The Free Library of Philadelphia didn't in fact have to close up shop. Almost a month ago, on Sept. 17, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a measure that allowed the library to remain open. The library's "closing page" was changed to a "thank you for your support page."
In fact, the library system was able to keep Monday through Saturday service by pairing nearby libraries, which started Oct. 5.
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Some branches of the New York Public Library are expanding hours from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., starting today.
But in Philadelphia, almost the whole system could shut down, at least temporarily, starting Oct. 2. It's interesting that in Philly, patrons will still be able to use the library's Web site and databases. Will the powers that be see electronic access as "good enough"? I doubt it, but it's good that the Free Library is keeping some services available during the possible shutdown anyway. It's interesting that the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at 919 Walnut St. will remain open weekdays from 9-5. Here's why.
Seen on the streets of Somerville: A poor little lamp bear was left out with the trash on the curb, along with some toys! I resisted the urge to adopt him!
Gregory Horvitz was kind enough to feature me as part of the "member interviews" on the SLA's GLBT Issues blog, GLitter BiTs. If you haven't read Mary Ellen Bates' interview already, you might find that even more interesting!
I'm pleased to announce that at the Special Libraries Association conference (SLA 2009, to be held June 14-17), I will be recognized as one of five winners of the 2009 Diversity Leadership Development Program Award for "up and coming information professionals."
In addition to my professional work, I've been fortunate to participate in two wonderful groups within SLA: the New Jersey Chapter (NJSLA) and the GLBT Issues Caucus.
In particular, I'm grateful to Barbara Burton, NJSLA immediate past president, for sponsoring my nomination for the award and for asking me to serve as chapter president. I'm sure the leadership skills I've learned serving members of both the chapter and the caucus were a key factor in my selection for the award.
I also extend my congratulations to my fellow awardees: Regina Beard, Julia Leggett, Nora Martin and Nedelina Tchangalova. I'm honored to be considered with these women who have accomplished so much in their careers.
A press release on this program soon will be posted on the SLA site.
Photos from Rutgers ReUnion events from Saturday, May 16, are posted in the Picasa album below.
The photos are from three events: the All-Alumni Parade and Block Party on College Avenue and Voorhees Mall; the Rutgers Gardens tour; and the Livingston Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Awards at the Douglass Campus Center.
Additional photos are in an online gallery and on the Rutgers University Alumni Association Facebook page.
Seth and I enjoyed Rutgers and the Garden State's agricultural bounty on Saturday, April 25, at the annual Ag Field Day on the Cook/Douglass campus. It was a beautiful but very hot day, with a long walk over from the Bristol-Myers Squibb parking lot on Route 1. The campus was full of adults, college kids, young kids, and lots of dogs. We sampled the homemade ice cream (chocolate for me; and a rainbow of fruit flavors for Seth). The ice cream was served outdoors in foam cups, so we didn't get to see the students merrily churning.
The photos in the slideshow below are from the Scarlet Chef demonstration, with the chef showing us how to prepare healthful foods (a salad and a chutney) with Jersey Fresh ingredients. We picked up the recipe cards and free RU Express bags but mostly hung out by the ice sculptures. We skipped the samples because we had "all we cared to eat" for $6 apiece at Neilson Dining Hall.
We also walked over to Woodlawn for the New Jersey Folk Festival, but we didn't get a chance to see any of the performances. Seth got to ride for the first time on a Rutgers bus, a non-air-conditioned one at that, as we rode across Route 1 to the Rutgers Gardens. There were lots of young smiling faces in the official Rutgers Day shirts guiding people on College Farm Road, but not over at the Gardens. A Farmers Market over at the Gardens turned out to be a market of breads, pickles, sandwiches and kielbasa -- nary a vegetable in sight. We learned from the nice ladies over there that the season really kicks off with the Spring Flower Fair, Mothers Day Weekend (May 8-10). The Gardens will have a real Farmers Market on Friday afternoons, starting May 1.
At the end of the day, Seth got some bargain plants, including some catnip that Nero went over the moon for, and now Seth is hiding in the basement, and a hanging plant that's not safe for kitties, so he may do a neighborly plant exchange.
Rutgers Day seemed to be a great showcase for the university, which added events on College Avenue and Busch campuses to the traditional events on Cook/Douglass. Many of the events were for prospective students on college tours; they couldn't go very far without seeing a "Did you know?" sign with a Rutgers factoid. Hopefully, they'll join Mr. Magoo, me and hundreds of thousands of others as students and then alumni at New Jersey's State U.
