You know something is official...

When it hits the local paper. Nested in this story about the school's network upgrade is mention of the library makeover. I love the description of books piled "thigh-high" in classrooms.

We will be ready when school starts, we WILL.

Time for some distraction

Definitely. Because all the furniture is moved and I can't find my desk, let alone the camera to continue documenting our makeover. To top it off, the library is now closed for asbestos abatement while they pull up the old floor tile.

First, check out iPod accessories gone wild. The iPod dock that doubles as a toilet paper holder, the iPod Nano belt, iPod shoulder bags with speakers...

Next, Wal-mart takes on MySpace. Advertising Age reports that Wal-mart's new site, called "The Hub," is a:

quasi-social-networking site for teens designed to allow them to "express their individuality," yet it screens all content, tells parents their kids have joined and forbids users to e-mail one another. Oh, and it calls users "hubsters" -- a twist on hipsters that proves just how painfully uncool it is to try to be cool.

I don't think MySpace has much to worry about.

And finally, this one is for my friend John, who claims that this blog is responsible for all his obsessive habits. Have you ever wanted to create your own comic strip but fear you don't have the artistic talent for it? Well, now you've got the very tool you need. Go for it, John!

It's a miracle!

We're getting painted! I never thought I'd live to see the day. More chaos, more mess, but who cares?

Painters' scaffolding, ready to go:


Can't wait till they get to these windows:


Say goodbye to the 70s!

Heroes at the DOPA hearing

Yesterday I was able to listen to a live stream of a hearing on DOPA, the Deleting Online Predators Act. If passed, the Act would prohibit schools and libraries that receive federal e-rate funding from allowing users to access commercial social networking sites. A number of wonderful expert witnesses presented testimony on why this Act is not the magic bullet that will protect children online and, in fact, may end up making them more vulnerable. Amanda Lenhart from the Pew Internet in American Life Project was awesome, as were Chris Kelly from Facebook, Parry Aftab from Wired Safety, and Beth Yoke from the Young Adult Library Services Association of ALA. I played a teeny-tiny part in the drama by serving on an ad hoc committee that developed an FAQ document on the use of social networking software in libraries. Beth submitted it as part of her testimony.

It was disheartening and frustrating to listen to the testimony from the "other side" and to the questions posed by some of the of Congressional committee members. The incredible fixation on MySpace as the spawn of all evil revealed a larger ignorance about the Internet, about social networking software, and about the role of schools and libraries.

I strongly recommend listening to the archived stream of the hearing. If you click on the name of each witness, you can download the testimony as a pdf file. No one from our district is on the Committee, but you can still make your voice heard.

What's a library without bookstacks?

A classroom, apparently. Without the shelving, our bookstack area is revealed for what it once was. Room 204, nothing more and nothing less. Check out the chalkboard that has been hidden for lo, these many years:


But if you look closely at the chalkboard, you'll notice we had visitors...

And the makeover continues

What with the new networking cables going up and the shelving going out, Those In Charge have decided to replace the asbestos tile flooring in three of our four rooms. I guess our efforts at documenting decrepitude are finally paying off. So the library won't be quiet again for some time yet.

Who thinks that a silent library is a good idea anyway? Apparently, some folks in Japan think it's a great concept for a sitcom. If you've got 10 minutes to kill, be sure to watch episode 3.