PL (FL) – gave a talk here
Widener/Harvard (MA) – hiding in the stacks here is one of my happy places

woodshedding in libraryland II

Posted on 19Jul1910Sep19 by jessamyn

image of a woodshed from the library of Congress collection

Been thinking about this blog and how a lot of the work I’ve been doing lately doesn’t always lend itself to longform reflection. When I looked up “woodshedding,” a term I use for talking about going back to library-school type activities (i.e. more learning, less doing) and found this post from 2008. It’s been a while since I’ve posted a “What I’m up to.” work report, so here we go. Continue reading “woodshedding in libraryland II”