links for 2007-09-05

• Street Fiction
  (tags: library book review)

from xkcd

This is one of my favorite strips– check out the rest here: xkcd

links for 2007-08-24

• Human Brain Cloud: Play
  (tags: game words)
• Firefox about:config Hacks and assorted tips
  (tags: firefox hacks)

links for 2007-08-19

• Shell.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)
  (tags: art drawing fun)

Make ‘Em Laugh

In Robert Penn Warren’s classic All the King’s Men, the narrator gives then aspiring politician Willie Stark a lecture about why people won’t listen to his speeches. Willie has been making excellent points about tax reform and distribution of wealth in the state, but the voters just won’t bite. Here’s the lecture:

“Hell, Make ‘em cry, make ‘em laugh, make ‘em think you’re their weak erring pal, or make ‘em think you’re God-Almighty. Or make ‘em mad. Even mad at you. Just stir ‘em up, it doesn’t matter how or why, and they’ll love you and come back for more. Pinch ‘em in the soft place. They aren’t alive, most of ‘em, and haven’t been alive in twenty years. Hell, their wives have lost their teeth and their shape, and likker won’t set on their stomachs, and they don’t believe in God, so it’s up to you to give ‘em something to stir ‘em up and make ‘em feel alive again. Just for half and hour. That’s what they come for. Tell ‘em anything. But for Sweet Jesus’ sake don’t try to improve their minds.”

This paragraph struck me as being incredibly relevant to teen services in public libraries. There have been many discussions on the listservs about what services the public library ought or ought not to provide. Should we provide video game consoles? Should we encourage or ban teens from using Myspace and other social networking sites? Is a Halo tournament an appropriate use of library time, space, and resources? My gut reaction has always been “Yes,” but I’ve never been able to adequately express the reasons why. Now I see that Mr. Warren did it for me, over 60 years ago.

The kids who hang out at this branch are often neglected by their caregivers. Their baby siblings and cousins are left in their care for weeks on end. Many seem to not get regular meals. Some have done jail time, some have been kicked out of the neighborhood parks, some are involved with longstanding disagreements which leave them reluctant to leave the library for fear of being assaulted.

Ultimately, I would love to get them into book discussion groups. I would love to have a political activist contingent. I would love it if we could get teen representatives to address the library board. However, first things must come first. More kids come in when we advertise crafting events. They exit en masse when the servers crash. By letting them hang out on Myspace or playing RuneScape, we are providing them with a safe space in which they can entertain themselves for free. As they return daily, I am learning things about them. The get “stirred up” and start talking with me about themselves. I now know that several of them are very interested in art. I know that some are interested in starting bands. I know that some are embarrassed that they like to read, and others are embarrassed that they can barely read at all. I know that many would like to learn to type faster and more accurately. I would not know these things, these traits that I can hopefully use to draw them into a more sophisticated/educational/motivating type of programming if we hadn’t first lured them in with entertainment.

Willie Stark’s future constituents wanted their tax system to change, but they didn’t want to hear Willie tell them about it. They voted for him because he spun a good tale, because he invited them to big barbecues . Then, after he was elected he could do something about the taxes. Willie Stark may not be a shining example, but I think the analogy rings true.

Any thoughts?

links for 2007-08-17

• Exciting Links for Boring Days
  (tags: fun humor)

links for 2007-08-11

• Library Basics and Beyond
  (tags: libraries librarian blog)

links for 2007-08-08

• Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki – Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
  (tags: library wiki howto tips)
• Ypulse: Media for the Next Generation
  (tags: teen blog)

Walking the Line

YALSA has an interesting post on their blog today. It is about the atmosphere of Apple retail stores, and how they are conducive to creating brand loyalty and cool places to hang out. The author mentions the recent Harris Poll and points to the fact that nationwide most teens enter the library to check out materials and then leave. They do not hang out.

This is not the problem at my branch. We have successfully created an inviting space with plenty of computers and reading materials. We have programs that the teens enjoy. They hang out here ALL THE TIME. All day long. This makes me, as one of the YA librarians, quite happy. However, we have a very open floor plan, and all these teens generate a certain amount of noise. Being teens, they are also prone to the occasional shouted expletive. When gently reminded they generally simmer down. But not everyone enjoys their presence, and not everyone reminds them gently. Adult librarians sometimes march over and kick out groups of gigglers while we are busy helping someone find a book or are busy with questions at the desk. The security guards patrol like large cats in the zoo, hungrily waiting for a chance to remove a restless youth.

I completely understand the need for a certain amount of quiet. I, too, feel other patrons prickle when the teens get raucous for a few minutes. But how to effectively suppress their youthful exuberance, aggravation, etc. while maintaining an environment in which they like to hang out? We cannot build walls, and we cannot relocate the teen computers.

Every day is a hard battle between maintaining a teen-friendly and rest-of-the-world-friendly environment. I do my very best to keep everyone in line, while not squashing their love of the library. The kids here aren’t bad; they aren’t in gangs or selling drugs. They’re just kids.

Anyone have any advice or suggestions?

links for 2007-08-01

• CUPE > City of Vancouver and CUPE 15 talks break down
  (tags: Vancouver strike)