The Travelin' Librarian

infinite flickr
Originally uploaded by taichi_UK.

All gone… I lasted longer that I thought I would.

Infinite Flickr
Originally uploaded by yoT*a.

Still there if you look at the “original” size.

Infinite Flickr
Originally uploaded by Jason Davies.

Almost gone…

Pat Schroder, Jamie LaRue, Kim Dority, Ruth Anna

• RE: Google Print
• JL
• why would libs allow google to this
• improve access
• people are not reading books at the computer
• continues promotion of the book
• digitization can save materials (loss from Kartina) / backup copies
• copyright greediness on the part of the publishers
• DMCA
• Not benefiting the author
• why are the publishers entitled
• KD
• agrees with JL if prior to this, google had talked to the publishers and asked
• why didn’t they ask to work together on this?
• “info wants to be free” but it’s not free
• libraries are the end of a value chain
• Dependant on publishing companies, let’s not upset them
• maybe the DMCA did go to far
• if publishers have no reason to put out content then libraries are out of business
• publishing margins are very small
• royalties are even smaller
• google is making money off of it and screwing the publishers
• it’s not the library’s right to give that content to google
• but, libraries can’t afford to do it themselves
• clear financial trade off between google and the libraries
• good idea, but approached the wrong way
• PS
• liked KD’s comments
• publishers like but the library program isn’t working with the publishers
• Harvard Law lib, she’s offended that they give that content to a for profit company as a former student
• libraries shouldn’t be giving away their treasures for google to make money off of
• good for authors, good for publishers, but really good for google
• orphan’s works debate needs to be solved
• RA
• lay person
• neither side is correct
• a middle ground needs to be found
• JL
• Why can’t I hire google to make an archival copy?
• publishers don’t make the content, authors don’t make the content
• google has demonstrated an emerging business model
• where’s the publishers using that model?
• PS
• Google print pays a percentage of the ad revenue (sharing)
• Library program is not doing this
• Audience comment:
• what are the terms of the licenses?
• UM contract is now online
• Should the bullies get that much media time / publishing materials from both far ends of the political spectrum
• RA
• problem with the lecture, we just heard one viewpoint
• wanted a point-counter point
• played to the audience
• that’s not intellectual development
• reaction should have been heard from someone who likes the patriot act
• didn’t increase my knowledge
• I’m not part of the religious right, it shouldn’t be in the political arena
• The left has used the bully pulpit too
• we’re not hearing from both sides
• libraries are the last bastion of unfiltered information
• we need to educate on both sides of the issue
• not seen that @ CAL in four years
• JL
• CAL does sponsor debates
• targeted by Focus on the Family in Douglas County
• gave the opposing views a platform
• they’ve said they were treated well & with respect
• FOTF hasn’t invited a librarian to talk to them
• librarians have a better record on opening the debate to others
• RA
• doesn’t consider FOTF the right, but radicals
• don’t categorize the right as a religious right
• PS
• sorry if RA was offended
• thinks the radicals have a pulpit in the republican right
• libraries should be places that have the DNA of the culture
• CAL makes sure that librarians are beat up for having all that information
• How did we embolden people to attack libraries so much
• how do we push back
• everyone wants to stay in their clic, and that’s dangerous
• RA
• in 60s and 70s it was the opposite
• the left was doing that
• doesn’t think it’ll succeed
• Audience comment
• i hear the opposite point of view in the media all the time
• needs to hear clear thinking and support at this conference
• so she can go back into the public and deal with the mother trying to censor
• appreciates the help from the people at the conference
• JL
• book: “What Johnny Can’t Read”
• textbook industry decided to remove what’s been objected to, not to show both sides
• book: “The Godless Constitution”
• KD
• question for RA: libraries are under duress from the religions right, taking out the conservative moderates, how would you make libraries change to fit your vision?
• RA
• just public libraries
• staunchest supporters are the trustees
• trustees need to listed
• they feel alienated
• bring them in to work with you
• worked against state CIPA
• but also let the trustees hear the other side says
• trustees are the front line defense and advocates
• audience comment
• RA has crystallized it
• how have they become emboldened to impose their will on us via government?
• this is the point
• what have done, are doing, aren’t doing to let them get away with it
• RA
• we’re not showing up at caucuses
• we’re not voting
• select delegates that will represent you
• select the best candidates (from those available) are on the ballot
• don’t expect a blank check
• JL
• agree with showing up to take over the caucuses
• gorilla librarianship
• “whiter the public good” (speakers from the legislators brought in)
• ask intelligent questions of the legislators
• conduct a reference interview
• PS
• what do you do about school libraries
• a lot of front-line pressure
• they don’t have trustees (school board, principal, superintendent)
• The school librarians get hit the hardest
• how can we support them
• Audience
• last spring HS library got a challenge of “The Bluest Eye”
• parent complained
• opt-out policy
• inappropriate for ninth grade
• filed challenge according to policy
• if principal hadn’t been new, probably wouldn’t have caved
• Littleton never before banned a book from the library
• curriculum level issue this time
• went to board
• tried to compromise in moving the book to 11^th grade
• another parent read rape scene to the board out of context
• the board then pulled the book 3-2 from the curriculum and the libraries
• board didn’t follow the policy
• had a read-in, kids brought their own copies
• media was there
• the kids had an impact
• district tried to keep it under wraps at first
• Now there’s a new board
