Author Archives: markorton

Wilcox Public Library, Wilcox AZ

The Transformation of Libraries

Wilcox Public Library, Wilcox AZ

Wilcox Public Library, Wilcox AZ

For centuries private and institutional libraries have been about the storage and retrieval of information on paper. They were hushed spaces where stern librarians guarded the paper and maintained the decorum. Even public libraries bent towards this model. But, today, public libraries throughout the US, in fact around the world, have transformed themselves in the span of fifteen to twenty years. They embraced the internet, have become a key access point, and expanded into a place for engagement, learning, and creation. This transformation occurred based on the values held by libraries and their users, direct input from users, and the library staff’s guidance and experimentation.

(download a PDF version of this essay here)

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Hudson Area Library – 1/1/2016 thru 4/8/2016 – meetings and events

We received notice during early January from Galvan that the Armory would be ready for occupancy in March. this lead to an enormous number of decisions and meetings during the months leading up to the Saturday 4/9/2106 Opening of the New Library.

Here is a partial list of meetings (no accounting for telephone and email exchanges):

1/6 – HAL Executive Committee

1/8 – Program Committee

1/9 – mtg w Miranda Barry

1/13 – Emily Chaimedes

1/16 – Long Range Planning Committee & BOT mtgs

1/21 – Fundraiser at Cafe LePerche

2/2 – Exec Comm

2/4 – Exec Committee; Civil Rights in the 60s

2/11 – tour Armory – look at progress

2/13 – Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom

2/16 – tour Armory – develop punchlist

2/20 – Finance Committee and BOT mtgs

2/24 and every Wednesday until move in – weekly Noon telecon with David Murphy and Emily Chaimedes

3/2 – weekly telecon; meet w MidHudson Cable about fiber connection

3/3 – Exec Comm – grand opening date of 4/9/16 is set.

3/4 – photo with Friends in Local History Room in Armory

3/7 – furniture install begins – AR Kropp

3/10 – weekly telecon

3/11 – mtg w Eileen Halloran

3/14 – mtg w Sal Cusumano in re alarms, video; Michael Grisham

3/18 – Program Committee

3/19 – BOT mtg – 1st in new library – Annual Meeting – term limits ends my formal participation. Miranda Barry becomes President.

3/21 – mtg w Ken and Heather about office design reqmnts

3/23 – weekly telecon – decisions about security, cleaning, dumpster, naming plaques

3/24 – Program Committee – VIP sneak peak in Armory

3/25 – Program Committee – VIP sneak peak in Armory

3/30 – Emily Chameides

3/31 – weekly telecon

4/2 thru 4/6 – Arnoff move 

4/2 thru 4/8 – tech installs

4/7 – Exec Comm; appearance on WGXC

4/9 – Grand Opening

 

 

 

 

Off to AmericanDelusions

Most of my social and political writing is now on AmericanDelusions.com

Topic there include:

  • Capitalism
  • Racism – white supremacy
  • Inequality
  • Infrastructure
  • US Political system
  • Healthcare
  • Neoliberalism (free-market capitalism)
  • US economy
  • American Empire – foreign policy
  • Justice – Judicial System – Prisons – Police
  • Family