Ugh… DVDs are the new eBook?

Posted on by pcsweeney

Ok, this post is NOT about ebooks but somehow I feel like its along similar lines. I just received this email from Midwest Tapes (who is a fantastic vendor) about a recent change in Time Warner’s policies in regards to sales to libraries. They said-

We have recently learned that Warner Home Video will no longer distribute theatrical releases to libraries or home video rental stores until 28 days after they release the movies for sale at retailers. This Warner Home Video policy applies to all public libraries and video rental outlets such as Redbox, Netflix, and Blockbuster.

In addition to being released 28 days after the retail version, Warner’s rental version DVDs and Blu-rays will not contain bonus features or extras. However, we understand that there will be a significant price reduction for these products, apparently amounting to an average $4 per DVD title and $8 per Blu-ray title.

Warner Home Video has announced that it may seek to enforce its new policy by auditing its distribution partners’ sales. Additionally, Warner may require retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, to limit the number of copies of a new release that may be sold to a single customer.

Please note that Warner’s new policy will only impact titles that have a theatrical release, perhaps amounting to about 12 titles per year. Non-theatrical Warner releases will not be affected by this policy.

Below are the first three Warner theatrical titles affected. Note that Warner’s rental versions will feature rental artwork.

So, once again, major multimedia companies are giving libraries the shaft. I’m kinda tired of getting picked on as if we’re some horrible organization responsible for ruining the capitalism of America. But what can we do about this kind of thing? Its not good for our business, its a disadvantage to our patrons, and it forces libraries to remain subservient to the whims of commercial America. I have to point out, that libraries are NOT a threat to captalism nor are we in competition with any company in the world.

Ebooks are already a big enough problem, and now we have to deal with basically the same ideal behind this DVD policy too? Anyone have a solution?

Library Good News: The FCC Knows How Important Libraries Are!

Posted on by pcsweeney

I received this email from the fabulous Bobbi Newman on the ALA Council Listserv about today’s FCC announcement regarding broadband adoption that highlights the role of libraries now and in the future. Bobbi wrote up a fantastic (and analytical) post about it already so I’ll just highlight the part that is about libraries so you don’t have to read the whole thing. Here is the part most related to libraries;

For millions of Americans, libraries are the only place where they can get online. For millions more, libraries are an important complement to at-home connectivity, and they remain, as they always have been, a trusted resource in communities.

During the day, libraries have become job centers and librarians career counselors – and after school a place where many students go to do homework online. Last year, more than 30 million Americans used library connections to seek and apply for jobs, and 12 million children used them to do homework. Millions of others are using library connections for health information. Many – but not enough – of America’s 16,000 public libraries have become vital centers for digital literacy.

Librarians are helping meet some of the vast need — and I applaud them. But according to a recent Gates Foundation-funded survey, only 38% of all libraries offer a basic digital literacy class. In rural areas, in places like West Virginia, it’s only 25% of libraries. That’s a big missed opportunity. We should aim to double those numbers.

The E-Rate program – one of our most successful programs – connects schools and libraries to the Internet. Senator Jay Rockefeller, the great champion of E-Rate who, along with Senator Olympia Snowe and others, created the program, once said, “Our classrooms and our libraries are often the only way that our children and citizens can tap into the wonders of computers and the links to a vast world of information and knowledge. We want schools to be a place where children delve into computers. We want libraries to be vibrant centers of learning for families.”

In that spirit, we plan to launch a proceeding to explore how the E-Rate program can expand access to digital literacy training at more public libraries and schools across the country and, ultimately, forming a Digital Literacy Corps.

Librarians Go Tapas! Bay Area Librarian Meet-up

Posted on by pcsweeney

This Saturday (July 30th) at 6:30PM is the fifth in the series of Librarian Meet-ups and the first to be on the Peninsula! For this meet-up we’ll gather at the Zambras Tapas Restaurant and Bar in Downtown Burlingame. This is one of my favorite Tapas bars in the bay area. They have a Grilled Dates dish that is Stuffed with blue cheese, walnuts and rosemary, wrapped with radicchio, port wine reduction and is one of the best tapas plates that I have ever eaten. There is also both red and white Sangria and many other amazing dishes to choose from!

