John Nichols Berry III, Editor-in-chief of Library Journal, delivered the keynote address yesterday morning. Some highlights included his discussion of the role of libraries in informing democracy. Mr. Berry noted that libraries are well positioned to provide the whole story rather than the bits and pieces of information we receive from media and digital sources. As seekers and deliverers of truth, Mr. Berry stated, libraries can play a key role in restoring the public's confidence and faith in government.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Rethinking our mission...
John Nichols Berry III, Editor-in-chief of Library Journal, delivered the keynote address yesterday morning. Some highlights included his discussion of the role of libraries in informing democracy. Mr. Berry noted that libraries are well positioned to provide the whole story rather than the bits and pieces of information we receive from media and digital sources. As seekers and deliverers of truth, Mr. Berry stated, libraries can play a key role in restoring the public's confidence and faith in government.
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6 comments:
i have always thought of libraries as community information centers--maybe it goes back to that childhood mantra of my mother's--whenever i asked ANY question to which she didn't know the answer she always said "call the librarian" to which i always responded "why would they know" and she would tell me "they know where to find the answers."
One of the reasons why i don't object to carrying tax forms--though they are a HUGE pain is i think that we should be one of the first places community members think of coming for when they need something even if they don't know where to get it.
Often public libraries are part of the government system and as such should help citizens navigate that difficult maze.
Hey Susan! My dad tells me you got something you want me ta do with ya, so tell me the days i can stop by the library and see waht it is.
Oh yeah and haveyou read So B. It, because if you have you have totally be holding out on me.
Wish I would have heard the keynote. I heard many negative comments along the lines of, "I guess we should just give up." Your comments sound much more positive and it sounds like he had really great things to say.
Sorry I missed him. -RDM
Hmmm...I personally don't think we can have too much lack of confidence and faith in the government in the traditional sense. I think libraries model a different kind of governance, and therefore their mission too often clashes with that of traditional government. In that way libraries are more like education and it is with education that they should ally themselves. Libraries by themselves don't have much opportunity to inform democracy; they more often that not rely on curious citizens who go to libraries to find out more. But will that hold true if libraries become internet-plus, as is the danger?
Your are Nice. And so is your site! Maybe you need some more pictures. Will return in the near future.
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Hm hm.. that's interessting but honestly i have a hard time understanding it... I'm wondering what others have to say....
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