LOC 2.0?

"The Working Group envisions a future for bibliographic control that will be collaborative, decentralized, international in scope, and Web-based. The realization of this future will occur in cooperation with the private sector and with the active collaboration of library users. Data will be gathered from multiple sources; change will happen quickly; and bibliographic control will be dynamic, not static."

On top of that LOC now has a flickr account! It must be irony. No, agony. No, sarcasm. Parody? Librariany?

Can it all have actually become cool? No, it must be an aberration...

Library funnies

I really wish I could draw. I wish I had a scanner, too. If I had a scanner, I'd be tempted to draw a couple of webcomics. Since I can't and don't, I need you to use your intelligence and imagination to supply the art for the following:

1. Young library worker comes up to where two middle aged library workers are talking. They all politely exchange greetings. The youngster is wearing killer shoes--pointy toes, short stiletto, two-tone leather. One of the oldsters says, "Nice shoes, B." Youngster says "They really comfortable. My mom says I spend too much on shoes, but these were only $60--that's not bad!" First oldster says "No," looking down at her Birkenstocks, "these were $90." Second oldster looks down at her Mephistos and says "These were $120." Youngster is visibly shocked that oldsters are paying that much for ugly shoes. Second oldster continues, "You have to have comfortable shoes. We're on our feet all day. Besides, it's your money, right? Moms."

2. Two young library workers are chatting in the workroom, while engaged in boring monotonous tasks. I mean skills! A middle-aged librarian is taking her break, reading a book in the nearby break room. The two youngsters are talking about college, which one of them is attending. The other explains that she is going to start taking some distance ed classes, and then after she gets that done, she'll do library school. She says fairly loudly "Once you've got a library degree, you're pretty much golden." Librarian falls off rolling chair laughing.

I hereby have to credit two young library workers who sort of work for me. They don't want their names used, but the give me countless hours of joy.

Since I can't draw, this has turned my brain to scriptwriting. I've been convinced for some time that we need a primetime comedy show set in a public library. It's perfect. Like Scrubs. Recurring characters, clueless administration, flavor of the week. You could have gorgeous young things and crafty old codgers. There could be a romance between a young librarian and an academic librarian. There could be lots of stress because their schedules don't mesh, and he's looking to take a sabbatical next year in Korea...oh the richness, the humor, the folly, all there in technicolor! Now that might change the stereotype. Mind you, I am beginning to enjoy being a dried-up old maid librarian...

New mayor takes his city by the hand | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/09/2008

New mayor takes his city by the hand | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/09/2008

My hero, and former favored patron--the person on City Council most likely to call the library and ask for some research--on you name it! And patiently went through the reference interview himself. Called back with more info. Just a dream politician customer. On Library Journal's cover as politician of the year in 2005. Thanks to Mary W. for the heads up.

Happy 2008

My best wishes to one and all for a happy, healthy new year. Dang, I really and truly will be 50 this year, if I make it to September. In any case, my year-in-review site is up. Mosy by if you'd like to see my even sillier side. It is still a work in progress. Best reads of 2007 to come!