Tag Archives: economy
Looking Back on Public Libraries in 2010
Happy Holidays! Once again public libraries have had a difficult and painful yet inventive year. Dwindling revenues means less outside training and services as directors try to avoid staff layoffs and pay/benefit cuts. My former organization, BCR, was one of many … Continue reading
BCR Closing But Members Have a Great Option
You’ve probably heard that BCR will shut down operations this year. Luckily, we were able to negotiate free Lyrasis membership until June 2011 for our members, so there’s plenty of time to see how much money you’ll continue to save by joining them in … Continue reading
No Buns or Shushing Here! Stereotypes and Library Funding
Dr. Marie Radford, chair of our upcoming Reference Renaissance 2010 conference, blogged about why librarian/library stereotypes are harmful. I think she’s completely right that we need to lose our sense of humor and patience with these images. As she says, … Continue reading
Opportunity for All (via Library Computers)
Subtitled How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at US Libraries, this was a report on the just released study from the IMLS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on how library computers help the American public, especially during … Continue reading
2009 and Libraries
Looking back over the last twelve months, it’s been quite a year for libraries. There have been some bad times (okay, lots of bad times – a number of libraries closing or being threatened by closures; lots of budget cuts; … Continue reading
Public Libraries’ Economy Issue
I’m flying to Sioux Falls for PLA’s great Turning the Page training so I finally having a chance to catch up on my professional reading and saw Public Libraries’ “Economy Issue” (July/August 2009). Since it looks like it won’t be … Continue reading
Recession Relief
I did a free webinar last week called Recession Relief that covered ways libraries can help patrons during these tough economic times, and you can watch the archived session and access my PowerPoint slides and notes (which include all the links I … Continue reading
Librarians to the Rescue Podcasts
Just listened to this IMLS podcast series (also available for download or you can read the transcripts). Four state librarians from North Carolina, New York, Washington and Connecticut as well as state library staff from Michigan and Washington discuss what libraries in their states … Continue reading
Mental Illness and Homelessness in Public Libraries
I was just catching up on some professional reading and came across a couple of articles in Public Libraries that are so relevant in these difficult times. Unfortunately, the 2009 issues aren’t freely available online, but track down a copy of … Continue reading
23 Things for Patrons?
Many of us have had the opportunity to do (or have at least heard about) the 23 Things training originally developed by Helene Blowers of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. It’s a training program developed to give library … Continue reading
