2008 April « Yestoknow

Archive for April, 2008

Brave Enough to Be Silent

Published April 26, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: GLBT, Lawrence King, libraries, public libraries, public library

Do you know this kid? Likely not. His story has not been told very widely (especially in light of “important news” such as the wedding plans of Jenna Bush–which actually aired during the NBC Nightly News last night). This is a picture of Lawrence King, a 15 year old student in California who was killed by another schoolmate for expressing himself on February 12, 2008.

Today is the National Day of Silence–a day to bring attention to the need to end bullying, mental torture and discrimination, especially GLBT kids who generally have little notable support. This year’s Day of Silence is being held in honor of Lawrence King, a kid who dared to express himself in this world that is still growing and learning, and often does not see the importance and beauty in diversity.

I find it very interesting that The Day of Silence falls on the Friday before Dia de Los Ninos which celebrates kids, learning and diversity.

Did your library or community group observe The Day of Silence? Mine didn’t. For every child who has ever been taunted, hurt or disillusioned by bullying; for every adult who has the memory of discrimination; for every teen who is afraid to come out or simply express themselves–I envision a world ofacceptance and inclusion. I also know that, generally, your Public Library is a safe and accepting place. Let this always be (more) so.

In the memory of Lawrence King, let’s start where we are to make this world a more embracing place.

Dia de Los Ninos (Dia de Difference)!

Published April 25, 2008 Uncategorized 1 Comment
Tags: dia de los ninos, pat mora, public libraries, public library

On Sunday, April 27 Libraries and community centers all over North America will be celebrating Dia de Los Ninos. This celebration brings together the best intentions, dreams and good hard workof so many people from many backgrounds. It is much more than a program effort, it is a concerted drive to bring attention to the importance of of reading in the lives of children as well as the very beauty and diversity of our world. That is a big call to order! It takes a big dreamer (and creator) like author and inspir-er Pat Mora to rally the dreams and efforts of people in so many places to craft something so cohesive and meaningful as Dia. Pat reminds us that Dia de Los Ninos is not just about one day of celebration. It is really a movement that concerns inclusion, involvement and thinking beyond the limitations of today to realize a more unified future for our community. If your library or organization doesn’t celebrate (or in some way honor) the spirit of Dia de Los Ninos, check into it…join this effort that carries the ideas and ideals of community and concern so gracefully and joyfully.

Click! Photos & Freedom

Published April 23, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: creative commons, free use, free use photos, freedom, public libraries

The past couple of days have been some-kind-of-wonderful in that I’ve realized how important it is to embrace and celebrate freedom. Specifically, I’m talking about the freedom to share pictures (images, photos, whatever you want to call them). Since the incident in Washington, I’ve thought more about this than I ever imagined I would. The freedom of the photographer is something that is of great value, especially now that we’re able (and expect to) document our lives, the places we go and our thoughts on them. Lori sent me this recent article from BBC that addresses the issue of the right to take pictures as a citizen.

Jason & Varanrat sent me these “photographer’s rights” links. Jason suggests that if you’re a frequent photo snapper, you should keep a copy of one of these in your pocket at all times. Take a look.

Photographer’s Right’s

Legal Rights of Photographer’s by Andrew Kanter

Photograhy & The Law

Ok, in the last link on photojojo there is the line about “Sensitive government buildings (military bases, nuclear facilities) can prohibit photography if it is deemed a threat to national security.” But how are you supposed to know this if they disguise the building to be something other than it is?

Any photographer’s tales to tell?

Here’s to freedom!

Free Use Photos, Part 2 (The Plot Thickens)

Published April 21, 2008 Uncategorized 7 Comments
Tags: flickr, free use, free use photos, freedom, Michael Casey, public libraries, public library

Last week my colleague, Lori, called me for 2 reasons. First, she’d read my post about creating Free Use Photos and was intrigued by the idea. Second, in the process of looking into ”Free Use” a bit more, she’d found a group who aim to do just the opposite by making flickr images exclusive, basically inaccessible legally without obtaining specific (paid) rights. [While searching just now, I see that one of the group's administrators has changed the very formal and hard-edge statement that was listed last week which was essentially language that spoke of image-poachers and keeping images from free use. The statement now is more about offering "useful information for photographers..."].

Lori put forth the challenge to expand my one “Free Use Photos” set into a flickr group. Yes! Within a few hours the Free Use Group was set up, and has grown in the past couple of days to have over 30 members and 4 administrators.

You can be a part of the Free Use Movement, too, and join the Free Use Group.

Part 2, Scene 2

This morning I received a call from the FBI. I’m not making this up. It was a follow-up from the photo-taking-spree I conducted during Computers in Libraries in DC. I explained (again) why one would want to take photos of signs and buildings and such to use in presentations and on blogs. I explained about “Creative Commons” that I had just presented at the conference earlier that morning with Helene Blowers and that I’d posted the images on flickr in a set called “Free Use Photos.” When the interviewer asked me what this flickr thing was and how was it spelled, I resisted the urge to say “well, it’s sort of like The Google.” This “interview” went on for about 10+ minutes. How does one answer questions like “how many pictures did you take of that building?” Which one is “that building?” “Why would you take a picture of a water outlet?” Well, it was interesting and perhaps useful to someone who wants to portray the idea of “letting go of resources.” I have a better question(s): Why did I have to have this conversation in the first place, and does this gentleman have to call every tourist in D.C. who snaps a shot of their reflection in a window or a fire hydrant or an interesting doorway?

