Library of Walls: The Library of Congress and the Contradictions of Information Society Author: Samuel Gerald Collins Price: $32.00 Published: April 2009 ISBN: 978-0-9802004-2-3 Printed on acid-free paper “The experience [of reading this book] was something akin to watching a reality show featuring Jorge Luis Borges, Marshall McLuhan, Michel Foucault, Lewis Mumford, and Paul Virilio … Read more New from Litwin Books: Library of Walls
From Lincoln Cushing to the PLG list: The “Archives of Dissent” panel held at U.C. Berkeley 9/18/2008 can now be seen on YouTube: It includes presentations by: • Julie Herrada, Labadie Collection Librarian, University of Michigan, and curator of a “1968” special exhibit. The Labadie Collection is an internationally renowned archive of social protest materials. … Read more Archives of Dissent – video of conference
Call for Papers Digital Labour: Workers, Authors, Citizens. A conference hosted by the Digital Labour Group (DLG), Faculty of Information and Media Studies, University of Western Ontario, October 16-18, 2009, London, Ontario, Canada. ‘Digital Labour: Workers, Authors, Citizens’ addresses the implications of digital labour as they are emerging in practice, politics, policy, and theoretical enquiry. … Read more Call for Papers: Digital Labour: Workers, Authors, Citizens
Here’s a short video on the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, which aids librarians who need financial assistance for legal or other needs when facing the consequences of taking a stand for a principle in their workplaces. It’s from the ALA OIF blog.
I don’t often blog conference programs, but this is one I want to highlight, in part because I’m hoping that it will generate some papers and activities that will be helpful to people outside the conference and I want to let people know about that possibility. This is a program that will be being convened … Read more Freedom of Speech in the Library Workplace
CUPE 391, the union representing Vancouver, BC’s striking library workers, has posted a video of former ALA President Mitch Freedman’s supportive speech before them on October 24th. Mitch took a detour from a visit to Seattle and drove up to Vancouver to personally support these workers. The video is lengthy and interesting. The first part … Read more Mitch Freedman – video of speech before striking Vancouver librarians
I refer you to Kathleen de la Pe?±a McCook’s Union Librarian blog for the best ongoing coverage of the strike at the Vancouver Public Library (outside of the union’s own blog).
What is ALA-APA? It is the ALA Allied Professional Association. It was created a few years ago because the restrictions of ALA’s 501(c)(3) tax status. ALA-APA has a different tax status, which allows it to promote the welfare of a professional group, and not just the public interest. (That is the basic distinction in the … Read more ALA-APA
I am very proud to report that all four books presently in print from Library Juice Press are on sale at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, and through the Powells.com website. You will pay a little more there, but if you buy from Powell’s, you will be supporting the only all-union bookstore in the country. … Read more LJP books at Powell’s
Statement Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director, ALA Washington Office The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) would like to take this opportunity to announce its support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act. Formed for the purpose of promoting “the mutual professional interests of librarians and other library workers,” the ALA-APA is a strong advocate … Read more ALA-APA supports the Employee Free Choice Act
Dear Friend of the Library of Congress, We are sending you this message because the Library of Congress Professional Guild, AFSCME Local 2910, needs your help. For over thirty years our union has worked with management to forge a constructive relationship at the Library of Congress. Together we have built a modern and progressive workplace … Read more Urgent message from LoC Professional Guild
Rebekah Azen resigned from her post as the director of the library at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, because she believes that exposure to WiFi emissions is a health hazard and got no response from administrators after complaining. Library Journal covered this story yesterday. The Council on Wireless Technology Impacts, a group that … Read more Library Director resigns over WiFi irradiation risks
The new issue of Information for Social Change is out. It’s issue 24, and its theme is “Libraries & Information in the World Social Forum Context. There hasn’t been much participation in the World Social Forum by U.S. librarians, including the progressives and socialists, though there has certainly been awareness and enthusiasm about the WSF … Read more New – ISC #24 – World Social Forum
In the past few years, the New York Public Library has sold off important assets in order to raise money to continue operations. In the same period, compensation for their top administrators has increased dramatically. (The President and CEO now makes around $800,000.) The link is to an article in the New York Times dated … Read more NYPL executive pay
AFSCME has a new page about their representation of library workers. AFSCME represents more library workers than any other union. The page is nice, and so is the logo:
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Board OKs Union Vote. (That’s the headline from the Indianapolis Star.) Read about it at the Union Librarian blog…
RESOLVED, that the Progressive Librarians Guild support sister and fellow librarians in Indianapolis, Indiana in gaining union representation. Below is PLG’s position and letter of support: Progressive Librarians Guild Rider University Library 2083 Lawrenceville Rd. Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 August 8, 2006 Library Board Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library P.O. Box 211 Indianapolis, IN 46206-0211 Dear Indianapolis-Marion … Read more PLG supports Indianapolis librarians
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an informative article on Jo Ann Pinder’s firing.
Jo Ann Pinder, a completely mainstream librarian and longtime head of the Gwinnett County, Georgia, library system, was recently fired from her job by the library board, with no explanation given, after a local conservative organization set up a website that aimed to “harmonize [their] library system with the conservative values of Gwinnett County families.” … Read more Conservative campaign forces Georgia librarian from post
AMERICAN FEDERATION of GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO COUNCIL 238 (EPA) CHARLES ORZEHOSKIE, PRESIDENT P.O. Box 1127 Chicago, Illinois 60690 March 16, 2006 Ruben Moreno, Director Labor and Employee Relations USEPA Headquarters Ariel Rios Building Mail Code:3631M 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. Washington, DC 20460 Dear Mr. Moreno, This constitutes the American Federation of Government Employees National … Read more EPA Librarians’ Union Demands to Bargain Over Proposed Closings