Professional Reading Shelf
Public Libraries–Privacy
Source: Denver Post
Library tells feds: Butt out
“Concerned about patrons’ privacy, the Denver Public Library this week inserted itself into the national political debate over the USA Patriot Act. On Monday, the library strung, between its east pillars, white plastic tape with large letters reading: “Privacy Line – Do Not Cross.” Smaller text read, ‘Stop Secret Searches – ACLU – ReformthePatriotAct.org.’”
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Libraries–Canada–Announcements
Source: Council on Federal Libraries
CFL Annual Fall Seminar 2005: Ahead of the Digital Wave: Transforming Services, Building Communities
The seminar is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 14, 2005, in Ottawa. It will feature a panel moderated by Librarystuff.net Editor and ResourceShelf Contributing Editor, Steven Cohen.” From the description: “What are the impacts of the digital environment on the information community? How has the electronic work environment influenced the ways we collaborate and build information infrastructures within existing legal and institutional frameworks? What do we need to know about the technical infrastructure in order to communicate effectively with one another? How are we going to keep up with changes in information technology so that we can serve our users better and meet their expectations? The Fall Seminar this year will look at these challenges from several perspectives.”
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Public Libraries–UK
Source: Libri
New Report, From University to Village Hall
15 pages; PDF. “The report tracks developments in the world of public libraries over the past year since our first report Who’s in Charge? was published. Regrettably we cannot report on any major improvements to the dire situation we reported on last time: book issues continue to decline; costs continue to escalate; value for money is eroding fast. Even the bright spot of a 4% increase in library visitors has failed to stem the decline in book issues. Use of The People’s Network seems to be almost entirely for email and internet (web surfing and searching, downloading music and mobile phone ringtones, online games, plus internet banking, online shopping and flight booking). Web-based chat interaction was also a common use among young people until banned by most library services for safety/security reasons. In addition we have identified a significant trend for senior librarians and library policy makers — the DCMS and the MLA, among others — (wrongly) to no longer see providing books as a prime responsibility. This became clear during the recent evidence hearings of the Select Committee where witness after witness explained that there were new social roles for libraries to fulfil, only some of which have to do with books. We see this as an excuse for the failure of public libraries to deliver what the public wants. Further, we believe that the public library will fulfil all its social roles if it does books properly: a good modern stock for reading and reference, available at times convenient to the public, and in premises which are welcoming, clean and decent.”
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Information Access–China
Source: Council on Library and Information Resources
New Report, EVERGREEN: Bringing Information Resources to Rural China
24 pages; PDF. “The China Evergreen Rural Library Service (CERLS) received the 2004 Bill & Melinda Gates Access to Learning Award for placing computers in rural public high schools in China as a way of responding to the need for information among students, teachers, and communities in remote areas where poverty and illiteracy are widespread. CLIR manages the Access to Learning Award.”

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