I’ll say it again: the “0″ in 2.0 should not have to be a hoop (as in “jump through this hoop before you have access”).

Freedom!

Thoughts after a big, great library event

Published April 19, 2008 Uncategorized 4 Comments
Tags: events, imaginon, libraries, library, lunch money, plcmc, public libraries, public library

Tonight we had the finale event for the Paint the Town Read initiative that we’ve been running for 2 months now. We hosted 2 great come-celebrate-and-show-you-love-the-library events–one at the Main Library and one at ImaginOn. We had, collectively, over 1,000 people show up to celebrate libraries on this Friday of National Library Week! (May I mention that we were running our events parallel with the Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood sold-out concert at the arena in downtown Charlotte in the same city block?) It was a wonderful, library-loving night!

Here are some thoughts on how to make big library events that people love:

1. People love music, especially live music. Tonight we showcased the rocking & pure lovely music of Lunch Money. If you haven’t booked them for your library, get on it!

2. People love to be surprised. Many folks showed up prepared to see the theatre event only at ImaginOn, not knowing that there was food, drink and goodies waiting for them. Those that came just for the party found that there were welcoming staff, giveaways, music and lots to do!

3. People love to be treated special. Staff roamed among the many hundreds of visitors and welcomed them and thanked them for coming. It is the same as if you were having a party at your house–remember that…treat every guest special. And it will be a special event.

Here’s to Emily and all the staff that helped make the Red, Read Party a Real, Really Special Event!

Free Use Photos

Published April 17, 2008 Uncategorized 5 Comments
Tags: creative commons, freedom, Michael Casey

After reading the ordeal Michael Casey has gone through by posting an image on his blog (after he jumped through the hoops of giving permission to the source), I started thinking about all the images I use (or would like to use) in presentations or on my blog. What if everyone received the same amount of heat by pulling off interesting images and using them in presentations or posts? Eeak! Thinking about the types of images that I usually use (or see) in presentations, they are generally images that capture a thought or a certain idea in a sharp way . I tend to use images of signs, angles, odd objects. Wait! I also take pictures like that (or at least try with my point and snap digital camera). While at the Computers in Libraries Conference in Washington, DC last week I thought, hmmm–I could share some of my own images and take even more, put them on my flickr account in a set and allow anyone to use them, no permission needed. After lunch I started doing just that. Snapping away images of signs, benches, buildings. Then I was stopped by the military and asked why I was taking so many pictures of buildings, signs, benches…you get where this is going. After some explaining, I went back to my hotel room and downloaded pictures I think could serve presenters and bloggers well. Not the most polished, but you’re welcome to use them! And please do. Free is good, so snap up some of these Free Use Photos. I’ve added more since DC and will continue. Here’s to freedom!

Un-it!

Published April 10, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Lately I find myself talking to a small circle of colleagues about “unn-ing” practices, programs and services. Through these past few months I’ve collected quite a few terms that I file in the mental “unclyclopedia.” So what is unn-ing all about? It’s about deformalizing, it’s about letting the group gathered bring the direction and meet the needs that are right in front of them. There is no formal agenda, but instead what I call an “ungenda” that allows the group to create the topics that they find more meaningful than a standard pre-made agenda.

My colleague, Jason, has been putting our conversations about “unning” in play. He’s been have much success with “unprogramming.” Take a look at his 3 part series about the ins-and-outs of his experience working in this manner on our Circle of Knowledge Blog.

What other things can we “un?”

Live from Computers in Libraries–D.C.

Published April 8, 2008 Uncategorized 3 Comments
Tags: innovation, Computers in Libraries, helene blowers, Michael Stephens, Michael Casey, tony tallent, CIL

It’s been a whirlwind of discussion, dreaming and doing these past couple of days at CIL. Helene & I lead off the Innovation Track this morning with our presentation ‘Innovation Starts with “I”.’ Great turn out, input and questions from the group. We’ll get the presentation up along with the streaming vid soon. We were followed by Michael Stephens & Michael Casey who talked about creating truly transparent, honest and open libraries. Good stuff. Some key take-aways:

Be willing to talk

Talk honestly

Work toward truth, not perfection

“It’s not a age issue, it’s an effort issue.”

On the edge of wonder

Published April 3, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
Tags: innovation, libraries, plcmc, public libraries

Innovation is often more about taking what you have and adding a new ingredient than starting from scratch to create something new. What is a good ingredient to add to a standard program or service? Try “wonder.” What can we do to add an element of pure wonder into what we do each day–both for our users and our staff? My colleague Emily recently ventured into an arena of the common-gone-wonderful when she created and offered an unapologetic Noisy Storytime. Yes, a program that was consciously crafted to allow kids who want (and need) to make noise have their kind of experience. Working off an idea found in SLJ, she put it into action. We have the opportunity each day to inject our programs, services and tools with the element of wonder (you may call it delight, energy, newness) into what we do. It’s not always the easiest thing to do when we’re balancing the many plates of our day-to-day–yet possible. Take a look at Emily’s post on the Library in Action blog for inspiration. Need some other ways to stir the wonder into what you do? Try these to start:

1. Bring something strikingly beautiful into your space (office, workroom, lobby) and let it speak for itself.

2. Ask yourself: what would my program look like if I allowed ”the audience” to run the show? Let at least some of it happen.

3. Allow a kid to teach you something. Even something you know how to do already.

What give you a feeling of “Wonder?” Move with that.

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