So come down to Burlingame and go tapas with other bay area librarians. You can meet librarians from all over the bay area who are working on amazing projects, sit around and have a drink with some good library folks, or just relax and eat some good food while making plans for librarian world domination.

Let us know you’re coming on the Facebook Event Page

And don’t forget to like the Bay Area Librarians Page that makes these events happen!

Saturday Night July 30th at 6:30PM
Zambra Tapas Bar
http://www.zambratapasbar.​com/
248 Lorton Ave
Burlingame, CA 94010
Phone : 650-344-5655
fax : 650 344-5055

New Orleans Annual, June 26, 2011: Flash Mob

Posted on by pcsweeney

ALA’s first ever Advocacy Flash Mob and Freeze took place in Jackson Square on Sunday at 5:50 pm amid a downpour that some participants dubbed a “Flash Flood Mob.” More than 50 library advocates gathered in front of Saint Louis Cathedral despite the rain to dance and sing “When the Saints Go Marching In” as a lead-up to the Freeze. Most wore t-shirts with library slogans on them to identify themselves as librarians supporting the New Orleans community, just as ALA did in 2006 when it was the first conference to return to NOLA after Hurricane Katrina. Libraries care about communities, and communities should care about libraries. The Freeze Mob was organized by the ALA Think Tank as a #makeithappen event.

JP Porcaro Talks to Erin Dorney about Emerging Leaders at #ala11

Posted on by pcsweeney

JP and I met up with EL Alumni Erin Dorney at the Emerging Leaders poster session at #ala11 to talk about her EL Experience, how it prepared her to be a leader, and EL as a way to network with fantastic librarians.

Adam Block talks to JP Porcaro about “Off the Fence”

Posted on by pcsweeney

While in the “office,” Adam Block started talking to us about his company called Off The Block. We tried to get the interview in the “office,” but we decided to step out into the hallway instead.

Greg’s (My boss) New Orleans Recommendations #ala11 #alatt

Posted on by pcsweeney

I got this email from our assistant director in the library system where I work. His name is Greg Bodin and he used to live in New Orleans and really knows all about where to eat drink and what to see in New Orleans. This list was really good so I thought I would share it with more than just our staff.

From Greg:
These are just a few recommendations.  Having been to many conferences, one never really has time to see lots of things but I suggest these as worth your time while visiting New Orleans.  Of course, please contact me if you have questions or would like other recommendations.

Things to see
The conference takes place at the Convention Center, which is in the Warehouse District.  The Warehouse District is adjacent to the French Quarter, the Garden District, the Central Business District and Uptown.  Lots of things are walking distance or an easy cab ride.  I indicate if things are a bit farther afield.  Below are things I enjoy.

Warehouse District:
Contemporary Arts Center
This is New Orleans’ main museum for contemporary art – also a really cool space.

World War II Museum
A really great museum – even if you aren’t a history buff.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art
This is one of my favorites – it is a collection of traditional and contemporary art from throughout the South.

French Quarter:
Jackson Square
This is the center of the City.  While New Orleans is a very French city, it’s design and architecture reflects it’s time as a Spanish colonial city.  Jackson Square is reminiscent of the plazas and zocolos in Latin American counties.  Central to the square is St. Louis Cathedral.  The Cathedral is flanked by the Prebytere (originally a residence for the Bishop) and the Cabildo (originally the main government building).  On either side of the square are the Pontalba Apartments.  All of these are worth a visit.

Moonwalk
Directly in front of Jackson Square, the Moonwalk is an elevated walkway along the

Mississippi River 
You get a great view of the Mississippi and a pleasant walk that can take you from Jackson Square back to the Convention Center.

Algiers Ferry
The Algiers Ferry connects downtown New Orleans to the Algiers neighborhood across the Mississippi River.  The Ferry is free for pedestrians and is a great way to experience the River.

Royal Street
A stroll on Royal Street is a lovely way to see beautiful architecture and do a bit of window shopping.  Royal Street is the traditional shopping street in the French Quarter and is filled with art galleries and antique stores.  Check out the beautiful Supreme Court Building on the walk.

Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is best experienced in the evening.  Even if you are a teetotaler it is worth checking out the spectacle.  If you aren’t a teetotaler there are plenty of places to quench your thirst.  Be warned that Bourbon Street gets touristy.  If you want to go where the locals go, head to Pat O’Brien’s.

