We Get It, Random House, You Hate Libraries

Random House publishing has raised ebook prices for libraries, up nearly 300 percent for lending books.  This is after last year's library lending cap of checkouts that RH implemented.  Many libraries across the country are complaining and thinking of boycotting the publishing giant.

So there it is.  We thought maybe it was just the situation, but it's us, right?  Come'on, baby, we were so good together.  Why you gotta be like this?  Remember back in the day when we were good together, you all sexy with your booth at ALA with those tote bags and we used to have a good time?  What happened?  We always bought your books, got some good programs back in return.  Is there another giant network of government sponsored programs?  We can do better, we swear.  Just be cool, baby. 

Fine, trial separation then.  You'll be back.  Nobody treated you good as libraries did.  So go, have your fun out there.  We will be here when you come crawling back.

Random House Raises E-Book Prices for Libraries as Much as 300 Percent - DailyTech

Group Sues Library of Anti-Religious Meeting Room Policy

The Seaside library has been sued for not allowing a religious group to use their meeting rooms.  The Liberty Counsel says the library's meeting room policy violates the First and 14th Amendments.

We have been over this before, but this one is a bit different.  For some reason, this library does not allow religious services or proselytizing.  Look, rules are made for a reason.  I doubt the library just arbitrarily made a rule barring religious groups.  Look at the community and I bet you somewhere in the history there is a crazy militant group somewhere in the hills that attempted to hole themselves up in the meeting room at some point and the library went "No More!"

Or, you know, there could be diverse and expansive amount of religious communities in the area and the library does not want to feel obligated to one over another in a fast paced game of shotgun like little kids in a carpool. Hell, I'm going to our library and start a meeting in our rooms in the name of the Benevolent Order of Rockin with Our Socks Off, who at the moment are looking for a more permanent place to hold our meetings.

Group sues Seaside library for meeting room access

Library Plans Fake Titanic Experience

The Alma Public Library is making plans to reenact the sinking of the Titanic in honor of the boats 100th birthday.  The library will sponsor a dinner that will serve the same food as was on the Titanic.

If I were running this, immediately after the dinner, my buddy would throw a block of ice through the window with a note that says "Go back to land, shipmates!" Then I would blast Celene Dion and have a couple bungee (or not-bungee, depends on depression levels) jump off the roof before hitting the sprinklers.  Bad luck for all those people who chose to sit in the children's department, though, cause we are locking them inside to drown.  Hell, we might even block all the doors but the front one so there's only so many options for escape.

In case you are wondering, my library events have on average a 50% mortality rate.

Titanic reenactment event planned at Alma Public Library

Get Boozed Up at Indiana Library

The St. Joseph Public Library is relaxing its no-alcohol policy for a fundraiser trivia night in late April.  The library is hiring licensed bartenders and expects to raise $4000 to $5000.

Oh, this sounds like a fun way to raise circulation numbers.  Imagine folks wandering the stacks, one guy with a slight slur in classic lit saying "You know, this Jane Austen chick ain't half bad to look at.  I think I might take her home."

Then look into the next day.  Patrons waking up in a hangover haze, surrounded by opened, tear-stained books thinking, "Man, this Paula Dean cookbook looked so good last night, but now I just want it out of my house."

I am just saying I am totally for drinking responsibly in the library.  But not on the job.  Think of the shelving disasters that happen sober.  "Let's just pile them in the middle by color.  Yep, that'll teach'em" hiccup.

N. Indiana library to sell beer at fundraiser - Fox 28

Thousands of Pirated eBooks Sold

An Australian based company sold ereaders with nearly 4,000 pirated ebooks loaded on them.

This reminds me of the time when Margaret Westerman sold a safe containing millions in Spanish Gold at the Annual Banned Library Charity Auction and Anti-Snake Rally.  At the time, Ms. Westerman thought her grandfather's old safe contained nothing but sand the man collected during his naval career.  When Mark Spencer, local 12-year-old winner of the Bannville Talent Show and Speed Dating, won the safe for $15 dollars and two rattlesnake-skins, he thought he had a wonderful prop for his one man show, "I'm Safe With You." 

Both were shocked to discover the Spanish Gold after the safe was openned by the Bannville Fire Department and Hunt Club.   A small fight and legal battle occured right there in the library over rights to the safe and its contents, settled by Judge Ford Oldman.  Oldman gave the safe to Spencer, as that was the item he bid on, as well as half the gold.  He gave a forth of the gold to Ms. Westerman, as she had technically given up her rights to the contents but it seemed messed up not to give her something to remind of her father.  He took the rest for court fees.

E-book deal's the steal of the century; 4000 pirated books - Maroondah Weekly

Google Offers $1 Million in Rewards to Hack Chrome

Internet browsers are taking all types of scrutiny lately about their lack of security, so Google has decided to step up the competition by offering $1 Million in prizes for anyone who can hack their Chrome Browser.  Funny enough, Google itself plans to claim the prizes as it combines your search and usage data on all its services March 1st.

I don't really want to put Google down.  This honestly will cost them less in the long run as hackers across the world will scramble to find all the errors in Chrome for free and then tell them about it.  Who knows what all that testing would cost?  That along with the publicity (which we can all agree that this little start up needed) will give the company a charge in development that you cannot pay for.

Google Will Offer $1 Million In Rewards For Hacking Chrome In Contest

Students Battle Librarian's Heart

The students of Piper Elementary in Kansas City, KS came to their school librarian's rescue when her heart decided it just had too much and attacked the woman.  The students would not allow the heart to be victorious this day and saved the woman from her body's attempted murder.

Huzzah to the students that would not allow the natural course of life to continue.  I have a theory:  They have such a belief in sparkly forever vampire love that they have completely put aside the notion of death and embrace everyone's life, enough to do war with God and all his creation.

However, I must insist the students in my library would resurrect me simply to ask where the bathroom is.

Students Save School Librarian's Life - fox4kc.com