Awful Library Books
This Blog is one that first caught my attention simply for its entertainment value, but which soon led to greater discoveries in the world of Library Blogging. Though it is good for a laugh, this website deals with a very serious issue in the library world today: that is the issue of keeping up with the times in the modern library. How can one expect a library to help educate and help the public when gems like this, though hilarious, pollute shelves? I'm not so sure any teen in this decade looking for a "Survival Guide" would go looking to Dee Snider for advice. The idea of "weeding"--or the removal of out-dated, unhelpful, or just plain silly books from library shelves and catalogs--led me on a search to find out more about what steps people are taking in the library community to keep up with the times--or keep ahead.
Of note: the two librarians who keep up this entertaining blog also keep personal blogs about their own trials within and ideas about modern libraries, to be found here and here.
Librarian.net
One of the first and longest-running library blogs, the blog's author, one Jessamyn West, seems to touch on every aspect relevant to the Library Sciences. Having discovered this particular blog only a few months ago, I've had the fun task of wading through the archives, dating back to September 2003. It is a literal smorgasbord information, the author offering up links to articles, web resources, charts, graphs, and lists documenting--well, anything, really--links to and reviews of library events, and accounts of her personal experiences as a librarian visiting libraries all over the country and further. This blog really is not so much an information engine as it is a deeply personal look into the life of a person who doesn't just make a career out of librarianship, but an entire lifestyle. It is something truly inspiring, and well worth the effort of digging through the archives.
The Annoyed Librarian
Another highly entertaining blog, authored by the library world's leading polemicist. Keeping things anonymous, the Annoyed Librarian seeks, in almost always a comic way, to inform the reader of the latest news in the library world while at the same time giving it a good one-two punch. The AL keeps things light, but very expertly exposes what is problematic about the changing atmosphere of Library Science. It is most definitely a very different (though always informative and hilarious) way to digest library news.
In the Library With the Lead Pipe
Finally, probably the most interesting of the blogs is this collaborative journal from six librarians from all walks of life. The blog itself focuses on the composition of articles by which the authors dispel myths and explain the truths regarding the Library Sciences. For me, it has not only been exceedingly interesting but very helpful, as I make my way through the archives, in understanding libraries and their role in communities, schools, universities, and so forth, with six different voices (and sometimes guest-contributors) to give perspective.
Though these four are the blogs I follow most closely (or rather, regularly), there are more blogs of note, for their educational value or simply for how fun they are. Here are a few:
The Days & Nights of the Lipstick Librarian! - A fun little jab at the stereotypical, silence-obsessed, "Marion the Librarian."
Librarian Avengers - Blog of the author of the famous "Why you should fall to your knees and worship a Librarian." Read it!
Closed Stacks - A quirky and funny collaborative blog with a greater focus on the reading aspect of Library Science.
Library Lover's LiveJournal - A highly interactive LiveJournal community open to all those interested in or simply in love with libraries. Not just for librarians!
These are just a few of the library blogs to be found on the internet, but favorites of mine in the way they have helped me speed up and maintain my interest in Library Science. The entertainment value of these blogs seems key, as these blogs are accessible to most anyone. They are also testament to me that the library world is thriving and moving forward each day! This really is an exciting time to be entering the field.
Of note: the two librarians who keep up this entertaining blog also keep personal blogs about their own trials within and ideas about modern libraries, to be found here and here.
Librarian.net
One of the first and longest-running library blogs, the blog's author, one Jessamyn West, seems to touch on every aspect relevant to the Library Sciences. Having discovered this particular blog only a few months ago, I've had the fun task of wading through the archives, dating back to September 2003. It is a literal smorgasbord information, the author offering up links to articles, web resources, charts, graphs, and lists documenting--well, anything, really--links to and reviews of library events, and accounts of her personal experiences as a librarian visiting libraries all over the country and further. This blog really is not so much an information engine as it is a deeply personal look into the life of a person who doesn't just make a career out of librarianship, but an entire lifestyle. It is something truly inspiring, and well worth the effort of digging through the archives.
The Annoyed Librarian
Another highly entertaining blog, authored by the library world's leading polemicist. Keeping things anonymous, the Annoyed Librarian seeks, in almost always a comic way, to inform the reader of the latest news in the library world while at the same time giving it a good one-two punch. The AL keeps things light, but very expertly exposes what is problematic about the changing atmosphere of Library Science. It is most definitely a very different (though always informative and hilarious) way to digest library news.
In the Library With the Lead Pipe
Finally, probably the most interesting of the blogs is this collaborative journal from six librarians from all walks of life. The blog itself focuses on the composition of articles by which the authors dispel myths and explain the truths regarding the Library Sciences. For me, it has not only been exceedingly interesting but very helpful, as I make my way through the archives, in understanding libraries and their role in communities, schools, universities, and so forth, with six different voices (and sometimes guest-contributors) to give perspective.
Though these four are the blogs I follow most closely (or rather, regularly), there are more blogs of note, for their educational value or simply for how fun they are. Here are a few:
The Days & Nights of the Lipstick Librarian! - A fun little jab at the stereotypical, silence-obsessed, "Marion the Librarian."
Librarian Avengers - Blog of the author of the famous "Why you should fall to your knees and worship a Librarian." Read it!
Closed Stacks - A quirky and funny collaborative blog with a greater focus on the reading aspect of Library Science.
Library Lover's LiveJournal - A highly interactive LiveJournal community open to all those interested in or simply in love with libraries. Not just for librarians!
These are just a few of the library blogs to be found on the internet, but favorites of mine in the way they have helped me speed up and maintain my interest in Library Science. The entertainment value of these blogs seems key, as these blogs are accessible to most anyone. They are also testament to me that the library world is thriving and moving forward each day! This really is an exciting time to be entering the field.
Great start, Dana! You write well, and I enjoy reading your annotations describing the value you find in each of the blogs. A few pointers: 1) tag this entry for its content (I might suggest "blogs" and "readings") so that as you accumulate entries, it can be found along with other similarly-categorized entries. 2) Limit your use of no-context linked words, such as "here" and "this" that you use in the paragraphs about Awful Library Books. It's OK to use as an occasional "surprise behind the curtain." But it is more useful to your reader if you use Holly's name as the link (or her personal blog's name). 3. The entry about the blog is great so that you can discuss them. Since they are regular reading fodder for you, start up a Blogs list (such as Awful Library Books has on the right side) to provide quick links.
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