1st reads system

Here is a link to an interesting article that describes a new way for libraries to encourgage donations of new, relevant books from their patrons. http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb050627-3.shtml
According to the 1st reads web site,http://www.1streads.org/ "1stReads is innovative, new Web-based library donation program that allows libraries to specify the titles and quantities of the books they’d like to have donated … and offers readers substantial economic incentives to donate them. " 1st reads seems like a good way for libraries to become less dependent on government funding which is not always reliable. It is a web based application which would allow patrons to look at a list of books being requested by the library (think bridal registry) that could be bought at discount prices for the purpose of donation to their local library. As an incentive, they could be palced at the top of the hold list for the book, so they would get to read it first. They would also be provided with documentation of all book donations at the end of the year so that they could be used as a tax write off. There are some fees and other drawbacks to the program, but it seems like it would work well in smaller libraries that serve communities that are affluent enough to be book buyers.

Proposed reforms to the Patriot Act

From the ACLU web site:

The government should not be allowed to indiscriminately investigate your library and other personal records. These proposals would amend the PATRIOT ACT to require "individualized suspicion" that the records being sought are related to someone who is acting for a foreign government or terrorist organization. It prohibits the government from embarking on fishing expeditions where they examine a large number of people’s records without any reasonable suspicion in the hopes that they might find a potential terrorist.

If you feel that the Patriot Act is in need of the above reform as well as others, you can and should let your senators know. Go to http://action.aclu.org/freedomtoread.

Patriot Act

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1510892,00.html#article_continue

This was an interesting article that discussed some of the ways that the Patriot Act is affecting libraries and the privacy of their patrons. It describes a case in which a patron checked out a book on Osama Bin Laden, found a disturbing note written in the margin, and then went to the FBI to report it. The FBI of course demanded circulation records from the library, but the library refused beginning a legal battle. This one example illustrates that the Patriot Act will continue to be an important and divisive issue in our nation's libraries.

First Posting

Testing . . .