Eat out ... for the library

This is a brilliant fundraiser for the library campaign. To quote the YourHub article, "Brainchild of Warren Lynge, chairperson of the library committee, three local restaurants are now getting into the act by offering 'A Night Out for the Library.' The restaurants have agreed to direct 20% of each party's check to help fund the campaign. Choose La Dolce Vita on October 14, Celtic Crossing on October 16, or Jimmy's Steakhouse on October 23. Simply make a reservation, and you will be making a 20% contribution to the campaign efforts when your bill arrives."

I've said it before: the library doesn't belong to library board, to director, to staff -- it belongs to the community. If this isn't proof, I'll eat my hat. If they serve hat at any of these fine restaurants.

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Uncle Bobby's Wedding

Recently, a library patron challenged (urged a reconsideration of the ownership or placement of) a book called "Uncle Bobby's Wedding." Honestly, I hadn't even heard of it until that complaint. But I did read the book, and responded to the patron, who challenged the item through email and requested that I respond online (not via snail-mail) about her concerns. I suspect the book will get a lot of challenges in 2008-2009. So I offer my response, purging the patron's name, for other librarians. Uncle Bobby's wedding June 27, 2008 Dear Ms. Patron: Thank you for working with my assistant to allow me to fit your concerns about “Uncle Bobby's Wedding,” by Sarah S. Brannen, into our “reconsideration” process. I have been assured that you have received and viewed our relevant policies: the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, the Freedom to View, and our Reconsideration Policy. The intent of providing all tha...

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The First Year: 5 strategies for success

[The First Year: 5 Strategies for Success, 1 of 8] Over the past several years, I've had the pleasure of coaching several new public library directors. For a variety of reasons, many directors are stepping into the role for the first time. Often, particularly in smaller or more rural libraries, they haven't even had a lot of supervisory experience. I tell new directors that the two big advantages of confidential access to someone who has walked in your shoes is that (a) you can ask the questions you might feel embarrassed to ask your board or staff, and (b) you have the advantage of someone else's mistakes. To be clear, everybody makes mistakes. It may be the most powerful learning tool we have. But I've thought about my mistakes, and I can help you identify the old ones, and with luck, make new ones. There's no good reason to make the same ones! I believe that there are five key constituencies the public library director must satisfy: your boss (usual...

James LaRue - myliblog

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