What Do Librarians Do?

Lisa is a Teen & Adult Librarian, highlighting some of the awesome and amazing things libraries and librarians do.

[thelibrarybug]

[thelibrarybug]

Massive online protest planned two days before FCC net neutrality vote

Congress can still save the Internet. But only if we make them.

[thelibrarybug]

I'm on the FCC. Please stop us from killing net neutrality

The FCC's plan to gut net neutrality deserves a heated response from the millions of Americans who work and create online every day.

“ Wiping out net neutrality would have big consequences. Without it, your broadband provider could carve internet access into fast and slow lanes, favoring the traffic of online platforms that have made special payments and consigning all others to a bumpy road. Your provider would have the power to choose which voices online to amplify and which to censor. The move could affect everything online, including the connections we make and the communities we create. “

Contact your representatives now!

[thelibrarybug]

An excellent suggestion for Bezos!

[thelibrarybug]

Taking to Carla Hayden!

[thelibrarybug]

Librarian Moment

You might be a librarian if a teen submitting a blog post complete with an image that was public domain (!) totally made your day (and you then proceed to rave about said teen and using proper images to everyone you see). Ridiculously excited about this!

[thelibrarybug]

[thelibrarybug]

Biases

Reference question: Patron needed books on Jesus (in a historical context more than a religious one) for school.

Conundrum: Bill O’Reilly. I recognize I have biases against Bill O’Reilly (strong biases honestly). 

I found one book (Zealot by Aslan - tangent: anyone else find the Narnia connection amusing) and then there it was Bill O’Reilly’s Killing Jesus. I hesitated, maybe visibly, but still pulled out the book for the patron. 

Part of my problem is I can’t stand Bill O’Reilly, but the other part is I’ve also read and heard stuff questioning the validity of his research (more with his Lincoln book). However, in full disclosure (to myself I guess) most of the stuff I read tends to lean towards the opposite end of the Bill O’Reilly spectrum and it may have been a biased source in itself. So, should I have mentioned something about it’s validity? Was it right to just hand him the books? I don’t want to impede access to any information based on my own biases, but I also don’t want to lead patrons to possibly incorrect information (especially if it’s for a school research project).

Thoughts?

[thelibrarybug]

[thelibrarybug]

The Senate just voted to undo landmark rules covering your Internet privacy

The rules prohibit Internet providers from using your data without your permission.

[thelibrarybug]

I just added:

Buy 3D Pen

to my list of to-dos for today.

My job is awesome (most days at least)!

[thelibrarybug]

My department is ridiculously tight this month due to some extenuating circumstances and this morning I am the only person (manager included) in my department...

[thelibrarybug]

Libraries and Jobs

Jobs played a large part in Trump’s (empty) campaign promises. However, his proposed budget plan is just to cut or slash programs and agencies (that you know, employ actual people) including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). I’m willing to bet that Trump does not have much of a grasp on what libraries actually offer. After all, he can purchase all the information, books, and technology he needs/wants. 

So, Mr. President, here’s a little overview, libraries and librarians do a lot more than sit at a desk, hand out books, and shush people (in fact I have actually had a patron shush me before, oops). Libraries are actively trying to help people in their community improve their lives, whether it is by finding them a good book to read, getting them information on a home project they are working on, providing enriching programs for adults and children, or classes on everything from excel to setting up email. 

Libraries also actively try to aid patrons in employment. Where I work, a librarian is in charge of keeping up with local jobs and posting them. Sure it doesn’t sound like a lot, go to indeed.com and print out jobs from our area, but some of those searching for jobs do not have easy access to the internet. Which, is another thing that the library provides. See, while the internet is a wealth of information and opportunities (although not all of the information, but that’s another rant) it is not free and those who most need it to look and apply for jobs cannot always afford to have it in their home. And the internet is important to finding a job in this day and age; even Walmart and Target require online job applications. And those people who need to apply to jobs at Walmart online (even though the job itself involves very little technology skills) aren’t always equipped with a vast array of computer skills and in many cases need a librarian or trained staff member to help them work through the online job application. 

Oh, and if they get a job interview? Many places want to start with a Skype interview now, which again means the person looking for a job needs access to the internet (with a decent internet connection) and a computer with a camera and microphone. We’ve helped patrons set up Skype, showed them how to position the camera, and signed them up for one of our study rooms so they could interview without being interrupted. 

But sure, let’s make America great by getting rid of anything that may actually benefit Americans (especially those who really need it). But hey, we’ll have one kick ass military (to defend a country no one will want to live in or come to anymore - but it might take care of the immigration “problem”). 

Image Credit

[thelibrarybug]

Preserve Funding for the IMLS, NEH, NEA, and PBS

Sign the petition to Preserve Funding for the IMLS, NEH, NEA, and PBS

[thelibrarybug]

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to President Trump's proposal to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services in his FY2018 budget, American Library Association (ALA) President Julie Todaro today issued the following statement:

Wasn’t Trump supposed to be about creating jobs? So there are actual people who’s jobs are made possible because of the IMLS (along with the EPA and PBS and the slough of other things he wants to cut from the budget). From his third day in office when he signed the instituted the federal hiring freeze all I’ve seen come from his administration in terms of jobs is uncertainty (and a lack of services for things like providing daycare for members of the armed forces). 

[thelibrarybug]

Databases

In 3 hours I’ve had 3 questions that I’ve needed to look up and print out database articles for. This is generally a once every couple weeks activity (at most) at my library, so busy morning, and yay for esources!

[cheshirelibrary]

8 books to read for Black History Month and beyond

[via OverDrive Blogs]

Black History Month has come to an end, but February isn’t the only month to read about the African American experience in America. Here is a list of titles that should be on everyone’s reading list, no matter what the month:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave written by himself

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery, became a member of the abolitionist movement, and spent his life fighting for equality.

Difficult Women by Roxanne Gay

Packed full of women who live beautiful, tragic, and difficult lives. The stories are short, but the characters will stay with you for a long time. (Trigger Warning: The stories in the book are drawn from Roxane Gay’s own experience with sexual assault.)

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The main character in this novel is a young black girl whose only wish is for her eyes to be blue. Morrison takes questions about what it means to be black and meshes them together with questions about what it means to be beautiful.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

The incredible true story of the black, female mathematises who helped launch the United States into the Space Race, now a major motion picture.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Henrietta Lacks was a poor tobacco farmer from Virginia who was incorrectly treated when she went to the hospital with cervical cancer in 1951. Her doctor took a sample of her cancer cells, and these cells have been multiplying and are still used in medical testing today.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

The author argues that the U.S. criminal justice system targets young black men, by charging these people with crimes that are ignored when committed by people of other races, or by erroneously slapping on felony charges (and stripping away the right to vote).

Between the World & Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates writes a series of essays to his son that recognizes how deeply race has shaped American history.

Americanah by Chimanada Ngozi Adichie

This novel is about Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman whose country is ruled by a military dictatorship. She decides to move to the United States to study, and ends up writing a blog about race in America.