SocialLibrary

Statistican Justin Grimes of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington produced two Google Maps showing the 9 thousand public libraries and 3500 museums in the United States. The maps were produced as part of the National Day of Civic Hacking. 

Profile of the innovative and community focus work done at Chattanooga Public Library's 4th Floor and Harvard's temporary storefront Labrary.

The best quote from this article appears in the middle,

"The library can be seen as a public space. It is one of the few non-commercial spaces in the city and also one of the few places with silence zones and no ringing mobile phones (more might come…). Then there is the democratic dimension, the libraries are where a mix of ages, income groups, young and old share the same place. The potential seems to exist for the libraries to play an even more vital and active role as public spaces. This was the conclusion at the conference in Odense, where one of the key strategies of the city, is to select a new location for a central library that would help Odense  to transform from industrial city to a city that has a broader profile and that is rooted in knowledge, culture and education."

“It inspires me to see what other people have done,” says Susan. “Some of these ladies have spent years doing their projects and this is the way for someone else to admire all that effort.”

“The Sewing Bee program is part of a larger effort by The Pickering Public Library to expand our community outreach opportunities to include more drop-in for adults,” says Clair Schillaci, outreach librarian.

DISCLAIMER: Pickering Public Library is my library system. 

Hurley and West Hurley libraries NY are planning an event involving trucks to which Library Director Tracey Pause said "the even probably attract children up to age 9 or so." I think they are aiming low; everyone loves Big Trucks.

Identified by the White House as a Champion of Change, Fayetteville Public Library's Sue Considine has been invited for her leadership and "ability to relentlessy innovate". I hope to have the opportunity to hear her speak at Creative Making in Libraries and Museums, being held mid-July in Toronto by the University of Toronto iSchool in partnership with Dysart & Jones Associates.

Howard County Library System (MA) held an expo on Saturday June 8th, featuring the work of local area middle- and high-school students who had participated in the co-sponsored HiTech program. And what did these students do this year in the program funded by the MacArthur Foundation, IMLS, and the Library? They build an interactive game called "Escape from Detention." 

Profile of New York Public Library's Hamilton Grange branch in northern Harlem. Awarded for "being compelling, successful, well designed and well thought out", includes stadium bleachers, bright attractive furnishings, and a sound damping system that lets teens rock out behind glass walls without distrubing everyone around them.

From Helene Blowers,

"Literally hundreds of free access ipads available and attached to every visible area of counter space. The traditional rows of seating near the gates were replaced by workspace counters and ipads that provide free internet, the ability to order have food ordered to your station (credit cards swipes were also at every seat), purchase merchandise from concourse stores and keep up to date on your latest flight information. When you first touched the screen you were prompted for your flight info and altering throughout your browsing session of the status of your flight and time to boarding."

Love the sense of fun associated with this program.

Love this photo. CEO Donna Bright of the Ajax Public Library (My hometown library) appearing at the local McD's McHappy Day event.

This sounds like a great opportunity for librarians (and museums) in the GTA. Great line up of speakers, including Jason Griffey (LibraryBox), Nate Hill (4th Floor Chattanooga), and Susan Considine (Fayetteville FabLab).