Infoblog

"Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon" includes more than 20 short reminiscences about the history of Sunnyvale as told by residents (Vince Cala's were my favorite.) Each oral history is available in print, audio, and video. The project was funded with an LSTA grant. If you're thinking about doing an oral history project for your community, more information about what it involves can be found in the Project Manual [PDF].
Are there other California Libraries using YouTube? Please let us know via the comment section.

Posted by carole leita at 4:07 PM in How We Did It Good | Interesting Libraries | Web 2.0 | Permalink | Comments (0)

For those of you who don't know, I live in Berkeley and used to work at the BPL until I left to go with Infopeople. I love my library and am so proud of them for this foray into our multimedia and interactive world. It's imbedded in the BPL website but I think you should go directly to Berkeley Public Library, An Intimate Portrait on YouTube so you can see the comments folks have left. It's a simple little video giving some useful information about the library... but... it's funny!!! I even showed it to a couple of non-library folks and they laughed.

Posted by carole leita at 12:25 PM in Friday Funnies | Interesting Libraries | not on work time | Permalink

Here's a cool teen program you and your library can apply to be part of: How I See It: My Place. It's a California Council for the Humanities program, in partnership with Califa.

Here's the short spiel:

"How I See It: My Place" is a new program for California libraries that will provide all the resources librarians need to successfully implement a ten-week digital photography documentary project for teens – activities, equipment, supplies, funds and training.

Applications will be accepted from today (Dec 10) until Jan 17, 2008. 20 libraries will be selected to participate in the program, which will take place in the summer and fall of 2008.

A tip o' the hat to the California State Library blog for the link.

Posted by eileen o'shea at 9:20 AM in Interesting Libraries | Web 2.0 | Permalink | Comments (0)

And for your Friday viewing pleasure, from wannabe librarian's blog, we have a link to the world's most beautiful libraries (found via her exploration of the publib discussion list).

Posted by carole leita at 4:39 PM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

If you haven't seen Isaak Kwok's blog, Blogging Librarian, take a look.
Isaak works at the National Library Board of Singapore as an Adult and Young People’s librarian.

His entry on interesting libraries in Canada highlights the 103-year-old Haskell Free Library and Opera House. There is a black line running along the floor of the library that signifies the international border between the USA and Canada. Library visitors can enter from the Canadian side and emerge on the American side without going through Customs!

Posted by gail mcgovern at 8:51 AM in Interesting Libraries | Odds & Ends | Permalink

If you missed NPR's Talk of the Nation's February 27, 2006 program titled, If a Library Is Bookless, What's In It? be sure to listen.

Here's the description:

The "Bookless Library." Is it a contradiction in terms, or a sign of the times? Information technology changes as soon we think we understand it. With mammoth collections to maintain, libraries are struggling to keep up -- and to redefine their role.

What helps make the evolution of libraries so complicated are two related questions: What is the library's role -- and who should pay for it? The squeeze on county and municipal budgets prompts many to wonder if they will continue to pay for these institutions. Others insist that the public library plays a vital role as a community center and as an intellectual oasis, a place to reflect as well as a place to learn. But if it's to survive, it has to adapt.

A range of approaches are meant to help design a library for the 21st century.

Guests:

Tom Frey, executive director, The DaVinci Institute

Jo Haight-Sarling, director, access and technology services at the Denver Public Library System

Charles Brown, director, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, N.C.

Posted by gail mcgovern at 11:37 AM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Even if you don't want to read all 45 pages of this Urban Libraries Council study of some highly effective Chicago public libraries, you should at least take a look at the "Engaged Libraries Toolbox" that shows how to assess your library's community standing and possible partners.

The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building [PDF].

From the August 7 issue of Marylaine Block's Neat New Stuff on the Net.

Posted by carole leita at 1:16 PM in Cool Tools | Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Although it was written last November, I just ran across this interesting San Jose Mercury News story -- Selective enforcement of poker rules hurts library.

Say you've got a good cause, like the children's story-telling section at the Almaden library. Say you've got a supporter, like the Almaden Business Association. And say you have a good way to make $8,000 or $10,000, playing on a national craze by holding a Texas hold 'em tournament. . . .

Posted by carole leita at 1:54 PM in Friday Funnies | Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Marylaine Block opens her current ExLibris article "Tell Me a Story" with

I'm not sure there's any impulse more basic in human nature than
storytelling. It's how we define who we are and make sense of the world
around us. Libraries have always been a repository of those stories.
Offering people a chance to tell their stories may be one of the most
significant gifts we can offer our community.

Posted by carole leita at 6:09 PM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Read this one before it's no longer available! Today the LA Times did a great story on LAPL and several of its new and newly renovated branch libraries.

The latest chapter in libraries, tagline: L.A.'s new libraries give a reason to check out the architecture and activities, as well as the books.

Posted by at 8:34 AM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

"Books seem to fly through the staircase atrium leading down to the Gardner stacks in Doe Library in an art installation by J. Ignacio Diaz de Rabago, an artist-in-residence with UC Berkeley's Consortium for the Arts and the Arts Research Center." (Photo by Peg Skorpinski) UC Berkeley News
via Retrofitted Librarian

Posted by at 6:27 PM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Library League - Tulsa City-County Library Kids' Pages uses a superheroes theme and a well-known local story-teller voice-over to entice the kids. It requires Macromedia Flash Player.

Posted by at 1:16 PM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Ask@SJCPL has excellent instructions on how to download the free software and get your own screen name for the chat services AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and Microsoft Messenger. From the public library that was first on the web in the U.S (second to Helsinki in the world) - St. Joseph County Public Library (South Bend, IN). They have pioneered several web-related services through the years. They are now pioneering live chat as a reference service.

Posted by at 9:30 AM in Interesting Libraries | Technology Updates | Permalink

Nice article about a really good library website. From LJ. I'd sure like to see other library websites use that Quick Search dropdown menu feature!

Posted by at 5:47 PM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink

Q. Where is the library that offers "A staff of 23 persons, with 9 librarians to assist you with agility, professionalism and individual attention"?

A. Tarragona Public Library -- in Spain. See especially What do we offer and Who we are.

Posted by at 12:59 PM in Interesting Libraries | Permalink