The Rogue Scholar

The Cover That Fortune Magazine Should Have Used

It's massive, but it needs to be for you to see all the references:

Todd the Library Vandal's latest victim: "The Rights of Reporters" by Joel M. Gora. This was one of the ACLU's handbooks, published in 1974, when reporters actually reported. Todd, you're really starting to piss me off, now.

More Facebook Follies

According to the EFF, Facebook has once again made it easier for your personal information to slip into the cloud without your knowledge or consent. There are ways around this, of course: put all fake data into your FB profile, for example. I suppose telling FB that you're under 18 is another way to beat the system. Or you could simply not use FB.

Facebook Further Reduces Your Control Over Personal Information

Commentary by Kurt Opsahl

Once upon a time, Facebook could be used simply to share your interests and information with a select small community of your own choosing. As Facebook's privacy policy once promised, "No personal information that you submit to Facebook will be available to any user of the Web Site who does not belong to at least one of the groups specified by you in your privacy settings."

How times have changed.

Today, Facebook removed its users' ability to control who can see their own interests and personal information. Certain parts of users' profiles, "including your current city, hometown, education and work, and likes and interests" will now be transformed into "connections," meaning that they will be shared publicly. If you don't want these parts of your profile to be made public, your only option is to delete them.

George Washington's Late Fees Forgiven

From today's Daily News:

George Washington racks up late fees at NY library

Sat Apr 17, 11:38 pm ET

NEW YORK – If George Washington were alive today, he might face a hefty overdue library fine.

New York City's oldest library says one of its ledgers shows that the president has racked up 220 years' worth of late fees on two books he borrowed, but never returned.

One of the books was the "Law of Nations," which deals with international relations. The other was a volume of debates from Britain's House of Commons.

Both books were due on Nov. 2, 1789.

New York Society Library head librarian Mark Bartlett says the institution isn't seeking payment of the fines, but would love to get the books back.

The ledger also lists books being taken out by other founding fathers, including Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and John Jay.

The entry on Washington simply lists the borrower as "president."

Who knew?

Announcing Dance Dance Library Revolution 6

From the ACRLNY listserv . . .

The Desk Set Proudly Presents The 6th Dance Dance Library Revolution: Benefit for Books Through Bars on May 22, Brooklyn, NY

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 07:16 AM PDT

The Desk Set Proudly Presents…
The 6th Dance Dance Library Revolution:
Benefit for Books Through Bars

Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Enid’s
10:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Free!

In Memory of Carlos Alvarez (1980-2009)

New York, NY, April 18, 2010 – It’s that time of year again when librarians are in the mood for breaking out their Spring frocks, and longer days mean later curfews. Ever socially conscious, The Desk Set are back again and raising funds for literacy and incarcerated individuals. Bring a new or gently used dictionary, thesaurus, or Spanish-English dictionary for Books Through Bars, which serves incarcerated individuals across the U.S., and receive a free drink courtesy of Enid's! Get lucky in the Four Eyes Raffle, with all proceeds going to B.T.B. The more money they raise, the more books and programming nonprofit Books Through Bars can provide to incarcerated individuals across the U.S. The night is also a celebration of the life of our friend Carlos Alvarez (1980-2009), who was passionate about prisoners’ rights, the smoothest dancer the world has ever seen, and a spectacular DJ who was scheduled to spin at this event. DJ Fine Wine, Mister Jonathan Toubin, Megan Awesome, Jimmy T. & Jason Andrews on the decks all night! And remember, you don’t have to be a librarian to join the party you just have to dance with one!

Who We Are: The Desk Set is an informal group of librarians, archivists, Library Science students and other individuals who love books and occasionally throw fund-raising parties for non-profit organizations whose missions support literacy and culture. Our parties have benefited such organizations as Books Through Bars, the New Orleans Public Library, and Behind the Book. Read more about us in The New York Times and The New York Sun.

Event Details: This year’s Dance Dance Library Revolution is Saturday, May 22, 2010, at Enid’s from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. Enid’s is located at 560 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 11222. This is our 5th “Dance Dance Library Revolution” fundraising party at Enid’s – what can we say, it’s one of our favorite bars!

Hostesses: The Desk Set’s own Maria Falgoust and Sarah Murphy. Maria Falgoust (Desk Set co-founder) is an upper-school librarian in Brooklyn Heights. In 2007 she earned her Masters in Library and Information Science from the Palmer School, and in 2000 she received her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts from the University of Washington in Seattle. Maria is an avid reader, cook, traveler and party-organizer. Born and raised in New Orleans, she is passionate about the rebuilding of her culturally rich and economically challenged hometown. Sarah Murphy (Desk Set co-founder) is a school librarian in Manhattan and works with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Sarah has a Masters in Library and Information Science from the Palmer School, where she concentrated in Rare Books and Special Collections, and she has previously worked at the New York Society Library and in the Rare Book Room at the New York Academy of Medicine. Sarah also works occasionally in classical theatre, and is a co-founder of the Bakerloo Theatre Project. She and Maria Falgoust founded the Desk Set in 2006.

DJ Fine Wine: DJ Fine Wine is the host and programmer of "Downtown Soulville"—Fridays, 7-8 p.m., WFMU, Jersey City, NJ (91.1 FM and www.wfmu.org)...years of archives and playlists at wfmu.org/playlists/sv

DJ Megan Awesome: For the last few years, DJ Megan Awesome has been collaborating with bands and other DJs to make dance parties for the people. She’s a sucker for a good beat and long songs so she can dance to them, too.

