Spotted something for Mediawatching? Email us at:
mediawatching@cilip.org.uk
A
S summer turns to autumn, we can look forward to cold days and wet weather – so very little change
from the past three months. And while it seems like summer was a washout, spare a though for staff and users of the Smithtown Library in Long Island, New York. On 19 August a torrential rainstorm hit the area, causing severe flooding, resulting in major damage to the historic library. As the heavy rain continued, water levels in the area dose dramatically until a surge engulfed the lower floor of the historic library. The water ripped through the library’s collection, destroying valuable historic documents, books, shelves and even walls. The cost of the resulting damage has been estimated at $10m and has forced the library to close to the public. A fund raiser is running to help re-open the library (
www.smithlib.org), and you can watch dramatic CCTV footage of the floodwaters at
https://tinyurl.com/ AUG24mw1.
Next to news of a campaign on the Hebridean Island of Jura, which is looking to create a lasting tribute to George Orwell. Jura became the home to the 1984 writer towards the end of his life and has become a place of pilgrimage for Orwell fans from across the world.
Now the island, which has a population of just 200 residents, is looking to create a fitting place to remember the author by establishing a library dedicated to his life and work. Artist Hans K. Clausen is behind the campaign after curating an exhibition on Jura of 1,984 different copies of 1984 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its publication.
He told the BBC (
https://tinyurl.com/ AUG24mw2): “There are people who travel to Jura for the Orwell connection from all over the world. But to think of somebody packing their suitcase in New Zealand, coming to Scotland, going to go to Jura, and they pack their copy of Nineteen Eighty Four in their suitcase
September 2024
Never off duty and always on message at Upper Norwood Library Hub.
and they take it to the library when they are there… that would be lovely.” Next to Devonport, Auckland, in New Zealand, and news of another lasting tribute to a stalwart of the literary world – of sorts. Atlas Obscura reports that a bronze statue has been erected in honour of Benjamin the library cat. Benjamin lived at the library for over a decade, up until 2017, and became a firm favourite with staff and library users.
The report says: “He delighted locals and tourists alike. He once survived being hit by a car and a broken sternum and was featured in Benjamin’s Book of Library Fun, by comic artist Arthur Whelan.
“Sadly Benjamin met his end on the mean streets of Devonport while napping in the gutter and was hit by a car. The distraught community of Devonport raised funds to erect a bronze statue in honour of their community cat. It sits in front of the library and is frequently dressed up for holidays.” (
https://tinyurl.com/AUG24mw3) Next to a piece from the New York Times (
https://tinyurl.com/AUG24mw4) titled “From School Librarian to Activist: ‘The Hate Level and the Vitriol Is Unreal’.” The story focuses on Amanda Jones, a middle school librarian in Watson,
Louisiana, and is the story of how book bans and the ideology driving them, inspired Amanda to become an activist for free speech in libraries. Amanda had been the subject of repeated threats for her stance against book bans, but one in particular inspired her to take her activism to the next level. She co-founded Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, and has just published a memoir, That Librarian, with Bloomsbury. She says: “Before all this, I was just a school librarian, but they wanted to silence me, so I thought I would do the exact opposite and become an activist. What we’re seeing now is full-scale attacks on people’s characters if they stand up for books. The hate level and the vitriol is unreal to me.”
Finally we head to Crystal Palace and professional greeter and compliment- giver, Troy Hawke. For anyone unfamiliar with Troy’s work he can be found on the internet welcoming people to shops, events and football clubs with a series of compliments and positivity. In his latest episode, the purple smoking jacket and cravat wearing greeter encounters a librarian, from Upper Norwood Library Hub, who is quick to suggest a visit. Watch the video here
https://tinyurl.com/AUG24mw5. IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 53
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
