The Errant Librarian

Yes, you are special and you are loved. This week I visited the great state of Alabama and was lucky enough to visit two libraries who serve a relatively small collection of patrons with big hearts. It was difficult for me to visit Alabama with the intention of enjoying myself because I grew up in Louisiana and the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers football team - for all their on and off the field antics - is still my home team. So, visiting the state of their rivals, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, and finding not only one, but TWO libraries that have more community spirit than a cheerleading summer camp, was a startling surprise. Guntersville Public Library (GPL) The Guntersville Public Library ( www.guntersvillelibrary.org ) is located within walking distance from excellent boating, fishing, eating, and entertainment in the heart of Guntersville, Alabama. Situated on a small hill, the library exudes a "Welcome Home" feel. The building itself i...

Hi again, and welcome to my blog! Libraries are often misunderstood places. For example, the idea of a communication and collaboration hub comes to mind when I think of my local public library. But that is not a correct representation of my library. Yes, they do not shush anyone anymore, but neither do they provide video conferencing services, maker spaces, or circulating audiovisual equipment. So, then my brain jumps to a traditional quiet library where researchers attempt to find long-buried secrets through the library archives. But, c’mon, this is no Indiana Jones movie where roguish heroes are carted off to fight Nazis after clearing the dust from some old records. My library is neither a hub of cutting-edge services gathered into one place nor is it an outdated meeting area for the intellectually elite. It is something different. Academic libraries face some of the same perception problems which public libraries do, albeit on a different scale. For example, the Eugene P. Watso...