Jason R. Andrews, aka DJ Misery Creep: Spinning a mix of classic rock deep cuts, psych, surf and international burners, with a heavy dose of dub and 70's reggae to boot. Jason’s the resident DJ at Union Pool in Williamsburg every Tuesday, and Bar Matchless in Greenpoint every Thursday.

DJ Jimmy T.: aka Das Booty, calls his style of DJing “eklektik-o”, i.e. a wide spectrum that gets tailored on dance floor after he gets your measurements: soul, funk, rock, reggae, r&b, and whatevs. You may have seen him DJ the Platter-Pak Brunch every Sunday at Enids, The Hand Clapping Bongo Machine at Lucky Strike, or Team Aquapussy at Matchless with DJ Misery Creep. Also he DJs the occasional derelict loft party in Brooklyn. He has played drums with SST recording artists The Alter-Natives, GWAR, and Ed Sanders from The Fugs.

DJ Jonathan Toubin: New York Night Train Conductor and Soul Proprietor Mr. Jonathan Toubin hasn’t only shattered the face of nightlife in the wormy apple with his revolutionary parties and wild and wooly approach to his trademark 45rpm “maximum rock and soul” sound, but alone, with the Soul Clap and Dance-Off, and the New York Night Train Happening, Mr. Toubin has started to spread his gospel worldwide -- to critical acclaim and capacity crowds -- from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, from Mexico City to Tel Aviv, and all points in between.

- # # # -

Note to Editors: Sarah and Maria of The Desk Set are available for interviews. A high-res photo is available upon request. Photo credit: Dominick Mastrangelo.

About The Desk Set
The Desk Set is an informal group of librarians, archivists, Library Science students and other individuals who love books. Desk Set events include visits to libraries and collections of interest, book swaps, literary themed parties, and benefits to support literacy. Desk Set events are open to everyone. Check us out at www.thedeskset.org. For more information about The Desk Set, please contact Maria Falgoust: 917.456.7535, thedeskset@gmail.com; or Sarah Murphy: 718.809.9034, thedeskset@gmail.com.

About Books Through Bars
Founded in the late 1980s and formally incorporated as an organization in 2000, Books Through Bars was established to address the paucity of educational resources and programming made available to prisoners hoping to use the time of their imprisonment to effect positive change in their lives. By distributing free educational materials to prisoners, Books Through Bars facilitates prisoner education, thereby promoting successful community re-integration. Because successful community reintegration requires transformation within and outside of prison walls, Books Through Bars utilizes our book distribution service as the foundation on which we build innovative programs designed to engage a broad cross-section of the general public in thinking critically about issues of imprisonment. Please visit: http://www.booksthroughbars.org/

Yes, librarians dance.  See you there!

A Nation Without School Librarians

This map marks the cities, towns, communities, and states that have made the decision to either eliminate certified school library positions (indicated in blue) or require one school librarian to work with two (2) or more school library programs throughout the week (indicated in red).

Although hundreds of studies show the impact that School Librarians have on student achievement, these school districts believe otherwise. A particularly unpleasant surprise was the flurry of blue flags throughout state of Massachusetts. How is cutting school librarians going to send a greater number of over-achievers to Harvard or MIT? $5 to the person who can explain that to me without resorting to ideology or faith.

Let's compare the student achievement scores without a school librarian in a year or so to discover what thousands of library supporters already knew.

School Librarians DO make a difference!

Indepedent Book Store for Sale

If I had the money and the time, I'd totally do this:

After 32 successful years in business, The Golden Notebook bookstore in Woodstock, New York is looking for a buyer. It is our priority to sell the business to a new owner and not leave Woodstock without a general independent bookstore. Therefore, if you know of anyone who may be interested in acquiring the business please pass this information along and direct inquiries to ellen.tgn@gmail.com

The Golden Notebook is housed in a building it owns right in the center of the town of Woodstock. It consists of a general bookstore with approximately 750 square feet of selling space and an upstairs stock room and office. Right next door is our children's bookstore in a rental space with approximately 600 square feet of selling space and access to a basement for storage. Both stores have garnered a well deserved reputation and have many established customers.

Thank you for being part of the The Golden Notebook family.

Sincerely,

Ellen Shapiro and Barry Samuels, Owners
ellen.tgn@gmail.com

The Golden Notebook
29 Tinker St., Woodstock NY 12498
www.goldennotebook.com
Phone: 845-679-8000
Fax: 845-679-3291

I don't have too many other details, but I'm told that the owner's reason for selling has more to do with health issues than any financial decision--although the recent health bill notwithstanding, is there really that great a difference between the two in current day America?

The need to keep a bookstore in independent hands is both great and real. There are few enough of them as it is. And the store is a joy to shop in; both new and used volumes are easy to find, and special orders were never a problem, at least not the few times I've asked about them. I believe the bit about having an established client base in place. I'd imagine that if there is anything in that neck of the woods where an independent book store might survive, it would be in Woodstock.

Library Vandal Strikes Again

 
Todd the Library Vandal has struck again. This time, he's taken a particular dislike to "An American Civil Libertarian's Handbook: The Rights of Suspects", by Oliver Rosengart.

Look, dude, I know that civil liberties are messy and that juries,  courts, judges, and lawyers are at best only semi-reliable, but come on: ripping out the first 45 pages in one fell swoop? (And the title page?) Then tearing out pieces out of pages 71-78 so that it looks like a paper-eating troll ate half the pages for lunch? WTF? Do I have to threaten to get violent here? Do I?