|
I want to be in the Spotlight!
Business Ethics for Libraries: A Matter of Honesty
By John Harer
Back in ancient times, when vinyl records and eight-track tapes were the way to own a music collection, a library director where I interned required that all record albums received were to be routed to his office for review before they were to be cataloged. Later, we all noticed that the number of record albums coming out of Cataloging seemed like a trickle compared to years past. When the director invited everyone to his home for a Christmas party, we noticed that he had an extensive record collection, recognizing some that had been bought for the library. Similarly, it was a shock one day in a Texas university library periodicals room to actually find a copy of the most recent issue of Playboy magazine, not because we were offended by the nudity but because we had never seen any issue actually make it that far through the check-in process. When thinking about “business ethics,” what may come to mind are these kinds of “hands-in-the-till” anecdotes. As this particular story also illustrates, business ethics can be an issue for any member of the library staff, including administrators. MORE
Oakwood library seeking November levy; Proposals won’t restore ’08 funding level, but cut in hours may be avoided
By Kelli Wynn Staff Writer, Dayton Daily News (Ohio): August 5, 2009
As a result of decreasing state funding, the Wright Memorial Public Library Board of Trustees will ask the Oakwood City school board for a levy. MORE
Santa Rosa budget woes spur deputy layoffs
A $3 million cut in Santa Rosa’s (FL) operating expenses would result in eliminating library positions and hours. MORE
Westmoreland school libraries disquieted by financial squeeze
By Amy Crawford, Tribune-Review (Greensburg, PA): August 3, 2009
A budget increase of nearly a quarter of a million dollars is always good news, particularly in these dire economic times. But the $217,000 allotted by Hempfield Area school directors to the district’s library was earmarked only for collections, with none to restore a librarian position eliminated from last year’s budget. MORE
I want to write about Certification!
Certified Public Library Administrator Program adds one new graduate, adds seven candidates
CHICAGO - The Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA) Certification Review Committee (CRC) granted certification to one CPLA® candidate, making a total of 13 who are now officially Certified Public Library Administrators. In addition, the committee approved seven new candidates in its spring review. CPLA® now has 128 candidates representing public libraries of all sizes across the nation. MORE
I want to write about HR Law!
House Passes Spending Bill with Increased Funds for Libraries
July 27, 2009
The American Library Association (ALA) Washington Office expresses its gratitude to the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 3293 (the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill) Friday, July 24, and including an increase in funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants to State Library Agencies program.
MORE
I want to write about HR Practice!
Guide to Serving as an Interim Director
Raphael Daoud Jackson
As an interim director you will face extraordinary challenges and opportunities. You will be asked to display the leadership skills of a director, as well as the flexibility, resourcefulness and humility of a temporary employee. Whether you intend on utilizing the interim experience as a stepping stone into permanent director position, or as an opportunity to evaluate your feelings about returning to your current position, the advice below can help you make a positive contribution to the institution you have decided to serve. MORE
I want to write about Recruitment!
Online Degrees: Not Just a Thing of the Future
By Maryann Mori, MSLIS
When I was in the fourth grade, a teacher asked the class, “Do you think it might ever be possible to go to school and not have a person be the teacher?” The question was posed to get us students thinking about the future when a robot might be able to think and talk like a human. Having watched my fair share of The Jetsons cartoon, I could easily accept a “Rosie” (the Jestons’ housemaid robot) as my school teacher. My classmates must have been thinking the same thing because most of us replied that yes, we could foresee a day when a robot would teach us. However, a more realistic question might have been, “Do you ever think you could learn from a teacher without having to go to school?” In other words, would it ever be possible to be in a classroom without actually being in a physical school? The answer is a resounding YES! Through the marvels of technology, many universities are offering their degrees via online learning. Sadly, many professionals with online degrees (including the MLS) still find it necessary to “defend” our degrees. MORE
I want to write about Statistics!
New Report Highlights Recession Trends Among Female, Unionized, Hourly, Non-Profit Employees
A recent report by the Families and Work Institute, The Impact of the Recession on Employers, addresses many issues affecting libraries. The report’s authors, Ellen Galinsky and James T. Bond, surveyed a random sample of U.S. employers with 50 or more employees in May of 2009. The report addresses such subjects as workplace flexibility during the recession; how cost-reducing strategies vary in relation to proportion of female, unionized, and hourly employees; how cost-reducing strategies vary in relation to nonprofit or for-profit status; and specific steps taken by employers to support employees. MORE
I
want to write about Work/Life!
Ways to Improve Learning Spaces with Tracking Sensors
By Alex Cohen
How well does the “library as place” support learning?
It is important for a library building’s design to allow natural flow and movement. A building cannot function optimally when its design creates bottlenecks in the flow of traffic. To prevent bottlenecks and other inefficiencies that strain the physical and mental resources of patrons, employees and the building itself, it is necessary to understand space use and the issues that create dysfunction within a space. Believe me, patrons won’t find the library welcoming if their path to information is impeded. Nor will they be happy if the seating is inadequate. MORE
|
Editors: Jenifer Grady, Jamie Bragg
Index of all articles from volume 1, no. 1, though volume 6, no. 7.
NPR librarians blog on As A Matter of Fact, a blog by and for the audio-loving, fact-finding, truth-seeking, pop-culture-fiending, news-addicted librarians of the world.
|
|
