Library Miscellany

As google probably already told you, it's National Library Week.

Like National Frozen food month or corn dog day or National Candied Orange Peel Day or whatever it's sure to be overhyped by the participants and generally ignored by the public. Google has already gotten over it, and took the link down from its graphic.

Why am I so cynnical, shouldn't I be all for something that will promote my future career, and help provide me with job security? well, some days I like the ALA and some days I don't. But either way, it is a force not to be reckoned with, not to mention cocksure.

Now, it's in ALA's best interest to promote the hell out of libraries. If librarians didn't pay their membership dues, they wouldn't have any money. And EVERY librarian worth his or her salt, along with a few others who work in libraries, and many students have ALA memberships. In fact, pretty much any American librarian (and even Canadians) who aren't members are suspect. Mostly this membership entitles you to a monthly magazine that anyone whos anyone, along with everyone else, reads. Also, you get "discounts" on ALA sponsored things.

So, after you pay your $200ish (like $50 for students) per year, plus more to join the sub-groups, you get to shell out more cash. Currently the ALA store is undergoing maintenance. So I'll have to work from memory and post links later. For, like, $50 your library can pay for the right to use a 300dpi jpg of this year's Library Week image. for, like, $100 you can get the .PSD file and do a bit of editing yourself. Lets ignore the fact that while you can do much more with the raw photoshop file which makes it more valuable, the raw file is raw, and it takes one extra step to make the jpg. You're not buying the rights to this photo, your paying for the right to use it on free things like flyers and printing your own damn posters etc. Once again, the cash you put down does not allow you to use the picture on things that people pay for, things that will make you money.

The picture is UGLY with no spirit, like corporate art tends to be. I know a good handful of people who'd make their own damn picture for $50 and a chance to be widely reproduced. I don't know how much ALA paid to get that graphic, surely there's someone on staff who makes the graphics, and if that person wasn't making it, he'd just sit there twiddling his thumbs. And I know that it costs exactly $0 in materials to send a graphic, assuming the ALA already owns a computer. I also know that the ALA's website is HUGE and it would not be prohibitively expensive to just post a few files online and let people download for free. In fact, I'm sure it would be pretty much free.

In contrast the MCLS is offering summer reading materials at very reasonable prices.

In conclusion: yes, we want to celebrate libraries, and we want people to visit frequently. But do people really care about arbitrary celebration weeks. Because I'm way over arbitrary celebrations that don't include cake. So, just say no when it comes to retardedly expensive corporate type art. I'm sure there are plenty of local artists and stuff who would gladly donate some art for use.

The ALA exists to serve the public, not the other way around. But much like centralized government, they are totally out of touch with local needs, and need to be reminded.

Other library news:


New Zealand's National Library to build a Digital archive

Happy with that online fashion blog? Proud of those flirtations you made in the dating chat room?

Let's hope so. From later this year, it may become part of the nation's heritage, available for all New Zealanders to look at today and in the future.

(ok, maybe they're exaggerating a bit)

Also, Library Mad-libs those things were so fun in elemantary school. (it's pdf, watch out)

And, Have you used an online reference librarian yet? I'm doing a project on 24/7 reference, and I keep being impressed. It's not 100 % perfect yet, but they're doing a good job.

EDIT:
ALA Store downloads