When everything is downloadable...

About ten days ago we decided to start providing downloadable ebooks for Nooks and other compatible devices, using the same company that hosts our downloadable audio book collection. They should be showing up in our catalog soon--maybe even before the end of the year, which would be good timing if you are hoping for an ereader this holiday season. Just make sure your personal shopper knows that Kindles do not work with the ebooks soon to be available from the library.

Everytime these new formats come along, I start thinking about the what it means for libraries now and in the future. There's the budget part of the issue, of course. It costs money to make these available, but our book budget isn't really growing and people still want the actual book as well as the audio version of the book--all of which means that it's not unusual for us to buy the same book in print, large print, CD, downloadable audio, and perhaps now, downloadable text. We're balancing these competing demands as best we can, but it's a challenge.

Then there's the whole question of where libraries will fit in if the future is more mobile (much of what I read seems to say soon we'll all be using smart phones for virtually everything we now do on a PC), and also much less oriented toward traditional print.

Yesterday Google Editions went live, in direct competition with Amazon. Barnes and Nobel stores are having a hard time, as are many independent book stores. I don't think that most people want to pay for every book they might want to read, even if the digital versions cost less than traditional print--I know I couldn't afford that. But libraries are a relatively small part of the book market, and the companies developing these new tools aren't so interested in us. Publishers are trying to figure out how to stay profitable in a digital world, and letting libraries check out a single digital copy of a book to multiple users looks like lost revenue to them.

Librarians are in this profession because we believe in the value of what we do. I read something the other day that resonated with me. "The 21st century is no place for timid librarians." We've found our way through many changes over the years, and I hope we'll figure this new digital future as well.

So, Let's Talk: Community Conversations

Last night the Main Library hosted the second of four planned Community Conversations. These programs are funded by Boeing and Humanities Washington, and their goal is to involve citizens in thoughtful conversations about contentious topics. The format is simple: a panel of people with different perspectives and expertise in the topic being discussed gives a presentation, and then they take questions from the audience.

Our first program was on the ballot initiative process, and was a particularly interesting discussion in a year with such a large number of initiatives on the ballot. Last night's program was on immigration. Approximately 20 people attended, and they listened to a constitutional scholar, a UW geography prof, an economist, and a community organizer talk about immigration. It was clear that not everybody in the room agreed on either the problem or the solution, but overall the tone was respectful. People were able to ask questions, receive thoughtful answers (even when they disagreed with what was being said), and then there was a little time at the end for one-on-one questions to the panelists.

While I was dismayed by some of the angry comments posted on the Herald website about the event, those who attended were willing to give the panelists a chance to speak. And to me, that was heartening--and it goes to the heart of what I believe a public library is all about. We build our collections around the idea that we want to provide a variety of viewpoints. We host programs on a variety of subjects. We want people to feel safe asking for the information they need--and not to worry about whether library staff will consider their request unacceptable because of whatever their request says about their politics or interests.

One of the things that makes this country great is that we get to disagree with each other without fear of the consequences. I really believe that as long as we're talking to each other (not just at each other), there is hope we can figure out what we should be doing as a country. And, of course, another great thing is public libraries, the one institution where you can be sure to find your viewpoint in print and on the shelves.

I hope you'll join us in January for another Community Conversation. This one will focus on historic preservation. I'll write more about it in another post.

Help Us Win $10,000

Everett Public Library is a finalist in the Playaway Picture This Contest, which means we have a chance to win $10,000--if enough of you vote for us at http://vote.playaway.com.

Creative staff members got us this far, with an eye-catching display you may have noticed at our Main Library. If you haven't noticed it, or don't know what Playaways are, it's time to check out the display and check out a Playaway. Playaways are MP3 players with an audiobook already loaded. They're about the size of a deck of cards, and are great for listening while exercising, cooking, gardening, or whatever activity goes better with a book.

The contest ends on December 17, and the library with the most votes wins. If we win, we'll use the money for our Summer Reading Program, to help support a community reading program for adults, and more books for our new teen area. Help us get there--with just a click of your mouse.

Librarians on vacation

I often visit libraries when we travel. All public libraries have much the same mission, but how they carry it out varies a lot. I know I'm not the only librarian who does this, and since we love to share ideas, it's usually possible to get a behind the scenes tour if you want. Or just stroll around anonymously.

This August I went on a a family vacation that was truly amazing. We toured Istanbul, a few Greek islands, and Athens. I saw the library at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul (no books there anymore), the remains of the library in Ephesus, and the site of Hadrian's Library in Athens. My niece is a librarian, too, and she and I made sure we took photos to commemorate our visit.

I like thinking about the long history of libraries. Whether they were built to demonstrate a particular ruler's importance or from a sense of civic pride, libraries have been one way cities and countries demonstrate a commitment to their citizens and to the future.

The photo here is of the library in Ephesus.

Vacation reading

Usually when I go on vacation I take too many books, and I spend a lot of time deciding just which ones to bring along. It would be too depressing to be stuck in an airport with nothing to read--or something to read that I wasn't going to enjoy reading. So I don't take any chances, and end up lugging around more books than I could possibly finish. And yes, I know that some sort of e-reader would be a solution to the problem, but I'm not ready for that yet.

But this year I got it just right. We were going on a trip with several long airplane flights, so I took 4 books. It proved to be the perfect number, and the perfect variety of escapist mysteries and more serious fiction. In case you're interested, here are my favorites:
Eucalyptus by Murray Bail is a tale of love, eucalyptus trees, and the power of stories.
The Ghost by Robert Harris is the political thriller the movie Ghost Writer was based on.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters is a gothic mystery set in post-WWII England that was short-listed for the Man-Booker Prize.

There's Music in the Air

Street Tunes, a project of the City of Everett's Cultural Arts Department, made its debut at the Main Library yesterday with the delivery of an artfully decorated piano. Modeled after a very successful program called Play Me, I'm Yours, Street Tunes has placed pianos from the Transit Center to the Library. A complete list, with a map and photos, is here. This morning I came to work to find a yound man playing beautiful music--at 8 a.m. At noon, an elderly man was entertaining a group of teens, while others sat on the steps to the coffee shop, listening appreciatively. Here are some photos taken right after the piano was delivered, when Van Ramsey, library building caretaker and member of the band The Wild Snohomians, treated us to a tune, and artist Evelia A. Sanchez posed with her artwork.

The piano is here for 3 weeks--play it; it's yours to enjoy.

Spelldown!

October 8 may seem like a long way away, but it's not too soon to start planning how you can participate in the first ever Everett Public Library Spelldown, a spelling bee for grown-ups to be held at the Everett Performing Arts Center. If you're a pretty good speller--or just a good sport--think about getting a team of three people together to participate for the grand prize. We don't know what that will be yet, but at the very least you'll win the admiration of your friends and family!

The entry fee for teams is $100, but there's no charge to come and watch the festivities, and all proceeds go towards the teen space project at the Main Library. We'll have a cash bar with beer, wine, and soft drinks. So get together with friends, family (over 18), or colleagues, fill out your entry form, and start studying the word lists. Or don't study at all, and just come for a good time.