After these messages we will be right back

Pictured: Nothing to do with anything

So, the Banned Library is on a little mini-unannounced-not-really-a-vacation-more-of-business-and-laziness-convention.  I apologize to anyone who frequents this blog, poor souls though you may be, but I am not sure when I will get back to regular posting.  And during Banned Books Week.  Damn, I'm smooth.

Keep up with us on twitter @bannedlibrary.  For your trouble, here's a cat playing in a fishbowl.

Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out: A reading from Huckleberry Finn

So we at the Banned Library enlisted the aid of our friend Boba Fett and made a little video of our favorite banned book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" for the Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out.  See more videos at the Banned Books Week's Youtube channel.

And yes, I know the audio quality is bad.

Library Crime News: Only Two But You Will Lose Hope For Humanity

The library justice system the people are separated by two separate but equal parts, the librarians, who investigate the crimes, and the administration, who... well, they administer.  And sometimes the two are the same people.  Or person.  Stuff happens.  These are their stories.

In Colonie, NY a man stands accused of taking pictures in a library up a woman's skirt with a cell phone.  The two were in the Colonie Public Library when the woman felt uncomfortable with the man across from her.  When she went to stand, she heard the sound of a camera.  After police were called, the man was found to be taking photos of the woman from under the table.  WNYT
What the fuck is wrong with you, dude?  Put your phone on silent in the library.  That's just rude.  Bet he talks in movie theatres, too.

The Thompson Library in Thompson, Connecticut had its windows shot out.  Multiple windows around the library were shot with a pellet gun on two separate occasions.  The windows were custom-made double-paned glass and will cost a substantial amount to replace.  WTNH 
Anyone knowing any information about this crime should beat the hell out of the people who did it.  Shooting up the library with a pellet gun?  Really?  Probably some spoiled bastard who for some reason or another can not use the Internet anymore.  At least man up and use a real gun so that its not a disappointment to find out after the headline that you are just a jerk.

Tech News: This Week Was a Doozy of Dooziness

Okay, here we go this week with the Library Tech news that I did not cover because I was hungover or something.  Honestly, I am barely able to read most of these, much less crank out 200 words on each subject.  On to the poopy!

A Wisconsin library has begun to loan out iPads to their public as a way to educate them about technology.  Why not loan them the most expensive and easy to use piece of equipment known to man?  That'll teach them about economics. Consumerist


Facebook began sharing movies, TV shows and music this week as an attempt to keep themselves relevant.  Next they will be mapping your brain to find out what are your exact "likes" so they can better target the ad space.  SF Business Times


IT departments in most large corporations allow their employees to choose whatever mobile device they want.  Whereas in the past and IT department would dole out equipment in a unified manner, now employees have more freedom of choice.  I want one of those huge brick cell phones like Zach Morris used to have.  Can you set me up, library? NYTimes


The Spartanburg library in Spartanburg, SC has suspended use of its elibrary to neighboring county Greenville users citing overuse of resources.  I bet they won't let them ride the monorail or eat from their lemon tree either.  WSPA


Madison, Wisconsin is looking to create a law wherein when you sell a used video game to a retailer, they take a photo of you for their databases in an effort to curb theft.  Next they will require blood, urine and semen samples which should make game stores much more interesting.  If only the library could take pictures of users that try to donate.  "Ratshit's back again with a pile of National Geographics!"  Madison via Kotaku

Google Denies Former Senator Rick Santorum

Former Senator Rick Santorum is still upset about the 2003 google bomb that was put against him by Dan Savage after Sen. Santorum made some comments that some most all saw as derogatory against homosexuals.  Savage created a website that links Santorum to a site named spreadingsantorum.com that defines the word "santorum."  (I will let you click on the link yourself if you wish to read the definition.  Hint: NSFW.)  If you were to do a search in Google right now, guess what the first site that pops up will be?  Santorum recently told Politico magazine that he has reached out to Google to change the search results but was met with a "no."  He then gave some reasons as to why he thinks the company with the slogan "Don't be evil" would be so mean to him:

“I suspect if something was up there like that about Joe Biden, they’d get rid of it,” Santorum said. “If you're a responsible business, you don't let things like that happen in your business that have an impact on the country.” politico

Why in the greased poop would a search link to a goofy, possible-failed presidential candidate have any impact on the country, other than to rally us all together with a common goal to destroy one man?  Is he trying to be the Ozymandias from Watchmen in the dumbest way possible?  Only time will tell.

Banned Mark Twain Book Let Back in Library 105 Years Later

In 1906, the Charlton Public Library of Charlton, Massachusetts banned Mark Twain's "Eve's Diary" and in 2011, they voted it back into the library.  Illustrations of a naked Eve (of famed couple Adam and) were the cause of the banning.  Twain himself took notice of "the freaks of the Charlton Library" as he called them in a 1907 letter.  The un-banning is part of the library's Banned Books Week display that starts next week.  NYTimes

About time.  I mean, wow, who's dragging their feet on this one?  I call conspiracy.

"Hey, Jimmy, we got a book here on the suggestion list."
"Oh, yeah, what is it?"
"Eve's Diary by Mark Twain."
"Twain?  Don't freaking think so.  Man still owes my great-grandma $1."
"I'm going over your head, Jimmy.  It ain't right.  This ain't your library."
"Oh God, I'm a monster, what have I become?  Let it back in."

End Scene

Seattle Can Stop Feeling Special, We All Gotz Amazon

I feel like it was just yesterday I reported that Seattle and the King County library system were taking Amazon for a test drive.  Now everybody has it.  Well, when I say we all have Amazon, I do not mean every library has access to Amazon ebooks, just the 11,000 or so that deal with Overdrive for their books.  Read more in Amazon's press release.

Can you smell that?  Like a summer breeze, I tell ya.  Fresh off the ocean of dreams and kissed with a rainbow.  Welcome to the future, people of Earth, because Amazon became a time machine.