Erik the Librarian Mysteries on YouTube

Ego-surfing led me to the Erik the Librarian channel on YouTube (also on Blip.tv). There is a slight physical resemblance between the actor Erik Charles Neilson and me (and we share first and middle names, too, with just one letter's difference!). I just hope I'm a little less insane than the character.

Erik the Librarian is a 60Frames original series, but you'll notice that the 60Frames site is down. The OfficeTally blog tells us that Brent Forrester from NBC-TV's The Office writes and directs Erik the Librarian. And the lovely and talented Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor on The Office) plays a patron who suffers through Erik's rants.

It looks like there's just the four Erik episodes, uploaded about a year ago.

— Eric Charles Schwarz
(another Eric the Librarian but no relation to Erik)

85 Reasons to be Thankful for Librarians (via Zen College Life)

(Twitter: @staceygreenwell) I'm not sure who Jonathan is, or which college he's at, but I'm thankful that he's posted 85 Reasons to be Thankful for Librarians.

Of course, not every reason applies to every library, but some do because they focus on the skills librarians (or information professionals) bring to the table, no matter what the setting. Here are three of my favorites from Jonathan's list:

32. Libraries have much better quality control than the vast majority of websites.
49. Unlike the internet, libraries are careful that the information they contain is checked for usefulness before being included.
85. Regardless of what form a library takes, a librarian will always be ready to guide you to the information you need.

P.S. Thanks, for alerting me, Stacey!

Details on New CD: Latin Roots by Lucie Arnaz

Lucie Arnaz's new CD, Latin Roots, is scheduled for release Feb. 9, 2010, on the LML Music label. From Talkin' Broadway: You can preorder the CD via CD Universe (where you can see the cover art and a track listing) or via Amazon.com.

Please also see my post about Lucie's Jan. 9, 2010, performance and discussion at New York's 92nd Street Y, Babalu: The American Songbook Goes Latin.

An Appreciation for (Musical) Archives ... and a New Lucie Arnaz CD Coming Out!

Lucie Arnaz and her musical director, Ron Abel, spent three days at the Library of Congress, researching material for her upcoming participation in the Lyric and Lyricists series at New York's 92nd Street Y (Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010).

In interviews with the San Francisco Sentinel and the Bay Area Reporter, Lucie talks about the work of Edward Maffei, a San Francisco archivist and discographer who had preserved music from the Desi Arnaz Orchestra on cassette tape, and Lucie and Ron's recent visit to her parents' archive at the Library of Congress, where they reviewed Desi Arnaz's orchestrations.

Also exciting: Lucie is preparing to release a new CD, Latin Roots, on the LML Music label!

P.S. Thanks to the Everything Lucy blog for alerting me to Lucie's interview with the SF Sentinel.

Introducing NJ/NY Librarians to SLA's GLBT Issues Caucus

The posting of presentations from the great Oct. 14 conference, Serving New Jersey's GLBT Community, gives me the excuse to post on the event, albeit a month later. The conference gave me a chance to meet and reconnect with some wonderful New Jersey (and New York) librarians who are keenly interested in serving GLBT people with the best resources available, along with understanding and respect for all. For more details, please see my post on the SLA's GLitter BiTs blog.

Philadelphia Library System Pairs Branches to Remain Open Six Days a Week

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.

For Public Libraries, Great News in New York and Horrible in Philadelphia

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.