"Cheshire Library Retains True-Crime Book about Town Murders"
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2009/november2009/chesirecrimebookstays111709.cfm?persistent=&expy_dt=
Greg Landgraf, American Libraries
The Cheshire Public Library had quite a controversy over the addition of a book on October 20th. The Public Library Advisory Board voted five to one when the issue of adding the books to the library’s collection finally came to call. Director Romona Harten is the one who initiated the move to purchase the two copies of the book. The book by Brian McDonald, In the Middle of the Night: The Shocking True Story of a Family Killed in Cold, tells a story about murders that happened to three members of a local family, from the perspective of a main who awaited trial for the murders. The subject was made public and had been a very controversial issue around the town. Martin Cobert, a resident and member of the board argued that the book should be allowed in the library because of the fact that if such titles as this were not allowed, the same could be generalized to many other books.
I believe this is a very intriguing and interesting story. While I understand that it might be offensive to the family members of those who were killed, they’re not being forced to read the book. As Cobert had stated, if the opposing people of the book had not blown the ordeal out of proportion, it would simply be another book within the Library’s large collection and barely noticed. Since the ordeal, it’s much more likely that people will check the book out and make a larger deal of it. I’m in support of not allowing the banning of any books, because I believe that if you are against the book then you may simply choose not to read it.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
News Report 11/12
"Library Levy Landslides Make History in Ohio"
—Beverly Goldberg, American Libraries;
Posted on November 4, 2009.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2009/november2009/ohiolevies.cfm
Recent elections in the state of Ohio have shown an unheard of support for Libraries in an era where we’re seeing Libraries budgets being cut repeatedly. 29 of 37 levies were passed by Ohio voters; these levies have been placed on the ballots by Libraries who have been struggling monetarily and are being faced with having to cut staff and budgets. The public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has seen some of the most drastic support; they received a 72% vote to create the first ever millage they’ve seen. These votes have helped prevent the closing of up to 20 branches of libraries and the laying off of up to 250 Library employees. The Save our Library campaign has been attributed to much of the success in these votes and has seen immense support from the community.
I think that this is quite an inspiring story for Libraries and educated people throughout the states. As of late, it seems as though the only stories that I’ve been hearing are those that consist of Libraries having to cut their budgets, lay off many workers, or at worst shut down completely. I believe that it’s important that we as Americans make a stand and support our Libraries. They’re the one prolific and standing place in our communities that offer consistent information and allow us as citizens to retrieve information that we wish to find. I hope to hear more successful stories such as this one in the near future.
—Beverly Goldberg, American Libraries;
Posted on November 4, 2009.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2009/november2009/ohiolevies.cfm
Recent elections in the state of Ohio have shown an unheard of support for Libraries in an era where we’re seeing Libraries budgets being cut repeatedly. 29 of 37 levies were passed by Ohio voters; these levies have been placed on the ballots by Libraries who have been struggling monetarily and are being faced with having to cut staff and budgets. The public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has seen some of the most drastic support; they received a 72% vote to create the first ever millage they’ve seen. These votes have helped prevent the closing of up to 20 branches of libraries and the laying off of up to 250 Library employees. The Save our Library campaign has been attributed to much of the success in these votes and has seen immense support from the community.
I think that this is quite an inspiring story for Libraries and educated people throughout the states. As of late, it seems as though the only stories that I’ve been hearing are those that consist of Libraries having to cut their budgets, lay off many workers, or at worst shut down completely. I believe that it’s important that we as Americans make a stand and support our Libraries. They’re the one prolific and standing place in our communities that offer consistent information and allow us as citizens to retrieve information that we wish to find. I hope to hear more successful stories such as this one in the near future.
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