• the book still needs to come back up for review to resubmit
• PS
• How do we solve this problem?
• Has CAL done a workshop for the CO principals?
• Educate them on the issue
• use that as a case study
• moderator
• we need more school librarians on the intellectual freedom committee
• Audience
• good example of where public and school libraries can work together
• libraries need to be neutral, where both sides can get together
• total disconnect between school and libraries in this situation
• RA
• There are many CO organizations that can help
• support, presentations, get access to records
• Call the media, CO Bar
• if they’re not following policy they are breaking the law
• get outside your safety realm to deal with these issues
• public business needs to be conducted in the public
• Audience
• Person dealing with this issue did everything right
• contacted others for help (local and national)
• you have a process because people do have the right to challenge
• make sure the process is followed
• moderator
• make sure you know who to call for support
• publics should pay attention to schools & vice versa
• CAL President
• school librarian
• should be a presentation next year on who are these organizations who can help
• put this information on the CAL Web site
• audience
• what are the counterpoints when you have a national government official trying to tell libraries what can be in the library? (Tom Tancredo and Spanish fotonovellas)
• JL
• unruly patron that needed to be ejected
• book: “The Fourth Turning”
• point of maximum fragmentation
• More lefties – that’s a baby boomer observation
• anti-immigration fear he was riding
• go back tot he trustees
• we are common and neutral ground
• what is the real issue
• audience
• why CAL & ALA didn’t respond to Tom’s issues
• DPL director felt they could handle it on their own
• Audience
• is there a threat to CO like KS and intelligent design re: science books being pulled from libraries
• RA
• yes, there’s a danger anywhere
• that issue or another
• it’s up to the people who say no
• it’s up to the people to elect people who say no
• get off your duff and do something
• don’t believe that particular issue will happen in CO, we’re too outspoken
• JL
• Where have the newspapers been on this issue
• they were in favor of filtering
• science coverage in the papers is slim
• newspapers like to point out the “one crackpot” not the scientific consensus
• the press is standing away from libraries until there’s something sensational
• KD
• agrees with RA & JL
• bigger issue: the entire library profession has been pushed into a reactionary stance
• very little training on how to stop the bullies and be proactive in library schools
• we need to learn how to be an advocacy force
• look for that training in your community
• we risk becoming invisible if we don’t
• we need to change fast
• moderator
• we feel trapped
• can’t advocate without betraying the sense of neutrality (afraid of that)
• maybe we’re looking at the issues too narrowly
• need to find a way to talk about our principles in a way at grounds us, allows us to stay neutral
• audience
• by not being neutral
• librarians should not be neutral
• library is not neutral, it’s a safe place
• describing ourselves as neutral we paint ourselves into a corner
• JL
• change it a little: we need to be common and neutral ground
• we’re politically isolated
• we need to become community activists
• leave the library, invite people into the library
• more directly engage the people who set the community perception
• audience
• school librarians need to be a reflection of the community in which they teach
• one of five democrats in the town
• library needed to be rebuilt
• put in teen sexuality books into the library
• all well reviewed and accepted
• parents went ballistic
• needed to write a book challenge policy
• board had to approve it
• she was not a reflection of her community
• board wasn’t happy
• board chair was upset that librarian had such power to choose
• said you can monitor what your child reads, but not what my child reads
• stood up to the bullies on the board
• got policy adopted
• next librarian got rid of all those books
• moderator
• it’s a difficult thing to deal with
• remain approachable at the reference desk
• Final thoughts
• KD
• teach in DU program
• send student into the profession
• proud of the work this profession does
• JL
• “engaged in a battle of ideas and libraries arm both sides”
• RA
• moving forward and fall flat on your face, you’re still moving forward
• if you settle an issue without debate, you’ve not settled the issue
• just because I disagree doesn’t mean I don’t like you

They’re holding the keynotes in the Columbine Ballroom. I like the music they’re playing while we’re waiting for the speakers, but its way too loud. It’s difficult to hear the person sitting next to you when holding a conversation.

All of the trustee workshops are being held on the top floor of the Marriott in the presidential suite, ten floors above the rest of the conference. This morning I thought about this on the drive in. Why are the trustees being separated from the rest of the conference? Why are we being placed “on high”?

A conference committee member told me that three years ago, there wasn’t any trustee workshops at all and that two years ago he had rented a suite to do just that. Last year was the first time that there were official trustee events and that the plan is to slowly integrate the trustee events into the rest of the conference over the next few years.

To the conference committee: Today, during the 11am-noon time period, there are 16 concurrent sessions. I understand the want to offer as many different sessions as possible but this is way to many. It’s hard to choose. There are four different sessions that I’m interested in attending. Also, this divides the conference attendees into way to many small groups, limiting groups to about 15-20 people. Fewer sessions would allow for larger attendance to any one session, improving group participation and discussion.

I asked someone on the conference committee about this and they said the number of workshops was to counter the past complaints that there were not enough sessions that attendees were interested in. I guess I’d just say that there’s got to be balance that can be found.