Freedom of Information and Privatization of Libraries

A family friend in Idaho sent this newspaper clipping to me.  It's a super reminder of the convenient library services we have in the United States.
  

Thinking of kinds of libraries and how they are run makes me consider the privatization of libraries ... and makes me think of the beginning of libraries in the United States as the "subscription" libraries where members paid fees.  I worry that if libraries become wholly privatized that owners will curb and mold access to information (a la the controlling parties in Ukraine) as well as charge membership fees that will greatly and easily surpass the tax monies patrons currently pay.

Here is a Google Bookmarks link: https://www.google.com/bookmarks/l#!threadID=GIyRVPdy7Dpg%2FBDQoYZAoQ-ablvYsm where I've begun collecting information on Privatization of Libraries.

The Library as a Topic in Literature Since 1800

Have you seen this GoogleLabs product? 
Ngram Viewer
(http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/graph?content=library%2CLibrary%2Clibraries&year_start=1800&year_end=2011&corpus=5&smoothing=3)

What Is the Public Library?

Old Graduate Notes Re-Thought and Linked

Education vs. Entertainment?

• "The Profession" by Melvil Dewey in the American Library Journal Volume 1 Number 1reprinted in LJ Classics June 15, 1989
• Yes, Dewey the ideal is to "...shape the reading, and through it the thought, of [our] whole community" but as you yourself also said we must also continue "... regarding carefully the wants of [our] special community."
• "The school teaches them to read; the library must supply them with reading which shall serve to educate..." 

... Intellectual Freedom!  A Celebration of Equal Access to All Forms of Information

• Library Bill of Rights

Information vs. Knowledge?

• "The Purpose of the American Public Library in Historical Perspective: A Revisionist Interpretation" by Michael Harris

... Investment in the Use of the Mind!  A Commitment to Community and Social Resources

Libraries: Launchpad for Knowledge!

Because I do not have a painted picture at this moment ... I will paint with my words ...


Surf Board to Informational Literacy

Libraries should teach patrons how to read  ...
from screen to shining screen
from shore to shining shore
America, Happy Hanukkah!

DiTerlizzi, Technology, and Libraries (Video)

I haven't received much feedback from the listservs regarding reactions to DiTerlizzi's Search for Wondla.  The few I did receive, however, have made me reflect on my initial enthusiasm.

The work is, in my opinion, "distinguished" or "individually distinct" though I must admit that the "excellence in quality" of the augmented reality artwork is questionable.  I still give him mad props for "providing the child with a visual experience" that incorporates the viewer and his/her environment.

One librarian brought up the point that the augmented reality pieces don't seem integral to the story ...

TECHNOLOGY (not) ASIDE:  I've definitely become more aware and interested in technology this year, starting with the creation of my YouTube account on January first and continuing with exploration in screencasting, touch screen art, pbwiki --> pbworks, and google docs.  This fall, I finally took the advice of one of my Kent State library professors and subscribed to Wired.  Yesterday, I started playing around with an (old) ipod ... The cassette player in my car is defunct which means I can't even hook up my CD adapter! 

LIBRARIES and TECHNOLOGY:  Check out this video, and follow the implications...



More and more I am seeing and accepting how this "information age" boom is tied to technology -- the ability to store, access, and share information in ways not used before.

I do believe that the future of Libraries is entwined with technological advances and understandings as well as the need to be a special, physical community location.

Depending on the day and branch in my library system, I already experience many technology questions in conjunction with information needs.

I wonder what other librarians are experiencing?  (Next listserv post!)