Historic New Orleans Collection
A wonderful little gem of a museum, archive and library.  This is one of the principle repositories for historic New Orleans documents, ephemera, books, etc.  I highly recommend it.

Uptown/Garden District:
St. Charles Streetcar
The oldest continually operating streetcar in the county.  Both locals and tourists use and love the streetcar.  I highly recommend getting on Downtown and heading Uptown for a ride.  Warning: it isn’t air conditioned.

Magazine Street
This is the main shopping street for Uptown New Orleans.  It is really long and filled with lots of cool stores and restaurants, ranging from funky to high-end.

Audubon Park/Zoo
One of the most beautiful parks and zoos in the country.  You can also take a boat from the French Quarter to the Zoo and get a ride on the Mississippi River.

New Orleans Public Library: Latter Branch
Sadly, the New Orleans Public Library is a poorly funded institution that has suffered from years of neglect.  Visiting New Orleans Public libraries will make you realize how lucky we are at the San Mateo County Library.  However, a visit to the Latter Branch is always a treat.  The branch is located in a beautiful old mansion in Uptown New Orleans.

Bars

French Quarter:
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
A great bar for ambiance.  The building is one of the oldest in New Orleans.

Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone
A fun bar in a beautiful old New Orleans hotel.

Napoleon House
This is one of my favorites in the French Quarter.  You can’t beat the ambiance.  Order a Pimm’s Cup.

Frenchman Street
This is where the locals hang out (as opposed to Bourbon Street).  Lots of clubs and bars and lots of good live local music.  Frenchman Street is located just outside of the French Quarter.

Decatur Street
There are two parts of Decatur Street – the upper part near Canal Street which is touristy and filled with tacky t-shirt shops.  The lower part near Esplanade has numerous bars that are lots of fun and definitely funky.  Molly’s on the Market and Coop’s are my favorites.

Uptown:

The Columns Hotel
A beautiful, old hotel on St. Charles Avenue.  Have a drink on the front porch.

Restaurants

Warehouse District

Herbsaint
Really good New Orleans cooking that is walking distance from the Convention Center.

Emeril’s
This was Emeril Lagasse’s first restaurant in New Orleans and it is still a great place to visit.

Cochon
My favorite Cajun restaurant in New Orleans.

French Quarter

Café du Monde
An absolute must-see.  The place to get coffee and beignets (French doughnuts).  Great any time of the day or night.  Filled with tourists but worth the experience.

Central Grocery
A take-out sandwich place.  They invented the muffaletta sandwich.

NOLA
Emeril’s French Quarter restaurant.

Stella
Really good food – kinda pricey but worth it.

Stanley
Really good food – Stella’s cheaper sister restaurant.

Muriel’s
A beautiful restaurant on Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

Coop’s
Kind of a dump but really good food.  One of my faves.

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Librarians Unplugged (Mobile Guitar Lending Library) #ala11 #alatt

Posted on by pcsweeney

Hey! Stop being a “hero” and play a real guitar! This year, the ALA Think Tank folks are all about the power and strength of music to bring folks together. We will be returning from midwinter to Annual with our mobile guitar library. The ALA Think Tank will provide two guitars and various other instruments of construction. If you want to play guitar, maybe learn something from each other, network, or just want to enjoy some good… music played by some of the great talent found in our profession come on by and jam for a while. This is an open session where anyone and everyone can “check-out” an instrument and jam for a bit while meeting other awesome librarians. If you want to find it, you can follow @pcsweeney or the #alatt hashtag on twitter for current locations. See you out there!

If you want to check out last year’s Mobile Guitar Library you can check out the video –

(About the Vid)
At the 2011 American Library Association Midwinter meeting, the crew of the Think Tank infiltrated the conference with a guerrilla guitar lending library just to see what would happen. We invited all kinds of folks to “check-out” a guitar for a few minutes or a few hours. Many librarians and other good folks sat and played. As it turns out, our profession is filled with talented musicians. This video is the mashup of many of the patrons of this guerilla library.

Starring….
Librarian JP (JP Porcaro)
Lisa Carlucci Thomas
Jaime Corris Hammond
Josh Hadro
Peter Bromberg

Get ready for ALA in New Orleans with this great library gear!!
Purchases from The Library Advocacy Store Support Library Advocacy Projects
like the Great Librarian Write-out