LISNews Librarian And Information Science News

All city libraries will face cuts in their hours of operation unless a judge reconsiders an order forbidding the closing of 11 branches, Mayor Nutter said yesterday.

Staff members at the libraries that Nutter planned to close this year had already been laid off or transferred when the judge ruled that the branches must stay open. That order is forcing the city to operate with fewer employees and causing the city to bleed money by the day, Nutter said.

From the Library of Congress:

President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20, 2009, will take the oath of office on a Bible from the Library of Congress’ collections that is steeped in history — the same Bible upon which Abraham Lincoln swore March 4, 1861, to uphold the Constitution.

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Pictures from the Presidential Inauguration Committee

Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21kristof.html?em

Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, resigned last night near the end of a monthlong, unpaid suspension for mining state computers for confidential information on "Joe the Plumber."
Two senior managers suspended for their roles in the scandal that spiced this year's presidential campaign also are leaving, The Dispatch has learned. The administration fired Doug Thompson, deputy director of child support. Fred Williams, assistant agency director, resigned effective Jan. 31.

At the "Law Librarian Blog" there is a story titled: Children Worshipping George Bush Cardboard Cutout at a Jesus Camp

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/law_librarian_blog/2007/09/children-worshi.html

What does the story have to do with librarianship? Nothing that I can see. Hey "Law Librarian Blog" editors why don't you use your own personal blogs to rip on religion?

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Arne Duncan to be the next Secretary of Education.

Gary Stager, "teacher educator, education journalist, speaker, school reformer" is not happy with the choice of Duncan, whose appointment he considers to be just another 'social promotion'.

CEO of Hooked on Phonics, Judy L. Harris, is not happy with what Gary Stager had to say about the appointment; specifically, ""Gary Stager is entitled to his opinions regarding President-elect Obama's selection of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education and education policy generally. However, it is unfortunate he has tried to trivialize my views by likening my company and its product -- Hooked on Phonics, a product that has helped millions of children learn to read -- to a sponge (with all due respect to the folks at ShamWow). " Here's the rest of her statement.

A reverend at a Blue Springs parish and school has removed two books about President-elect Barack Obama from the Catholic school's library.

The Rev. Ron Elliott at St. John LaLande School said someone complained about the content of the books, and he wanted to review them.

Fred R. Shapiro, a Yale Law School librarian and editor of the Yale Book of Quotations has compiled a list of memorable quotes for 2008, mostly having come from the world of politics.

To wit:

5. “The fundamentals of America’s economy are strong.” — McCain

4. “It’s not based on any particular data point, we just wanted to choose a really large number.” U.S. Treasury Department spokeswoman, explaining how the $700 billion number was chosen for the initial bailout

3. “We have sort of become a nation of whiners.” Sen. Phil Gramm

2. “All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.” Gov. Sarah Palin, responding to a request by CBS anchor Katie Couric to name the newspapers or magazines she reads

For as long as anyone can remember, Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments have greeted holiday season visitors to UNC-Chapel Hill's two main libraries.
They aren't there this year.

The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas of Wilson and Davis libraries each December, were kept in storage this year at the behest of Sarah Michalak, the university's associate provost for university libraries.

Michalak's decision followed several years of queries and complaints from library employees and patrons bothered by the Christian display, Michalak said this week.

The LBJ Library in Austin has released the final batch of recordings of private telephone conversations by former President Lyndon Johnson. Pretty interesting stuff, forty years later, particularly the conversation between Johnson and Humphrey regarding Daniel Inouye.

Coverage fromYouTubeCBS and News8Austin.