Today, big stuff happened on the libraries and ebooks front. And I tried to write an eloquent and stern “open letter to HarperCollins” type post. But so many people are doing it much better than I can. So instead, I will do something I am good at and point you towards the resources to educate yourself about what is going on and what you can do about it.

First, read the Library Journal article written by Josh Hadro who broke the story. It’s really great reporting. Thank you so much Josh.

HarperCollins Puts 26 Loan Cap on Ebook Circulations

Next, check out the hashtag that started the uprising of librarians in response to that great piece of reporting.

Now read the really amazing blog posts popping up all over the libraryland blogosphere.

The Publisher That Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by theanalogdivide

Library eBook Revolution, Begin by the Librarian in Black

Publishing Industry Forces OverDrive and Other Library eBook Vendors to Take a Giant Step Back by Bobbi Newman

I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further. by LibraryRenewal

Questions That Need Answers by David Lee King

Okay you should be pretty briefed by now and also angry/upset/disappointed — however you choose to process this.

Finally, there is this:

That right there is the email HarperCollins has obviously set up specifically for our complaints and suggestions. So let them have it. Tell them what you think and what you have to say about it. Give them any suggestions you have for how to make this right and more importantly if you are angry about this decision (that’s right Librarians, it is okay to be angry) that was made without libraries and librarians having any place or opinion in the matter tell them about it.

You can also @ them on twitter. They live here: http://twitter.com/#!/HarperCollins

And that’s all for now. Have a lovely (but activist filled) weekend.

Posted in Libraries

Tagged #hcod, ebooks, ereaders, harpercollins, librarians, Libraries, overdrive, save libraries

Shameless Marketing

Posted on September 2, 2009 | Leave a comment

Fair readers,

Yeah. Me neither.

Have a lovely week!

Posted in New Media

Tagged leah the librarian, librarians, Libraries, young librarian series

Introducing the Young Librarian Series.

Posted on August 12, 2009 | 12 comments

My fellow young librarians and library workers:

The email: younglibrarianseries[at]gmail[dot]com

leah the librarian!

Posted in Blogs, Libraries, New Media

Do you need anybody?

Posted on August 5, 2009 | 2 comments

Apparently Louisville KY was completely slammed yesterday with an absurd amount of rain.  And of course, we know what this does to libraries… i assume, the remains of a bookmobile room

If you go to their website you can also see that their server is pretty much destroyed.

The blog See Also is taking up a collection of donations to help restore the library.  He writes “The initial estimate is $1 million in damage, but they must just be guessing at this point”.   You can also donate directly at:

The Library Foundation, 301 York St., Louisville, KY 40203, Attn: Flood.

Or call, 574-1709 for information.

If you have any spare change or even if you live in the Louisville area and can volunteer to help out, this is now a library in need.

Have a good week fair readers. And the best of luck to Louisville Free Public Library, you are in my thoughts and my prayers.

Tagged emergency procedures, flood damage, librarians, Libraries, library, louisville, louisville free public library, louisville ky

ALA 2009: A Perspective

Posted on July 20, 2009 | 13 comments

Hello fair readers! from Pitchfork 2009

And more of this… From ALA 2009...similar right?

1) meet folks

2) learn stuff

3) have fun here be folks! As boring as Circle Cats...

It was a lifechanger. Have a lovely week fair readers.  And stay tuned 🙂

Sensible Shoes

Posted on July 8, 2009 | 2 comments Oh yeah it’s annual conference time! Woot!

And then look what the library cat dragged in… You are just another stat to us... Leave your manolos at home kids.

Open Gaming Night 2009

Librarian/Scholar: from reasearch question to results

Emerald Pimm’s & Canapés Reception

Listening to the Customer: Using Assessment Results to Make a Difference

I can handle it all…. hi ya!

sensible shoes, sensible shoes, sensible shoes…. taken from CVerwaal's flickr page

I can do this.

Have a lovely week fair readers! And enjoy ALA 2009!

This is just to say…

Posted on June 24, 2009 | Leave a comment

Just a little note to say that I love love love this post:

Getting deeply local at our libraries

And I definitely think you should read it.  I love it when articles/postings can relate not just to the public arena but to academic and special libraries as well.  Her points are well made, pertinent and extremely useful.  Fodder for your local cannon. pew pew pew!

Enjoy and have a lovely Wednesday!
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